rent from locals dispute

Hi everyone.

I am renting a car through rentfromlocals and I have a dispute with the car owner.

I was driving towards Bovilla lake on Hida road when the owner messaged me and said that I will have to pay a €250 fine for driving off-road. Yes, the rosd became bad and wasn’t paved, but it had signs and I would not consider it off-road, as it is named, leads to a tourist destination, and has signs. I did not damage the car at all.

In the contract it says “You must not drive OFF the umpaved road”. That technically means I should stay on the unpaved road.

I return the car tomorrow and really can’t afford to pay €250. what would you do?

thanks.