Smallwheels

Yesterday I watched a video about earning extra income. One segment of it mentioned services where people could rent their cars to neighbors. They mentioned three different ones. These operate the same as Flexcar and Zipcar.

One of them includes boats and motorcycles.

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Relay Rides

These might be good alternatives for people who don't want to own a car. They also aren't dependent on a company being located in your individual city. It just takes somebody in your area willing to rent their car to you.

dcrowell

Interesting. As I'm becoming car-free very soon this interests me. I still own a truck and plan to sell it. Renting it out to cover costs is a neat idea. I wonder about liability though.

I-Like-To-Bike

As well you, or anyone else who has something to lose, should.

dcrowell

I'm not quite sure of your point.

dcrowell

Looking at those three sites, they appear to be built by the same web development company. Are they really the same company? If so it seems a bit shady.

Smallwheels

I have no idea about the different sites. I just reported what I saw in the report I watched at Yahoo.com two days ago. I haven't checked them out in any way. Perhaps the Better Business Bureau or some other reporting agency would have more information about each one.

Check www.Betterwhois.com to see who owns each site.

Robert Foster

Not trying to put words in someone's mouth but he just might be talking about liability laws in many states. To register a vehicle in California for instance the registered owner must show proof of insurance. If an accident happens even if the car was being driven by another licensed driver the owner is responsible in any law suit. Even if the other person is insured if the accident is in excess of their insurance the remainder will fall on the owner. If you were to rent your vehicle you would need a business license and be taxed as a business. Plus most insurance companies have a restriction on comercial use of the vehicle.

In short if you have anything to lose you could lose it if an accident happened. Just saying.

I-Like-To-Bike

The point is that some people post all sort of scams and schemes and wishful thinking on the Internet, and some people "report"/repost them without a moment's thought or an ounce of skepticism. And some people might even add their own dreamy thoughts to the story "It just takes somebody in your area willing to rent their car to you."

And others don't get it when reality is pointed out to them.

Mauriceloridans

When you lend your car to someone your liability insurance covers that permitted driver. If you hire it out for money that coverage is excluded by the language of the policy.

XR2

Then there is the fact you're just a tad on the cynical side. Add to that a healthy dose of sarcasm and your cryptic postings are somewhat difficult to decipher.

dcrowell

So we agree. It was difficult to determine that at first.

Yes, I did mention I was worried about liability. I also mentioned that the three linked sites look sketchy. There's little info, but a lot of flashy bling.

If these were/are legitimate enterprises, and liability wasn't a problem, I'd still be unlikely to make enough money renting my truck out to cover the $350/month payment. That's ignoring insurance, repairs, and other costs.

I'm still selling my truck.

Roody

I think many people sho don't want to be carfree still want to avoid buying an expensive machine that they might only use for a couple hours a week.

The various states should reform laws to permit individuals to get together to form car sharing clubs or co-ops. This would limit individual liability. While they're at it, law makers should set up provisions for insurance companies to write appropriate policies for car sharing clubs.

This would be a good project for alternative transportation advocacy groups to take up, IMO.

dcrowell

In areas with enough interest companies have moved in to take advantage of it. (Zipcar and others). Where I live, Louisville, there isn't enough interest for a Zipcar like company. That also means to me that a more informal car-sharing won't work as well, legal issues or not.

I-Like-To-Bike

You are correct on the first two points; my posts are seldom that crytic and this one was easy to decipher (IMO).

myrridin

Why should liability be limited? Liability is simply one of the costs of operating a business. Why should a co-op based rental business be given an advantage over a more traditional rental or ride-share business?

Here are some issues to consider before we talk about limiting liability. Who is liable if the owner/operator of the rental service fails to maintain the vehicle properly. Lets say the brakes fail while someone is driving it. If that failure is attributed to improper maintenance then with a traditional rental company, they would be liable. So should a co-op rental company... And all that is required for a co-op to do this locally is setting up following required business practices in the area. License, liability insurance, etc... NO NEW LAWS NEEDED!

myrridin

Frankly I would call your attitude realistic/practical rather than cynical as accused.

Roody

Sorry if I was misleading or used the wrong term. I meant limiting liability to the individuals in the cars share club, and transferring liability to the collective itself--similar to a corporation or limited liability partnership. As I understand it, based on many articles I've read over the years, it is difficult and expensive to set up a car share like this, and it requires an attorney to file for incorporation. New laws would make it easier to do this--especially considering that the point is not to make a profit.

Roody

What an interesting alliance!
Is this one of those self-servinggroup hugs that ILTB is always complaining about?

Certainly an instance of the like-minded self-righteously preaching to the choir?

I-Like-To-Bike

No it is not.

For the latest example of a silly willy thread seeking group hugs and cheerleading, try this:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...cylinder-index

myrridin

The significant expense is not the set-up of the business but the cost of maintaining the liability insurance for the business. Setting up a corporation or LLP is not particularly expensive--at least in most jurisdictions. The desire for profit is irrelevant to the issue at hand. Who pays for the failure to properly maintain the vehicles when the negligence causes harm... Costs that are significant and open ended.

myrridin

What part of my statement that you quoted was self-serving?

You might want to pick up a dictionary to get a feel for the meaning of words since you seem to have a problem in that area. Which was precisely my point about ILTB's post in question... Cynical isn't an accurate description of the posts--realistic/practical is...

I-Like-To-Bike

Who pays for failure to properly maintain the vehicle while it is borrowed, whether it causes harm or not.

This scheme is a loser for the renter for many reasons, mainly in that it serves no need that is not already served by a legitimate car rental agency located almost everywhere without any of these problems.

Roody

I was thinking more of a car share club, not a rental service. Ideally, the members would share all expenses, including liability insurance.

In spite of what your new buddy myrridin says, many people have found that it's legally difficult to set up a car share club. One problem is registration of the vehicle. Who is the owner, according to law? Another problem has been purchasing insurance. Apparently insurance companies don't have plans geared for car shares. A third problem is that some lenders have been reluctant to supply loans because they're not clear on the legal status of car share clubs.

Personally, I believe that in most locations there should be changes to the laws to facilitate and encourage car share clubs. I don't want special favors for these clubs--just legal recognition of their status, and guidelines for their legal operation.

myrridin

Not at all legally difficult. The care share "club" needs to be set-up as a business (just like any other non-profit). That can take different forms. The business then owns (or leases) the vehicles and is required to pay all of the needed fees (which include maintenance and insurance). This is perfectly possible now, with no change in current laws. The problem, which you are trying to gloss over, is that it simply isn't cost effective enough to warrant the effort.

A car share as you put it is simply a standard rental company. The only difference is the cost structure for the customers--not something that effects the providers of licenses or insurance. Business licenses are available for such entities as are Insurance options. They just cost a certain amount of money. Given the litigious nature of our society, the insurance is particularly expensive. What you seem to want is a cost break for the insurance for a car share versus a standard rental company--even though the risks are the same for the insurer...

And a co-op (any co-op) is a business. Even if it is a not-for-profit business.

Roody

Interesting. So a group of neighbors in an apartment building, for example, would be able to get together and buy a car to share, and no individual would be solely liable for damages or injuries? They could register the car to the group, and buy insurance as a group? Under existing laws?

This is an intriguing idea for city dwellers, especially! I don't know why I remember reading articles that said this was difficult or expensive.