Car Rental Industry Leaders Urge Government Action Against 'Illegal' Operators Amid Growing Financial Struggles

Key players in the car rental industry on Friday urged the government to crack down on “illegal” operators and address financial challenges threatening to drive legitimate businesses into closure.

Their call came in response to Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s recent warning to rental car owners about the potential use of their vehicles in criminal activities.

Mottley on Thursday referenced the Proceeds and Instrumentality of Crime Act, which allows authorities to seize property used in the commission of a crime. She announced plans to engage with car rental operators, warning them of the consequences if their vehicles were involved in illegal acts.

“I’ve asked the attorney general and the deputy prime minister to meet with the owners of the hired car industry, because if your car is used as an instrument of crime . . . it can be confiscated and forfeited,” Mottley stated.

But Mohammed Adams, owner of Adams Car Rentals, defended reputable rental car companies, noting that his business performs standard background checks before renting out vehicles. He suggested that illegal operators, particularly those advertising on social media, are the real issue.

“What the prime minister and the commissioner of police need to deal with are the guys advertising on Facebook and renting out private cars. Those persons don’t generally come to an actual car rental company to rent,” Adams told Barbados TODAY. “They are looking for the $80 or $100 cars that are on Facebook, from someone down the road . . . . They might come to the guy that now start up because he [is] renting out his cars cheap because he doesn’t want to be known, so they would be more inclined to go to those fellows.”

Adams also pointed to situations where individuals rent commercial vehicles with ‘C’ number plates, believing they could evade detection. He insisted his business requires valid identification and a driver’s licence before any rental transaction is completed.

Mary Hutchinson, owner of Mary Hutchinson Car Rentals, expressed frustration with the potential impact of new regulations. She argued that it is unfair for law enforcement to seize rental cars involved in crimes.

“It’s not right. If someone [does] something wrong, you think they should hold our car? Hold the person that [did] wrong, don’t hold the vehicle,” Hutchinson said. “People live off hired cars. Everyone is out there scrambling right now and finding it hard.”