Arrested While Driving a Rental Car? You May Have a Case Against the Company
You’re driving a rental car. You have a valid agreement, the keys, and no reason to believe you’re doing anything wrong. Then you’re pulled over—maybe for a traffic stop or a routine check—and suddenly you’re being arrested because the car is reported stolen.
It’s not a rare story. Across Florida, innocent people are being arrested while lawfully driving rental cars due to negligent and outdated stolen vehicle reports that should have been cleared. If this happened to you, you may have the right to sue the rental car company.
At Florida Civil Counsel, P.A., we help individuals who were wrongfully arrested because a rental agency failed to cancel or correct a police report—even after extending the contract or receiving the vehicle back. These avoidable errors can destroy reputations, damage careers, and lead to public humiliation and trauma. Our firm is here to hold rental companies accountable.
Why Are People Arrested While Driving Rental Cars?
In most cases, the rental agency files a stolen vehicle report because the car wasn’t returned on time. But here’s the problem: even if the issue is later resolved—like an extension is granted or the car is returned—some companies never notify law enforcement to cancel the report.
So the vehicle remains flagged as stolen in the system. Law enforcement doesn’t know the rental has been returned or extended—they just see a hit on a stolen car. And you, the customer, may be pulled over and arrested at gunpoint, all while fully authorized to have the vehicle.
This isn’t just a paperwork mistake. It’s corporate negligence with real consequences.
The Legal Impact of a False Arrest
Being arrested under these circumstances can lead to:
- Time spent in jail
- A criminal record (even if charges are dropped)
- Missed work or job loss
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Damage to your personal and professional reputation
If the rental company had the information necessary to correct the police report but failed to act—or worse, never should have filed it in the first place—you may be entitled to file a lawsuit.
These false arrests are not just unfair—they may be legally actionable as:
- False arrest or unlawful detention
- Negligent misrepresentation
- Abuse of process
- Malicious prosecution
We explain more about these claims on our Rental Vehicle Arrest Attorneys page, including examples of how these cases unfold and how we hold rental companies liable.
What You Need to Build a Strong Case
If you were wrongfully arrested while driving a rental vehicle, you don’t need to just “move on.” You need to document the incident and take action.
Here’s what helps:
- Your rental agreement showing the dates, vehicle, and terms
- Receipts, emails, or call records proving any communication with the company
- The arrest report showing the basis for the stop and the involvement of the “stolen vehicle” report
- Proof that the rental company failed to cancel or update the police report after resolving the issue
You don’t need to figure this out alone. Our team investigates the paper trail, holds companies accountable, and works to make you whole.
We Hold Rental Companies Accountable Across Florida
At Florida Civil Counsel, P.A., we are not criminal defense lawyers—we’re civil litigators who pursue justice for victims of corporate negligence. We help people who were wrongfully arrested because a rental car company failed to do the bare minimum: cancel or correct an outdated stolen vehicle report.
Whether your arrest happened in Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami, or elsewhere in Florida, we can help you pursue a civil lawsuit for the harm you’ve suffered.
We’ve seen the toll these arrests take—lost jobs, family embarrassment, reputational damage. And we know what it takes to stand up to big companies that want to avoid responsibility for the mess they’ve made.
Were You Arrested Because of a Rental Car Mistake? We Can Help.
If you were arrested while driving a rental car because the company failed to cancel a stolen vehicle report, you don’t have to just accept what happened. You may be entitled to significant compensation for the arrest, emotional harm, lost opportunities, and reputational damage.
Contact Florida Civil Counsel, P.A. today to speak with an attorney about your legal options. We’re based in Orlando and represent clients throughout Florida who were wrongfully arrested due to rental agency negligence.
Let us help you clear your name—and hold the rental company accountable for the harm they caused.