The City of SeaTac has filed a lawsuit against Avis Budget Car Rental, alleging the company’s operations create a public nuisance and cause damage to city property, according to court documents.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, claims Avis is using public roadways improperly by having car haulers load and unload vehicles outside of its rental car lot.
The city contends this practice has damaged roads and created a safety hazard for motorists.
According to the complaint, Avis operates a rental car lot with an entrance on South 160th Street.
The city alleges that car haulers, which can be up to 80 feet long and carry nine or more vehicles, frequently use South 160th Street and 34th Avenue South to turn around and access the Avis lot.
The city says that the car haulers have gouged and damaged newly paved asphalt, particularly at the intersection of South 160th Street and 34th Avenue South, an area where the city completed a major improvement project costing nearly $6 million.
The city’s complaint also details several incidents, including a three-vehicle collision in April 2024, which the city argues resulted from a car hauler parked in the eastbound lane of South 160th Street.
The city also claims that Avis’ car haulers regularly block roadways, limiting visibility for other motorists.
City staff and residents have reportedly complained about these issues throughout 2024.
The lawsuit further states that the city contacted Avis’s management and corporate counsel requesting cooperation in order to stop these practices, but Avis has not complied.
The city claims that Avis must maintain its property in a way that does not create unsafe conditions on public roadways.
The suit contends that Avis has violated city codes and state law regarding public nuisances and has been negligent in its operations.
KIRO 7 News has reached out to Avis Budget Group for comment.
The City of SeaTac is seeking a declaratory judgment from the court stating that Avis’s vehicle offloading practice is a public nuisance.
The city also seeks injunctive relief to stop Avis from continuing the practice and monetary damages to cover repair costs, abatement expenses, legal fees, and other related costs.
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