Car-rental firm Charlotte Vehicle allegedly owes about S$140,000 to 34 customers

[SINGAPORE] Thirty-four customers of Singapore-based car-rental firm Charlotte Vehicle say that they are owed amounts ranging from a few hundred dollars to more than S$39,000 each, totalling to around S$137,000.

The sums owed are prepaid rental fees and rental deposits for the lease of passenger cars.

The Business Times has independently verified that 19 police reports have been made involving Charlotte Vehicle so far this year.

The police have confirmed that reports have been lodged and that investigations are ongoing.

According to the Singapore Courts website, there are nine Small Claims Tribunal cases involving Charlotte Vehicle to be heard from Monday (Aug 17).

The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) said that it received 28 complaints against the company in 2026 and one in 2025.

Consumers complained that the business had failed to refund the security deposit and unutilised prepaid rental sums within contractual timelines, and that the rented vehicles had defects and quality issues.

An unknown number of customers have also pursued action through the Small Claims Tribunal.

At the time of publication, queries from BT to Jerry Yau, the 43-year-old Singaporean who is Charlotte’s director and sole shareholder, were not answered.

Incorporated in 2023

According to Handshakes data, Charlotte Vehicle is a private limited company that was incorporated in October 2023 with a business address at 310 Old Birdcage Walk in Seletar.

Its primary business is the rental and leasing of cars with a driver, while its secondary business is street and ride-hail services.

BT visited the address on Monday during the company’s opening hours, but found that the office was closed and there was no response to the doorbell.

A large quantity of unopened letters from various government agencies were at the front door, addressed to Charlotte Vehicle and Yau.

A notice from Birdcage & Baker Development to Best 1 Rental was also found near the front door, titled “Notice of illegal occupation and demand to vacate”. It stated that the company had refused to execute the tenancy agreement and had no right to occupy the premises.

Handshakes data shows that Best 1 Rental is the former name of GenZ Drive, a car-leasing company with a business address at 60 Paya Lebar Road. It does not share any officeholders or shareholders with Charlotte.

Customers recount rental problems

Customers spoke to BT about their experiences with Charlotte Vehicle, with most requesting to remain anonymous.

Typically, car rentals require a deposit of S$500 to S$1,000, but Charlotte offered customers lower leasing fees in exchange for prepaying for rentals up front.

The fees were as low as S$40 a day, compared with the industry standard of S$70 to S$100 per day.

“The company asked us to pay for rentals up front, at least a month’s duration. The more you pay, the more the discount. My fees ranged from around S$40 a day to S$58 a day – this is way below average,” said an IT manager, who had rented a compact car from the company.

Charlotte’s Jun 6 Facebook post [see below] describes a promotion for petrol cars from S$49 a day and for hybrid cars from S$59 a day.

But drivers began to face complications in recent months, such as the sudden repossession of the cars. Other drivers said that the company would also recall vehicles, citing various reasons such as repairs or insurance issues, and give them replacements.

Another customer had been leasing cars from the company since September 2024. In June this year, his rental car was towed away without notice.

Charlotte Vehicle cited insurance and finance problems, among other issues, after the incident. Frustrated, he asked Charlotte for his remaining deposit to be returned, but the company became unresponsive.

Customers also said that replacement vehicles were sometimes issued by companies other than Charlotte. Reportedly, one company told a client that Charlotte owed it more than S$300,000.

Clients say money still owed

Customers have also had difficulties in claiming sums owed to them after ending or cancelling their rental contracts and returning the cars.

The IT manager said that he had ended his rental agreement in May. He added: “(But), there were a lot of delaying tactics over the weeks, and, in the end, (the company) just didn’t pay me.”

He is owed around S$900 in leftover rental fees and a S$500 deposit.

Another driver said he went back and forth with Yau over money owed, with the amount then paid out gradually in small sums of S$500 to S$1,000. The payments eventually ceased, despite there being a balance pending.

There are also claims that the company’s replies were slow, with customers being asked to query a finance department. Staff are said to have often responded only at odd hours, such as in the early morning.

Another private-hire car driver, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The rental was around S$60 a day, which is very cheap. But (the company) suddenly ‘pulled pattern’ and took the car back.”

Left without a car, the driver decided to end the lease, but faced similar difficulties recovering his money – more than S$7,000 – from the company.