Last Updated on November 30, 2025 by Kristin
Getting caught texting while driving can cause consequences for your personal driving record, and car rental customers have additional concerns. If you get a ticket for texting and driving, will the rental car company find out? Could it affect your chances of renting again? Here’s what you need to know about texting while driving in a rental car.
What Happens if You Text While Driving?
Texting while driving is illegal in nearly every U.S. state. All states except for Montana have implemented laws against texting while driving. Texting and driving is a primary offense in most states, meaning you can be pulled over for this violation even if you’re not doing anything else wrong.
If a police officer notices you texting, they may pull you over and write you a ticket. The fine may cost several hundred dollars, depending on the state. You may also see points added to your license for the infraction. You can choose to pay the fine or dispute it, which typically involves going to court or pleading not guilty through the mail or online. Getting a ticket for texting and driving may also raise your auto insurance premiums.
If you get pulled over in a rental car and a police officer hands you a ticket for texting and driving, it’s your responsibility to pay the fine or dispute it.
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Watch Out for AI Traffic Cameras
New technologies are making it even easier for authorities to catch and fine distracted drivers, including those who are texting at the wheel. Some states, including Minnesota, Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina, are testing AI cameras that can detect distracted driving and other violations, such as not wearing a seatbelt.
For now, police departments seem to be using AI cameras to pull over drivers in real time. However, NBC News reported authorities in other countries are sending automated tickets through the mail when the cameras flag a violation. In the US, state legislators would have to approve automated ticketing programs before enforcing violations based on footage from these AI cameras.
Will the Rental Car Company Find Out About a Texting Violation?
Getting pulled over for texting and facing an expensive ticket is stressful in its own right. But if you’re renting a car, this scenario can seem even more dire because it is not your vehicle.
So, will the rental car company find out about the ticket? Probably not, as a texting violation will be linked to your driver’s license and not the vehicle.
But it’s important to pay the fine quickly. If the violation goes unanswered, the rental car company could be notified about the ticket. This includes tickets for speed camera violations or if you pass through a toll zone without the proper pass. The rental car company can also be notified about parking tickets if you do not pay them on time. The rental car company will typically tack on an extra administrative fee to handle the paperwork for handling tickets, which can cost $30 or more.
https://blog.autoslash.com/the-rental-car-company-do-not-rent-list-a-notation-no-driver-wants/Even if the rental car company does not find out you were texting and driving in their vehicle, getting tickets can impact your ability to rent a car. Rental car companies may choose to do a driver record check and may refuse to rent you a car if you racked up too many moving violations within a short period or have a reckless driving conviction.
While sending a short text while driving may not seem like a big deal, it can lead to accidents and have consequences for your driving record.
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