Consumer Council warns of unsafe rental cars

Fijians are advised to be cautious about hiring rental cars during the festive season as the Consumer Council of Fiji raises serious concerns about alleged unethical and unsafe practices within the rental car sector.

Responding to questions, the council said they had received 166 complaints involving more than $91,000 in disputed payments over the past five years.

Many of the complaints relate to unregistered operators, poor vehicle maintenance, and a lack of proper agreements between businesses and customers.

Statistics released by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) indicated that there are 554 registered rental operators in Fiji.

Since 2020, the LTA has received 138 registered complaints concerning rental vehicles and related services.

Concerns

These concerns included a family’s weekend trip in October which almost ended in tragedy when a rental car they hired had missing wheel studs in all the tyres, causing the tyre to ‘fly out’ while driving along Navua.

The rental car company owner, who claimed he has been operating for nearly 10 years, strongly denied any wrongdoing. He insisted that his business is properly registered and that all his vehicles pass their annual Land Transport Authority (LTA) inspections.

When asked if his company provides written rental agreements to customers, he admitted that most transactions are handled informally, usually with receipts only, and not full documentation.

The owner claimed his cars were roadworthy.

“Consumers should always demand written agreements and ensure the company is legally registered,” the council said.

“Unlicenced and unsafe rentals put people’s lives at risk. If a vehicle looks unfit or the operator refuses to provide paperwork, walk away.”

Fiji Rental Car Association president Mohammed Shafik is advising rental companies to abide by the law and ensure ethical practices are followed.

The council is calling for tighter enforcement and stronger oversight from relevant authorities to ensure every rental car on Fiji’s roads meets safety and registration standards.

“We cannot allow profit to come before safety. It only takes one faulty car to cause a tragedy.”

LTA requires all rental cars to undergo annual inspections and hold valid fitness certificates.

However, some operators bypass these checks by using private or unregistered vehicles for hire, a loophole that places consumers in danger.

Feedback: ivamere.nataro@fijisun.com.fj