Questions Regarding Car Rental

Hello Rabbi,

I have a car rental business, and I have two questions:

1. A renter received a car from me, and during the rental period there was a flat tire. The contract states explicitly that flat tires, tires, and wheels are the renter’s responsibility and at his expense. The renter claims that he is not obligated to pay for the flat tire, and asks to clarify what the ruling is from a halachic perspective. Is he obligated to pay?

2. The car was rented in that renter’s name, but in practice he drove it together with four friends. Now, about two months after the rental, I want to charge him for the cost of the flat tire and for the rental fee. The renter claims that the friends should also share in the payment, and asks that I contact them and collect their share from them, because he feels uncomfortable asking them for money.

Is the responsibility for payment only on the person who signed the rental contract, even if he traveled with additional friends? Do I have any obligation or reason to contact his friends, or is all the accounting solely with the renter? And does the fact that the charge is being made about two months after the rental change the ruling?

Thank you very much.

Hello and blessings 

1. The contract that he signed obligates him. 

2. You deal only with the person to whom you rented it, and he took responsibility for the car upon himself. Even if he has a claim against the other passengers, he is the one who must deal with them. 

There is no difference when the charge was made. 

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