{"data":{"id":"us-tx/tex.-business-commerce-code-91.001","jurisdiction":"us-tx","citation":"Tex. Business \u0026 Commerce Code § 91.001","heading":"DEFINITIONS.","body":"In this chapter:\n(1) \"Authorized driver\" means:\n(A) the renter;\n(B) a person whom the rental company expressly designates on the rental agreement as an authorized driver;\n(C) the renter's spouse if the spouse:\n(i) holds a driver's license; and\n(ii) satisfies any minimum age requirement established by the rental company;\n(D) an employer, employee, or coworker of the renter if the person:\n(i) holds a driver's license;\n(ii) satisfies any minimum age requirement established by the rental company; and\n(iii) is engaged in a business activity with the renter at the time of the rental; or\n(E) a person who:\n(i) holds a driver's license; and\n(ii) is driving directly to a medical or police facility under circumstances reasonably believed to constitute an emergency.\n(2) \"Damage\" means damage to or loss of a rented vehicle, regardless of fault involved in the damage or loss. The term includes:\n(A) theft and loss of use; and\n(B) any cost incident to the damage or loss, including storage, impound, towing, and administrative charges.\n(3) \"Damage waiver\" means a rental company's agreement not to hold an authorized driver liable for all or part of any damage to a rented vehicle.\n(4) \"Mandatory charge\" means a charge for an item or service provided in connection with a rental transaction, other than a charge imposed by law:\n(A) that is in addition to the base rental rate; and\n(B) that the renter may not avoid or decline.\n(5) \"Private passenger vehicle\" means a motor vehicle of the private passenger type, including a passenger van, primarily intended for private use.\n(6) \"Rental agreement\" means an agreement for 180 days or less that states the terms governing the use of a private passenger vehicle rented by a rental company.\n(7) \"Rental company\" means a person in the business of renting private passenger vehicles to the public for 180 days or less. The term does not include a person who holds a license under Chapter 2301, Occupations Code, and whose primary business activity is not renting private passenger vehicles.\n(8) \"Renter\" means a person who obtains use of a private passenger vehicle from a rental company under a rental agreement.\nAdded by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 885 (H.B. 2278), Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.\nAmended by:\nActs 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 176 (S.B. 72), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.","path":["BUSINESS AND COMMERCE CODE","TITLE 5. REGULATION OF BUSINESSES AND SERVICES","SUBTITLE B. RENTAL PRACTICES","CHAPTER 91. PRIVATE PASSENGER VEHICLE RENTAL COMPANIES","SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS"],"source_url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/BC/htm/BC.91.htm#91.001","current_through":"89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T01:46:56Z","sha256":"9685a9de206045abe6e7ae5692eb5054f0656e3bb331b91148b0afd571fe9d0d","source_id":"us-tx","stale":false,"prev":"us-tx/tex.-business-commerce-code-74.009","next":"us-tx/tex.-business-commerce-code-91.051"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}