I am a writer with ValuePenguin (www.valuepenguin.com), a site that provides consumers with helpful articles and information on financial topics. I’m looking to interview auto insurance professionals, car rental experts, car sharing companies, and car sharing users/consumers for the following article:
RIDE SHARING RISKS RELATED TO CAR INSURANCE: WHAT TO CONSIDER AUTO INSURANCE-WISE BEFORE RENTING OUT YOUR CAR TO STRANGERS VIA LYFT, UBER, RELAYRIDES, SIDECAR, GETAROUND AND OTHER SERVICES. Below is a list of questions I’m seeking answers to. I can either conduct a phone or email interview (with the latter, please email me back full-sentence written responses that I can use as quotes). My deadline is noon central time, Thursday, March 19, 2015.
QUESTIONS:
1. (This first question is only for consumers who have participated in a car-sharing service either as the driver borrower or car owner/lender) What car sharing service have you participated in, when, and why? How much did it cost you or how much did you earn? What was required of you when it came to auto insurance? What advice (especially regarding auto insurance) would you give to others when it comes to participating in car sharing services, either as a car owner or car borrower? What is your full name, age, occupation, and city/state location?
2. (All remaining questions are for professionals only) What do auto insurance companies require, cover, and charge extra for when a car owner wants to participate in a car sharing service like Uber, Lyft, RelayRides, etc.? Do they have to take out a special policy, rider or supplemental coverage? What are the restrictions/stipulations, and what should these car owner/lenders be aware of before participating?
3. What do auto insurance companies require of the non-owner driver who will be borrowing the car-sharing automobile? Do they have to take out a special policy, rider or supplemental coverage? Whose auto insurance policy applies when the borrower drives the borrowed car: the borrower’s, or the owner’s? What should these non-owner borrowers be particularly aware of?
4. Do these auto insurance requirements/coverage limits/rules pertaining to car sharing vary from state to state? How so? Can you give an example of one state’s rules vs. another’s?
5. What are the auto insurance-related risks/repercussions to lending out your car via a rideshare program like Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, etc. (especially financial risks)? Do the rewards outweigh these risks? Please provide a hypothetical example of a common or not-so-common risk compared to the reward so that we can understand the dollars at stake.
6. How is the auto insurance industry adapting to/changing in any when it comes to the car-sharing movement? What is your prediction—how will this issue evolve, and what can car sharing lenders/borrowers expect in the near or long-term future regarding auto insurance matters?
7. What recommendations can you give or best practice advice can you offer to car sharing lenders and borrowers so that they reduce their risks, keep auto insurance premiums/fees low, and protect their interests?
8. Any other thoughts or ideas on this topic you’d like to offer?
9. What is your full name, title, degrees/credentials, company, city/state location, and email address?
