TITLE 4: ECONOMIC RESOURCES DIVISION 5: BUSINESS REGULATION
§ 52019. Fuel Charges. (a) Except as provided in this section, refueling charges are prohibited. (b) Upon the renter’s return of the vehicle, if the amount of fuel remaining in the vehicle is less than the amount originally provided by the rental company, the rental company may charge the renter to refuel the vehicle based upon the number of gallons or liters used by the renter. The amount of fuel that may be charged to the renter shall be calculated in one of two ways: (l) If the vehicle was delivered to the renter with a full tank, the number of gallons or liters required to refill the tank; or (2) If the vehicle was rented with less than a full tank, the number of gallons or liters less than the amount originally provided by the rental company according to the vehicle’s gas gauge as read both before and after the renter’s use thereof, employing an appropriate chart showing the number of gallons or liters corresponding to the gas gauge readings. Each chart shall be specifically keyed to the model of car. (c) Upon the renter’s return of the vehicle, if the amount of fuel remaining in the rental vehicle is greater than the amount originally provided by the rental company upon delivery of the vehicle to the renter, the rental company shall credit the renter an amount based on the gallons or liters added by the renter, calculated by the method set forth in subsection (b)(2). (d) In the event that the rental company has no reasonably accessible refueling facilities, the rental company is not required to give the credit to the renter as described in subsection (c); provided that if no credit is given, the rental company shall disclose that fact to the renter at the time the rental agreement is signed. (e) The rental company shall provide the renter with written notice of the amount to be credited, except as provided in subsection (d), or charged on a per gallon or per liter basis. (f) The price per gallon or per liter that is charged for the amount of fuel required to refuel the vehicle, as provided in subsection (b), shall not exceed the average of the locally prevailing retail market price for similar fuel sold at selfservice gasoline pumps by commercial gasoline dealers and a reasonable surcharge not to exceed one-half of that retail price. (g) The per gallon or per liter amount that is credited pursuant to subsection (c), except as provided in subsection (d), may not be lower than the locally prevailing retail market price for similar fuel sold by commercial gasoline dealers. (h) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the rental company from offering the renter the option of purchasing, at the time of taking delivery of the vehicle, a full tank of fuel from the rental company at a price per gallon or per liter that shall not exceed the average of the locally prevailing retail market price for similar fuel sold at self-service gasoline pumps by commercial gasoline dealers; provided that the option includes the provisions that:
TITLE 4: ECONOMIC RESOURCES DIVISION 5: BUSINESS REGULATION
(l) If the vehicle is driven 100 miles or less, and the renter has not returned the vehicle with a full tank of fuel, the renter shall be credited for the amount charged to the renter for the purchase of fuel when the renter took delivery of the vehicle, and be charged in the method set forth in subsection (b); or (2) If the renter returns the vehicle with a full tank of fuel, the renter shall be credited for the amount charged to the renter for the purchase of fuel when the renter took delivery of the vehicle. Source: PL 20-65 § 2 (Sept. 21, 2018), modified. Commission Comment: The Commission changed the capitalization of the section title pursuant to 1 CMC § 3806(f). The Commission struck “of this section” in (c)–(g) and (h)(1) and changed “one hundred” to “100” in (h)(1) pursuant to 1 CMC § 3806(g).