Car sharing law close to reality in Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. – A proposal is making its way through the Oregon Legislature that will make it legal for car owners to loan or rent their cars to someone else for a fee.

The new law will allow what’s called peer-to-peer car sharing. Under current Oregon law, people can get into trouble if they loan their car to someone and they are in a crash. The car owner’s insurance is on the hook and it can raise the owner’s insurance rates or get their policy canceled.

The new rules will allow car-sharing services and offer a system that includes separate insurance. It would provide short-term insurance for the borrower as long as the owner registers through a third-party program.

There are plenty of people, like Jessica Roberts, who don’t need a car very often because they ride a bike or take public transportation most of the time.

“We don’t need one (a car) that often but when we do it can make as big difference – as you can imagine the trip to the vet or sometimes taking my son to certain places where we don’t want to bike. It could make a big difference to have a car once or twice a month,” she said.

Roberts and her family don’t own a car but have always shied away from borrowing because they don’t want to impose on friends or their friends’ insurance policies.

“By joining one of these services, then I can also feel confident that when I’m driving I’m the one who’s responsible for my coverage,” she said.

The personal vehicle-sharing legislation has passed overwhelmingly in the House and is now on its way to the Senate.

California was first to pass a similar law last fall, and it’s catching on quickly in the San Francisco area.

The legislation in Oregon is House Bill 3149.

For more online information about car sharing:

• Portland AFoot
• GetAround.com - A California company that offers car sharing