What Florida Fine Cars Does and Does Not Do

Florida Fine Cars is a car rental and leasing company based in Orlando. It is not a government agency, a traffic court, or a payment processor for traffic violations. If you received a ticket while driving a rental or leased vehicle from Florida Fine Cars, the company itself does not collect fines or determine what you owe.

What Florida Fine Cars does handle is the rental agreement and any damage or violation notices that come to them as the registered vehicle owner. When a traffic citation is issued to a vehicle, the ticket often goes to the registered owner first — in this case, Florida Fine Cars — rather than directly to the driver. The company then has a process for forwarding that notice to the person who actually rented the car.

Understanding this distinction matters because it affects how you find out about the ticket, how much time you have to respond, and where your payment actually goes.

Key Takeaways

  • Florida Fine Cars receives traffic citations as the registered vehicle owner, but you as the renter are responsible for the violation and the fine.
  • The company will forward the ticket notice to you using the contact information from your rental agreement, usually within a few weeks of the violation.
  • Your payment goes to the Florida county court or traffic enforcement agency that issued the ticket, not to Florida Fine Cars.
  • Rental car companies may also charge you an administrative fee for processing and forwarding the citation, separate from the actual fine amount.
  • If you do not respond to a forwarded ticket, the court may issue a suspension of your driver's license or a warrant, and Florida Fine Cars may pursue collection against you for their processing costs.

How the Ticket Reaches You From Florida Fine Cars

When a traffic camera or officer issues a citation to a vehicle, the ticket is typically mailed to the address on file with the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles — the registered owner. For a rental vehicle, that is Florida Fine Cars. The company receives the citation, reviews the rental agreement to identify the driver, and forwards the notice to the renter's address as provided during checkout.

This forwarding process usually takes two to four weeks. During that time, the clock on your response important date is still running. Florida traffic citations typically give you 30 days from the date of the violation to respond, not from the date you receive the notice. If you rented the car and received a ticket, check the citation itself for the violation date and the important date printed on it — that is the date that matters to the court.

Florida Fine Cars will include a cover letter or invoice with the forwarded ticket. This document may list an administrative fee the company is charging you for processing and forwarding the citation. This fee is separate from the actual fine owed to the court.

Administrative Fees and What You Actually Owe

When Florida Fine Cars forwards a traffic citation to you, they often charge an administrative or processing fee. This fee is not part of the court fine — it is what the rental company charges for receiving the citation, identifying you, and sending it to your address. The amount varies depending on the company's policy and may range from $25 to $100 or more, though the exact figure depends on Florida Fine Cars' current fee schedule.

Your total obligation includes two separate payments: the fine imposed by the court or traffic enforcement agency, and the administrative fee owed to Florida Fine Cars. The court fine goes to the county court or traffic enforcement office. The administrative fee goes to Florida Fine Cars. You may be able to pay each separately, or the company may require you to settle both before they close the matter.

If you dispute the ticket or believe it was issued in error, you should address that with the court, not with Florida Fine Cars. The rental company is straightforward the messenger and the registered owner; they do not have authority to dismiss or reduce a traffic citation.

Where to Send Your Payment

The fine itself must be paid to the court or traffic enforcement agency that issued the ticket. The citation will list the court name, case number, and payment instructions. In Florida, this is typically the county court traffic division or a municipal traffic enforcement office, depending on where the violation occurred.

You can usually pay online through the court's website using the case number from your citation. Many Florida courts accept credit cards, debit cards, and electronic checks. Some also accept payment by mail or in person at the courthouse.

The administrative fee charged by Florida Fine Cars should be paid separately, according to the instructions on the document they sent you. This may be by check, credit card, or online portal, depending on how the company processes it. Do not send the administrative fee to the court — it will not be credited toward your fine, and the court will not know what to do with it.

What Happens If You Do Not Respond

If you ignore a traffic citation forwarded by Florida Fine Cars, the consequences come from the court, not the rental company. Florida courts can suspend your driver's license for failure to respond to a traffic citation. The suspension remains in place until you resolve the ticket — either by paying the fine, contesting it in court, or reaching a payment plan.

A suspended license affects your ability to drive legally in Florida and in most other states. It can also complicate car rentals, insurance, and employment in the future. Additionally, if the fine goes unpaid long enough, the court may issue a warrant for your arrest, though this is less common for traffic violations than for criminal charges.

Florida Fine Cars may also pursue collection action against you for their administrative fee if you do not pay it. This could result in a collection account on your credit report or a civil judgment against you. The rental company has a financial interest in recovering their processing costs, and they have the right to pursue it through normal collection channels.

Disputing a Ticket Issued to a Rental Vehicle

If you believe the ticket was issued in error — for example, the photo is unclear, the speed reading was wrong, or you were not actually the driver — you have the right to contest it in court. This dispute happens between you and the court, not between you and Florida Fine Cars.

To contest a ticket in Florida, you typically file a written response with the court within the important date shown on the citation. You can request a hearing before a judge or a traffic magistrate. Some violations allow you to contest by mail; others require you to appear in person. The citation itself will explain your options.

If you win your case, the fine is dismissed and you owe nothing to the court. You may still owe Florida Fine Cars' administrative fee, depending on their policy — some companies waive it if the ticket is dismissed, while others do not. Contact the company directly to ask about their policy on dismissed citations.

Rental Car Company Liability and Your Responsibility

As the renter, you are responsible for all traffic violations that occur while you are driving the vehicle, regardless of whether you received the ticket notice promptly. The rental agreement you signed typically includes language stating that you accept liability for violations and agree to pay any fines and administrative fees.

Florida Fine Cars cannot be held liable for the violation itself — you were the driver. However, the company is responsible for forwarding the citation to you in a timely manner. If they fail to do so and you miss the court important date as a result, you may have grounds to dispute the administrative fee or seek other remedies, though this is rare and would require documentation that the company's delay caused the missed important date.

In most cases, the rental agreement makes clear that you are responsible for knowing about and responding to any citations, and that the company's forwarding of the notice is a courtesy, not a may provide of timely delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I refuse to pay the administrative fee from Florida Fine Cars?

You are legally obligated to pay the court fine, but the administrative fee is a contract matter between you and the rental company. If you believe the fee is unreasonable or was not disclosed in your rental agreement, you can dispute it with the company directly. However, refusing to pay may result in collection action or a hold on your account with the company.

What if I never received the forwarded ticket from Florida Fine Cars?

Contact the company when ready with proof of your address during the rental. If they cannot confirm they sent it, ask them to provide documentation. Meanwhile, contact the court listed on the original citation to confirm your current address and ask about your options if you missed the important date. Courts sometimes grant extensions for good cause, such as non-receipt of notice.

Does paying Florida Fine Cars' administrative fee count toward the court fine?

No. The administrative fee is separate from the court fine. Paying one does not reduce or satisfy the other. You must pay both amounts — one to the court and one to Florida Fine Cars — to fully resolve the matter.

Can Florida Fine Cars dismiss or reduce my traffic ticket?

No. Florida Fine Cars has no authority over traffic citations. Only the court can dismiss, reduce, or modify a fine. If you want to contest the ticket or negotiate a reduced fine, you must contact the court or work with a traffic attorney.

Will a traffic ticket from a rental car affect my insurance rates?

Yes, traffic violations typically appear on your driving record and can increase your insurance premiums. The fact that you were driving a rental car does not shield you from this consequence. Your insurance company will see the violation and may adjust your rates accordingly.