When you rent a vehicle during official travel through the U.S. Government Rental Car Program be aware of your responsibility to pay traffic violation costs incurred during the rental period, including parking tickets, toll violations, and traffic camera citations. These charges can appear on your Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC) after the rental period ends.
As the registered owner of the vehicle, your rental car company receives and pays these violations, then identifies the driver at the time of the infraction.
To recoup the costs, the company will charge the original method of payment and send an amended receipt, a copy of the citation, and instructions for disputing the charge to the email address the driver provided at check-in. If an email address was not provided, the company will mail copies to the address listed on the driver’s license.
Rental Agreement #5 grants rental car vendors the authority to retroactively charge a traveler’s final payment method for any fines, toll violations, and administrative fees.
Therefore, it is important to monitor your GTCC account for post-travel charges. The timing of these charges is dependent on when the rental car company becomes aware of the violation and the charge could appear on your GTCC statement after you have already submitted your voucher and paid your balance.
Regardless of when the fees are posted, cardholders are responsible for ensuring their GTCC balance is paid in full and risk fees or account suspension if the account becomes delinquent. Travelers can view GTCC statements and account balances, make payments, and set up alerts online through citidirect.com or in the Citibank mobile app.
The Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) and the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) permit reimbursement for tolls incurred while using an authorized rental vehicle for official business.
If authorized in advance, the cost of renting a toll transponder, such as an EZ Pass, is also reimbursable. Fines and penalties for traffic violations as well as any administrative costs associated with traffic and tolling citations are non-reimbursable and therefore the responsibility of the traveler.
For more information see section 02029 of the JTR, Chapter 301.10-401 of the FTR, or rental car FAQs.