California Assembly Bill AB3041

California 2019-2020 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/21/20
• Refer: 4/24/20

Caption

Peer-to-peer car sharing.

Impact

The bill requires peer-to-peer car sharing programs to assume primary liability for losses that occur during the sharing period, alongside ensuring that shared vehicles maintain adequate insurance coverage. Specifically, shared vehicles and their drivers must be covered under policies offering at least three times the minimum required insurance for private passenger vehicles. These provisions intend to protect both vehicle owners and renters while ensuring a more standardized approach to liability across various car sharing platforms.

Summary

Assembly Bill 3041 seeks to modernize regulations surrounding peer-to-peer car sharing programs in California. It aims to clarify the liability responsibilities of such programs, particularly in how they handle insurance coverage for shared vehicles. The bill repeals existing requirements that classified vehicles into commercial categories solely due to their use in sharing programs, ensuring that personal vehicles used in this manner are not retroactively labeled as commercial vehicles if they meet specified conditions.

Contention

Notable concerns arise regarding the repeal of specific insurance requirements, as critics fear that this change could lead to loopholes that impact consumer protection. Furthermore, the provision allowing commercial airport authorities to regulate access and charge fees to peer-to-peer car sharing services has sparked discussions about potential inequities and operational challenges for smaller car sharing companies. Stakeholders are debating whether this localization of regulatory authority could hinder competition or innovation in the burgeoning car-sharing market.