The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Insurance Division and Office of Consumer Protection is warning Hawaii residents to be informed and exercise caution before participating in a car-sharing program.
If individuals live in Hawaii and are seeking to rent a vehicle through an online car-sharing program, they are advised to be aware that they may be responsible for damages and injuries stemming from accidents during the rental period. In addition, anyone renting his or her personal vehicle through a car-sharing program may be subject to Hawaii’s motor vehicle rental law, DCCA officials said.
The Insurance Division recommends that car owners check with their insurers before participating in a car-sharing program to determine if there is any impact on their own personal motor vehicle insurance policies. People in Hawaii who rent their own vehicles through car-sharing programs may have to pay out of their own pockets for damages and injuries stemming from any accidents that occur during the rental period, as they would in any rental car arrangement.
This alert applies to car-sharing programs where people in Hawaii rent out their own vehicles, and not to subscription car rental services that rent out the companies’ own fleets of cars.