Beware hidden fees on car rentals

Isn’t it taxation without representation when travelers have to pay outlandish surcharges and taxes on rental cars? We have no say, aka voting rights, when cities and states decide we’re an easy revenue sources for pet projects.

I was reminded of this unfairness on a trip to Arizona this month when I rented a compact car at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The 11-day base rate was $185, yet the final cost was $317 because surcharges and taxes added $132. The bill would have been higher if I had signed up for the rental car company’s loss damage waiver ($49.99 a day), personal accident insurance ($4 per day), personal effects protection ($2.95 a day), and additional liability insurance ($12.95 a day).

Here’s a breakdown of surcharges and taxes: SURCHARGES ($90.49): $15.27 per day (customer facility charge); 3.25 percent, minimum $2.50 per rental (Maricopa County surcharge); 11.11 percent (concession recovery fee); 5 percent Arizona state surcharge; 77 cents per day (maintainence fee). TAX: $41.15 (15.1 percent).

These fees pay for a variety of projects, among them Sky Harbor’s new rental car center and the Arizona Cardinals’ 2-year-old $455 million stadium in Glendale, the site of this year’s Super Bowl.

Posted by Jan Shepherd, Globe correspondent