Renting a car in Sardinia comes with many advantages, especially if you need a vehicle to move around freely. Before renting, it’s essential to know what the requirements are for hiring a car and what happens in case of fines or accidents.
Today we want to explain the responsibilities in case of fines, who must pay them, what happens to the driving licence points, and much more.
Who receives the fine notification?
If a violation occurs and the authorities are unable to stop the driver, the car owner is identified through the rental company to understand who the notice should be sent to. The fine payment is charged to the vehicle owner — in this case, the rental company — but the person who committed the violation is also financially responsible. This is known as “joint liability”, meaning the authorities may request full payment from either party.
Within 60 days of receiving the registered letter, the car rental company must provide the authorities with the identity of the driver who committed the violation. The driver then has 30 days to either pay the fine or appeal it.
If the authorities stop the driver at the time of the violation, the offender’s details are immediately known, and the ticket is issued on the spot, which counts as official notification. A copy is also sent to the rental company as the jointly liable party.
Who has to pay the fine?
When a traffic violation is committed, the responsibility for paying the fine lies with the person using the rental car. However, the rental agency still receives the notice due to its joint liability. Administrative responsibility — just like criminal responsibility — is personal and cannot be assigned to others. The formal ownership of the vehicle is irrelevant when it comes to paying a fine.
Likewise, driving licence points are deducted from the driver, not from the vehicle owner. Once the offender has been identified, the appropriate point deduction can be processed.
If the fine is issued on the spot, who pays?
If the offender is stopped and immediately disputes the fine, the authorities already have accurate personal details, which are recorded in the ticket. The ticket is handed directly to the driver and this counts as official notification, even though a copy is still sent to the rental company.
The driver always pays the fine; the only difference in this scenario is that the notice is first given to the driver and then to the rental company.
When renting a car, the last thing you want to deal with are accidents and fines. Unfortunately, these unpleasant events can happen. Knowing what to expect in these situations is extremely important.
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