How to Make Sure Your Rental Car Is Safe
With 34 million vehicles affected, the recent recall of cars with Takata airbags is the largest in US automotive history. The defective airbags have been tied to over 100 injuries and eight deaths, and so cars equipped with them are being taken off the market. With an important exception.
TODAY‘s Jeff Rossen reported yesterday that at least for now, rental car companies are not required by law to take recalled cars off the lot—which means the next time you rent a car, your vehicle could be putting you in unnecessary danger. Here’s what to do, per TODAY:
“Experts say you should check the VIN (vehicle identification number)—the 17-digit code generally printed at the bottom corner of your vehicle’s dash on the driver’s side‚ before you drive it. Enter the VIN at safercar.gov to quickly learn whether the vehicle has an open safety recall.”
See more on the report—and how to react to it—here.
For more rental car tips:
- How to Make Sure Your Rental Car Is Safe
- Doublecheck It’s Your Rental Car
- Photograph Your Rental Car Agreement
- Underage Car Rental
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