Scott's right. No matter how you rationalize it to make yourself feel better, it's stealing. Plain and simple. If you think the company's ripping you off on gas prices or mileage, you don't have to use their services. There are other places to rent from (of course they're going to charge close to the same price). The thing is that they tell you up front what the charges are. If you don't agree to them then don't sign the rental agreement. Better still, write an amendment to the rental agreement telling plainly that you intend to dismantle the vehicle speed sensor to give a false mileage reading. Then if everyone agrees to that, you can both sign the form and you're on your way (like this is going to happen). This is the only way to do it honestly.
How would you like it if you let a friend borrow your car to, say, go to work or school for a couple of days and he disconnects the speedo and takes a two day trip half way across the country and doesn't tell you? What you don't know won't hurt you, right? I know I would be pi$$ed! We all would. We would be pissed because this wasn't what we agreed to up front (see any correlation?). Not to mention you wouldn't know what mileage your next oil change would be due!
The argument that "if they didn't want me to do it they'd make it harder for me to do it" doesn't hold up either. That's part of the problem with our country today...this mentality. You have some common sense. F'n use it why dont' you? Just because somebody has a little faith in you by giving you the benefit of the doubt and doesn't assume you're a crook up front doesn't give you permission to be one! Ulitimately, you're responsible for yourself. The world's not responsible for you. It's like suing McDonald's for serving hot coffee when you spill it on your lap. "Well, they didn't tell me it was hot" should not be grounds for a lawsuit, but guess what, it happened. Now the coffee temperature is lowered and there's a sign to warn all dumba$$e$ that hot coffee can burn you. By not taking responsibility for our own actions and doing the right thing and instead trying to get something for nothing, we are slowly and systematically taking away our own freedoms and driving up the costs of things like insurance.
Why do you think the rental companies charge so much in the first place? Insurance, that's why. Why do you think insurance is so expensive? Because people are constantly ripping them off by making false claims, etc. It all boils down to honesty. Dishonest people cost us all money and take away our freedoms by forcing legislators to create more and more laws to discourage dishonesty. It's a vicious circle.
Bottom line. Don't be a dumba$$. Stealing is a dumba$$ thing to do.
