Renters FAQs

Q: How old do I have to be to rent?
A: In most cases, you must be 21 years old to rent a vehicle.
However, you may be able to join as young as 18 if:
• You have a squeaky clean driving record
• You have been driving for a minimum of 2 years
• You have your own auto insurance policy

Note: Unlike other car sharing and car rental companies, we won’t charge
you any extra age-related fees!

Q: Where are the cars located:
A: We don’t know quite yet. The cars will be located where the owners make them available. We’ll be posting information about the available cars as they are enrolled in the system.

Q: How much will the rentals cost?
A: Each owner sets the price for his or her vehicle, but we provide the general guidelines below:
Pricing per reserved hour, includes gasoline, insurance, parking.

Q: How long can I reserve a car?
A: With RelayRides, you can reserve an available car for as long as you need it! The reservation could be as short as an hour, or can last for multiple days. Many of our members make their car available for a few hours at a time, while others make their car available for days or even weeks at a time if they’re traveling or know they won’t be using their car. When searching for a vehicle on RelayRide’s website you can narrow down available cars by the length of time you will need one.

Q: What happens if a car I’ve requested is not there?
A: Owners select where and when a car is available for rental, and can modify these parameters at any time. In the unlikely even that an owner lists a car for rental then takes it out, RelayRides will help you locate the closest vehicle to you. RelayRides GPS tracks your car during the rental, and will alert you if the car is not going to be there. We will assess an owner penalty and if this happens again, the owner will be banned from the RelayRides network. We also actively encourage you to rate the cars provided by the owners. You can select to rent only from 4-star or 5-star owners.

Q: Will the cars be safe and well-maintained?
A: Members of RelayRides are part of a trusted network. We screen drivers’ records and ask for recent maintenance records for vehicles. However, we are simply a marketplace and ultimate risk and responsibilities lie with the parties to the rental transaction –the car owner and the renter. However, we encourage renters to rate vehicles (and vice versa). Therefore, renters should be able to tell the condition of the vehicle before renting it. Also, owners have an incentive to keep their cars well maintained as poorly maintained cars will not achieve desirable ratings and will be hard to rent out. Yes. Every vehicle is regularly maintained and safe to drive.

Q: What if I need gas during my rental?
A: Go ahead and fill-er-up! Gas is included in your rental, and all renters are asked to fill up with gas when the car reaches 1 / 4 tank. A card found in the driver’s side visor can be used at the pump to pay for gas. Most cars will use regular unleaded but the gas card will tell you if you must use premium gasoline.

Q: Is mileage included in my rental?
A: 20 miles per hour and 160 miles per day are included in the rental. Additional mileage will incur a fee.

Q: What if I get a flat tire or have another non-emergency problem while renting a car?
A: RelayRides provides 24 hour road-side assistance for all vehicles. Call the 24 hour hotline posted in the car and we will dispatch a tow truck and/or service crew to help you. We will do everything we can to get you on your way as quickly as possible.

Q: How will I get access to the vehicle?
A: Once your rental is reserved and approved, your wireless key card (the same as your membership card) will be activated so that when you wave it in front of the access device installed on the car, it will unlock the car. You’ll find the car keys hanging by the ignition of the vehicle (the ignition is immobilized and will not start if it has not been given proper authorization by the RelayRides system).

Q: What if the parking space I took the car from is occupied when I return it?
A. Park the car as close to the original spot as you can, and we will take care of the rest, by alerting the owner and updating the car’s location via RelayRides’s GPS technology.

Q: What if I want to extend my reservation?
A: RelayRides will alert you by text message when your reservation is about to end, and inform you if the vehicle is available for an extension. If you would like to extend the reservation and the car is available, just let us know.

Q: What happens if I return the car late?
A: When your reservation is over, it is likely that someone else – either the car owner or another renter – will be waiting to use the car. For this reason it’s very important you return the car on-time. Renters who return a car more than 5 minutes late will be assessed a late fee, and to be fair to all owners and renters, those who are chronically late will be banned from participating.

Q: Can I smoke in the car?
A: No! Many of our members are extremely sensitive to smoke, and a penalty will be charged to any renter who has been smoking in a vehicle.

Q: Can I take pets in the car?
A: It depends. We understand that pets can be part of a family and occasionally you may need to take little Fluffy and Bones to the vet or on a trip. However, because some of our members are highly allergic to certain animals, pets can only be taken in certain cars. When searching for your vehicle online you will be able to narrow your search to only those cars that allow animals. In pet-approved cars, all pets must travel in pet carriers.

Q: Can my friend drive a car that I have reserved?
A: Only drivers approved by RelayRides are covered by the insurance provided during the rental. So, if your friend is a RelayRides member, it is not a problem to let him or her drive. However, if your friend is not a member, they cannot drive the vehicle.

Q: How am I insured? What happens if I get in an accident?
A: RelayRides provides a supplemental insurance policy to cover the rental period. However, there is a $500 deductible, so you will be responsible for paying the first $500 of any damages.