Rabbi Benjamin Hotah Warns of Interest Risk in Car Rental Fuel Charges

Rabbi Benjamin Hotah, a leading halachic authority, presents a daily brief on Jewish law in the 'Halacha in 60 Seconds' segment on Kikar HaShabbat. In a recent episode, he addressed the issue of potential interest (ribit) concerns related to car rental fuel policies during the Bein Hazmanim period. The example discussed involved a renter who was told to return the car with the same amount of fuel as received. However, upon return, the tank was not full, so the renter refilled it completely. Rabbi Hotah explained that the fuel provided initially but not fully used and then paid for upon return could be considered a form of loan, raising questions about whether this constitutes forbidden interest under Jewish law. The segment included a video elaborating on the halachic implications of such transactions. This guidance is part of Rabbi Hotah's ongoing efforts to clarify contemporary halachic issues for the community.