Avis Toll Settlement 2024: Eligibility, Payouts, and How to File a Claim

Table of Contents#

1. What Was the Avis Toll Settlement?
2. Who Was Eligible for a Payout?
3. Payout Amounts
4. How the Claim Process Worked
5. Key Deadlines (Now Passed)
6. Frequently Asked Questions
7. What to Do If You Missed the Deadline
8. References

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What Was the Avis Toll Settlement?#

The Avis e-Toll settlement stems from the class action lawsuit Mendez v. Avis Budget Group Inc., et al. (Case No. 2:11-cv-06537-CCC-JSA) filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Background of the Litigation#

Lead plaintiff Jose Mendez filed the lawsuit in November 2011, alleging that Avis Budget Group—which owns both Avis and Budget rental brands—automatically enrolled customers in its "e-Toll" electronic toll payment system without proper disclosure. Customers were charged a "convenience fee" of up to $2.50 per day or$10 per week, regardless of whether they actually used toll roads during their rental.

The fees were administered by Highway Toll Administration LLC (HTA), Avis Budget's private contractor for electronic toll processing. Many customers reported discovering these charges only after returning their vehicle, when they received bills weeks later.

Avis Budget Group denied all allegations of wrongdoing but agreed to the $45 million settlement to resolve the claims. The court granted preliminary approval, and the settlement became final after a fairness hearing on February 23, 2023.

Separate Florida Attorney General Settlement#

In a related but separate action, the Florida Attorney General's office reached a settlement with Avis Budget in 2017 over similar e-Toll disclosure issues. That settlement required Avis, Budget, and Payless to clearly disclose the $3.95 per day e-Toll charge and provided refunds to affected Florida consumers for rentals between January 1, 2010, and July 10, 2017.

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Who Was Eligible for a Payout?#

You were a member of the settlement class if you met the following criteria:

• You were a U.S. resident who rented an Avis or Budget vehicle
• Your rental occurred between April 1, 2007, and December 31, 2015
• You paid Avis, Budget, or Highway Toll Administration for use of the e-Toll service during that rental

For rental transactions originating in Florida, Texas, and Colorado, the class period was March 2, 2009, through December 31, 2015.

Exclusions#

You were not eligible if:

• Your rental was through a corporate or central billing account where toll fees were handled separately
• You previously resolved a formal dispute with Avis Budget Group over the same e-Toll charges
• You opted out of the class action settlement by the exclusion deadline

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Payout Amounts#

Settlement payouts were based on partial reimbursement of the e-Toll-related charges you paid, structured as follows:

No proof of purchase was required if the settlement administrator had records of your rental charges. If records were unavailable, you needed to provide documentation showing you rented an Avis or Budget vehicle and were charged for e-Toll services.

Note: Attorney fees and administrative costs were deducted from the $45 million fund before payouts. If valid claims exceeded the fund, individual payments were reduced proportionally.

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How the Claim Process Worked#

Filing a claim was free and could be completed online or by mail:

1. Visit the settlement website at www.etollsettlement.com
2. Enter your information: If you received a Notice ID and Confirmation Code by mail or email, enter those. Otherwise, provide your contact information and rental details.
3. Submit your claim: Complete the online form or print and mail a paper form to: Avis Budget Group E-Toll Settlement c/o Settlement Administrator 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210 Philadelphia, PA 19103
4. Provide documentation if needed: Upload or mail copies of rental agreements, billing statements, or receipts showing e-Toll charges.
5. Await processing: Claims were reviewed and payments distributed after final court approval.

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Key Deadlines (Now Passed)#

All deadlines for this settlement have passed:

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Frequently Asked Questions#

Q: Is the Avis e-Toll settlement still accepting claims?#

A: No. The claim deadline was February 28, 2023, and the settlement is now closed. No new claims can be filed.

Q: I rented from Budget, not Avis—was I still eligible?#

A: Yes. The settlement covered both Avis and Budget, as both brands are owned by Avis Budget Group.

Q: Does Avis still charge e-Toll fees?#

A: Yes. Avis continues to offer its e-Toll service, which now costs $10.99 to$25.99 per day depending on the rental location. These fees are disclosed during the reservation process. You can avoid the daily fee by using your own toll transponder or paying cash at toll booths where available.

Q: Was there a separate Avis data breach settlement?#

A: Yes. In a separate matter, Avis experienced a data breach in 2024 that compromised customer information. A class action settlement was reached for that incident, with eligible customers able to claim up to $5,000. That settlement is unrelated to the e-Toll fee case.

Q: What if I was charged e-Toll fees after December 2015?#

A: The Mendez settlement only covered rentals through December 31, 2015. If you were charged undisclosed e-Toll fees after that date, you may have other legal options, but no class action settlement currently covers that period.

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What to Do If You Missed the Deadline#

If you missed the February 28, 2023, claim deadline, unfortunately you cannot receive compensation from this settlement. However, you can take these steps:

1. Check for related settlements: Visit Top Class Actions or ClassAction.org to see if you qualify for other open settlements.
2. Document future charges: If you continue renting from Avis or Budget and encounter undisclosed fees, keep all receipts and billing statements.
3. File a complaint: You can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission or your state's Attorney General if you believe you were charged fees without proper disclosure.
4. Contact Avis directly: For current billing disputes, contact Avis customer service at 1-800-352-7900 or Budget at 1-800-214-6094.

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References#

1. Top Class Actions — Avis Budget e-Toll Settlement (Closed): https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/closed-settlements/avis-budget-electronic-toll-fees-45m-class-action-settlement/
2. CNET — If You Rented a Car From Avis, You Could Be Owed Part of a $45 Million Settlement: https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/use-avis-or-budget-you-could-be-owed-part-of-45-million-hidden-fee-settlement/
3. ClassAction.org — $45 Million Settlement Reached in Avis, Budget e-Toll Case: https://www.classaction.org/newsletter/issue-213
4. Avis e-Toll Service Information: https://www.avis.com/en/products-and-services/services/avis-e-toll
5. FTC Guide to Class Action Settlement Claims: https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/class-action-settlements-what-consumers-need-know