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Rental CarsRental Cars companies have come to rely on an emerging technology called telematics - which combines satellite-based Global Positioning System tracking, wireless communications and vehicle monitoring systems - to keep tabs on their rental cars.  About a quarter of rentals in the United States are equipped with tracking technology, analysts estimate.  The industry views telematics as a way to enforce its contracts, but some customers regard it, at best, as a means to make more money and, at worst, as an invasion of privacy. The $259.51 bill you had expected ballooned to $3,405.05 - most of it a result of a $1-a-mile fee for each of the 2,874 miles driven. It turned out that by crossing the state line, you had violated the contract. The car rental industry already has a reputation for high gasoline-refill charges and airport-use fees, among other items, and business travelers are concerned that telematics will offer yet another opportunity for companies to impose additional charges.   Whether buying new or used; or selling a vehicle, first check a reliable car price guide such as KBB (Kelley Blue Book), Black Book, Red Book, or the NADA Used Vehicle Guide. For more on all things automotive, turn from rental cars to the home page.  Rental Cars . |