Taxing Drives

Government taxes and fees on rental cars, funding everything from highways to sports stadiums, are becoming more common. Some sample percentages:

City / Taxes, fees on car rentals*:

Tulsa, Okla.: 23.92%

Las Vegas, Nev.: 23.00%

Reno, Nev.: 23.00%

Phoenix, Ariz.: 22.80%

Denver, Colo.: 21.73%

New Orleans, La.: 20.75%

Chicago, Ill.: 19.38%

Seattle, Wash.: 18.30%

Santa Fe, N.M.: 17.75%

Philadelphia, Pa.: 16.00%

Houston, Texas: 14.38%

New York, N.Y.: 13.25%

Miami, Fla.: 13.18%

Minneapolis, Minn.: 12.70%

Honolulu, Hawaii.: 11.17%

Los Angeles, Calif.: 11.05%

San Francisco, Calif. 11.05%

Nashville, Tenn.: 10.25%

Cleveland, Ohio: 10.00%

Portland, Ore.: 10.00%

* Note: Total taxes and fees added to a one-week, $200 rental at airport locations. Different fees may apply at off-airport and downtown locations.

Source: Consumer Reports Travel Letter, August 1997