Car-sharing services like Turo, Getaround and Zipcar have gained popularity as convenient alternatives to traditional car rentals. However, if you're in an accident while using a car share, it's important to understand your rights and responsibilities, especially when it comes to personal injury claims.
Difference Between Renting a Car and Car Share Services
- Traditional Car Rentals: When you rent a car from companies like Hertz or Enterprise, you’re renting from a commercial entity that provides standardized insurance options. Rental companies maintain and service the vehicles.
- Car-Share Services: With Turo, Getaround, and Zipcar, you are either borrowing cars from individual owners or accessing a shared fleet. The cars are often privately owned and may not go through the same rigorous maintenance schedule as traditional rentals. Insurance coverage can vary depending on the platform and the rental agreement.
What Happens if You're in an Accident Driving a Car Share?
If you're in an accident while using a car-sharing service, the liability and insurance coverage will depend on a few factors:
- Personal Injury: If you're injured in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Whether you pursue a claim through the car-sharing company’s insurance, or your personal insurance depends on the specific circumstances of the accident.
- Who’s Responsible? If the accident was caused by another driver, their insurance would typically cover the damages. However, if you’re at fault, the coverage you have through the car-sharing platform, or your personal insurance would kick in. Platforms like Turo and Getaround offer different levels of insurance coverage, so it's important to understand what plan you selected.
Who's responsible if the accident is due to an issue with the car?
If the accident is caused by a mechanical problem or maintenance issue with the car (like brake failure or tire problems), liability could fall on different parties:
- Vehicle Owner: For peer-to-peer services like Turo or Getaround, the car’s owner is responsible for ensuring the vehicle is safe to drive. If an accident happens because of poor maintenance, the car owner could be held liable.
- Car Share Company: For Zipcar, which owns and maintains its fleet, the company could be held accountable if an accident occurs due to inadequate maintenance. Zipcar has a duty to keep its vehicles in good working order.
Does My Insurance Cover Car Share?
Your personal car insurance may or may not cover you when using a car-sharing service. This depends on your policy:
- Personal Insurance: Some personal auto insurance policies cover car-sharing, while others don’t. It’s important to check with your provider to see if you're covered when using Turo, Getaround, or Zipcar.
- Car Share Insurance: All major car-sharing platforms offer insurance options.
For example:
- Turo: Provides coverage through different protection plans (Basic, Standard, Premium).
- Getaround: Includes insurance with every trip, covering liability and physical damage.
- Zipcar: Offers basic insurance as part of membership, covering liability, collision, and damage.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand the Coverage: Before driving a car share vehicle, know what coverage is provided by the platform and whether your personal insurance applies.
- Accidents and Fault: If you're in an accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance usually covers damages, but if you’re at fault, you'll rely on the car share platform’s coverage.
- Maintenance Issues: If the accident is caused by a vehicle malfunction, liability may fall on the car owner or the company, depending on who’s responsible for maintenance.