The Airbnb For Cars Launches in DC

• May 18, 2015

by Lark Turner

A car-sharing service that lets you take your neighbors’ car to get groceries using an app officially launched in DC on Monday.

Getaround lets car owners rent out their car using the service, then pays those owners for their time and provides insurance covering the car and rental driver. DC is the San Francisco company’s first market on the east coast.

In a news release, the company’s founder, Jessica Scorpio, said DC was a “dream market” for the service.

“We received thousands of pre-launch sign ups in the DC area, “ she said. “We’re excited to be part of the city’s innovative transportation network, and to be empowering more Washingtonians to live car-free.”

Renters can select and rent out cars using an iPhone or Android app. Unlike other car services, there is no fee to join and renters pay only for the time they rent the car. Rentals start at $5 an hour.

The company charges car owners a $99 installation fee, a $20/month rental fee and takes 40 percent of the car’s rental earnings. In exchange they provide $1,000,000 in insurance, including liability, collision, property damage, uninsured motorist protection and theft. After all that, Getaround claims “active users” can earn $10,000 a year renting their car.

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/car-sharing_company_getaround_launches_in_dc/9901