After a lot of legal battles, car rental companies have been explicitly prohibited from writing into the rental agreement that the customer will be responsible for the cost when the vehicle is damaged or stolen, even if the customer has been careful.

It is the Patent and Market Court of Appeal that confirms the Patent and Market Court's previous decision after the Consumer Ombudsman (KO) has pursued the case.

”"If the consumer has been careful, it is the car rental company that must bear the costs. The crux is that the consumer must be able to show that the damage was not caused by his negligence. The verdict becomes important when it can be shown that it was an accident or damage," says Pär Magnusson, litigation counsel for KO, in a press release.

KO has pursued the matter against the organization Biluthyrarna Sverige, which brings together approximately 90 percent of the market of companies that rent out cars and trucks.

The ban is associated with a fine of one million kronor and is effective immediately.

Source: TT