Created a peer-to-peer car sharing program, which will prescribe insurance coverage and other related details while using a car sharing application.

Rhode Island Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Program Bill

This bill would create a legal framework in Rhode Island for peer-to-peer car sharing — a service where private car owners rent their personal vehicles to other individuals through smartphone apps or online platforms (similar to how Turo or Getaround work). Right now, there are no specific state rules governing how these arrangements work, and this bill would establish clear guidelines for how they must operate in Rhode Island.

A major focus of the bill is insurance coverage. It would spell out exactly who is responsible for insurance at each stage of a car sharing transaction — when the car is being matched with a renter, while the renter is driving the car, and after the rental period ends. This would help clarify whether the car owner's personal auto insurance, the car sharing company's insurance, or some combination of both applies if an accident happens during a rental.

The bill affects several groups of people: private car owners who want to earn money by renting out their vehicles, renters who want to borrow someone else's car, and the car sharing platform companies that connect them. It would set rules that platforms must follow and ensure that both owners and renters know what insurance protections are in place before, during, and after a rental.

Currently, the bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee and has been scheduled for hearings, though some meetings have been postponed. It has not yet been passed into law, and the committee has recommended holding it for further study, meaning lawmakers are still reviewing and potentially refining the details.