You got a camera ticket in a rental car.
When a camera catches a rental car, the notice goes to the rental company, not to you. What happens next (a ticket reissued in your name, a charge on your card, or both) depends on the company and the city.
How the ticket finds you
The rental company is the registered owner, so the city mails the notice there. Most large rental companies use a violation-processing service that matches the plate and time to your rental. Then it goes one of two ways. The company names you as the renter and the city reissues the ticket to you, or the company pays the fine and bills you for it.
Some states write this into law. Washington gives a rental car business 18 days to swear to the renter’s name and address, swear the car was stolen, or just pay the penalty. In Oregon, a rental or leasing business files a Certificate of Nonliability with the renter’s name, address, and license number.
The administrative fee
Expect a fee on top of the fine. Rental agreements usually charge a processing fee for each violation. At some companies, Enterprise among them, that fee applies even when the ticket is transferred to you and you pay the city yourself. Your rental agreement sets the amount.
The fee comes from your contract with the rental company, not from the city, so the court handling the ticket has no say over it. If the ticket is later dismissed, ask the rental company whether it refunds the fee.
What you can actually do
Check the date, time, and plate against your rental agreement. If the violation happened before you picked the car up or after you returned it, it’s a mistake. Send the rental company your receipt and return time. If they won’t fix it, dispute the charge with your card issuer.
If the ticket was reissued in your name, you can pay it or contest it with the city or court like any other camera ticket, by the deadline on the new notice. If the company already paid and billed you, ask for the notice and photos. A paid ticket is usually closed, but you can still dispute charges that don’t match your rental.
FAQ
Can the rental company charge my card without asking?
Almost certainly. When you signed the rental agreement, you agreed to pay tickets and tolls from the rental, plus a processing fee. If you don’t recognize a charge, ask for the date, time, location, and a copy of the violation.
A friend on my rental was driving. Can I file a “someone else was driving” declaration?
Only if it’s true and the ticket has been reissued to you. Then your state’s usual rules apply, and some states require you to name the driver. See your state’s guide. Never sign a sworn statement to get out of a ticket that was yours.
Does a rental-car camera ticket go on my record?
In most states, camera tickets are civil penalties with no license points. A few states handle them like regular moving violations. Check your state’s guide.
Every non-responsibility form is sworn under penalty of perjury. If someone else genuinely had the car, use the remedy. If it was you, pay it or ask for a hearing — a false oath is never worth it.
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General information, not legal advice. Rules vary by state — check your state’s guide and your court. Last reviewed October 2026.