Prohibited Uses of a Rental Car
Section 4 lists uses that are prohibited and treated as material breaches, including unauthorized or suspended-license driving, impaired or illegal use, carrying people or property for hire, towing, racing, unpaved-road use, unsafe occupancy or cargo, reckless acts, texting or emailing while driving, and smoking.
This guide explains STARS rental terms in plain language for general information. The Rental Agreement and Rental Record control the actual terms of each rental.
What the Agreement says
The controlling concepts
- The vehicle may not be used by an unauthorized driver, a person with a suspended license, or a person under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Fraudulent rental information, illegal activity, carrying people or property for hire, pushing/towing, racing, driving instruction, and carrying hazardous or illegal materials are prohibited.
- Use outside the United States or Canada requires specific authorization in the Agreement; taking the vehicle into Mexico is prohibited under all circumstances.
- Unpaved-road use, more occupants than seat belts, carrying people outside the passenger compartment, missing legally required child restraints, odometer tampering, continued damaging operation, unsecured cargo, and inexperienced manual-transmission operation where applicable are prohibited.
- Willful, wanton, or reckless conduct and reading or sending electronic messages while driving are prohibited. The Agreement also includes unauthorized equipment and aiding theft or failing to safeguard keys followed by theft/vandalism in its listed reckless-act examples.
- Smoking is prohibited, and prohibited use may invalidate a coverage product where permitted by law.
What it means in plain language
Understand the boundary
These are contract restrictions in addition to applicable traffic and safety law. The list should be reviewed before anyone drives or plans a route or use for the vehicle.
This guide does not add a Florida-only rule. It repeats the Agreement's United States/Canada authorization language and its separate absolute Mexico restriction.
What the renter should do
Know Before You Arrive
- 1Confirm every driver and intended use before pickup.
- 2Do not use the vehicle to push or tow, for racing, for hire, on unpaved roads, or for an illegal or unsafe purpose.
- 3Use the available seat belts and legally required child restraints.
- 4Stop operating the vehicle when continued use may damage it and contact STARS for instructions.
- 5Safeguard the keys and do not install or use unauthorized equipment.
- 6Do not take the vehicle into Mexico; obtain specific written authorization for any other use outside the United States or Canada.
Common questions
Concise Agreement-based answers
Can I tow something or drive on an unpaved road?
No. Section 4 prohibits using the vehicle to push or tow anything and prohibits use on unpaved roads.
Can I take the rental vehicle to Mexico?
No. Section 6 states that the vehicle may not be taken into Mexico under any circumstances.
Can I text while operating the vehicle?
No. Section 4 prohibits sending or reading electronic messages, including texts and emails, while operating the vehicle.
Agreement and legal-information boundary
This guide explains STARS rental terms in plain language for general information. The Rental Agreement and Rental Record control the actual terms of each rental. This page is not legal advice and does not decide liability, coverage, charges, or the outcome of a specific matter.
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