Question 1

Who can sign up for FairCar?

Accepted Answer

Anyone 18+ can create an account. To book a car you must be 21+ (25+ for luxury, sport, and EV listings) with a valid driver's license issued at least 12 months ago.

Question 2

Do I need separate accounts to host and rent?

Accepted Answer

No. The same account works for both. From your dashboard you can list a vehicle and book one — your guest and host trip histories are kept separate.

Question 3

Is FairCar available outside the US?

Accepted Answer

We currently operate in the United States. International guests visiting the US can book with a foreign license (most countries supported) — see /guides/age-license-eligibility for details.

Question 4

Is there a FairCar mobile app?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and the web app installs to your home screen as a Progressive Web App. Every feature works the same on smartphone, tablet, and desktop. You'll see an Install prompt the first time you visit on your phone.

Question 5

How do I verify my identity?

Accepted Answer

During signup or at first booking, you'll upload a photo of your driver's license and take a short selfie video. Verification usually completes in under 5 minutes.

Question 6

How is the guest service fee calculated?

Accepted Answer

10% of the trip subtotal with a $9.99 per-booking minimum. There is no cap and no hidden markup on the host's nightly rate.

Question 7

When is my card charged?

Accepted Answer

Authorized at checkout for the trip total plus a refundable security deposit (typically $250–$750 depending on the vehicle). The trip total is captured 24 hours before pickup; the deposit is captured at pickup and released after a clean return.

Question 8

What payment methods are accepted?

Accepted Answer

Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and Apple/Google Pay. Most hosts accept debit cards but may require a higher deposit hold.

Question 9

Can I book a car for someone else?

Accepted Answer

No. The person driving must be the one who booked. You can add additional drivers (with their own IDs) at checkout.

Question 10

How fast do hosts respond?

Accepted Answer

Most listings are Instant Book — you're confirmed in seconds. Request-to-book listings show the host's typical response time (usually under 1 hour during the day).

Question 11

What happens if my flight is delayed?

Accepted Answer

Open the trip page → Modify trip and push your pickup time. There's no fee for an airport-listing delay if you update the time before the original pickup.

Question 12

What's the inspection process?

Accepted Answer

Both you and the host complete a photo inspection at pickup and again at return. The app walks you through every angle and records the odometer and fuel/charge level. This is the evidence that protects your deposit.

Question 13

What if I go over the mileage cap?

Accepted Answer

Overage rates ($0.45–$0.85/mi depending on vehicle) are shown on the listing before you book. The final amount appears on your receipt within 24 hours of return.

Question 14

Can I take the car out of state?

Accepted Answer

Yes, within the listing's allowed area (typically the host's home state plus adjacent states). International and Mexico crossings are off-limits unless the listing specifically allows it.

Question 15

What if I have an accident?

Accepted Answer

Make sure everyone is safe, call 911 if anyone is injured, file a police report, photograph the scene, and open a safety report from your trip page. Do not negotiate cash on-scene.

Question 16

How long until my deposit is released?

Accepted Answer

Once both sides submit a clean return inspection, FairCar releases the hold within 72 hours. Your bank typically posts the refund 3–10 business days after that.

Question 17

Can I extend my trip mid-rental?

Accepted Answer

Yes — open the trip page and request an extension. Most are approved in under 30 minutes if the car is still available.

Question 18

What does it cost to host on FairCar?

Accepted Answer

A flat monthly subscription, billed only in months where you have at least one completed booking. We never take a percentage of your earnings. Fleets (2+ vehicles) pay $149/mo for up to 10 vehicles, then $10/mo per additional.

Question 19

Do I need commercial insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. FairCar requires commercial auto insurance on every listed vehicle because personal policies almost always exclude rental use. We don't sell insurance ourselves.

Question 20

How quickly will I get bookings?

Accepted Answer

Most well-photographed, well-priced listings get their first request within 7 days of going live. See the Listing Health badge on your listing for tips to improve conversion.

Question 21

When do I get paid?

Accepted Answer

Payouts are issued via Stripe Connect after each completed trip — typically arriving in your bank 1–2 business days later. Your host subscription fee is deducted from your first payout of each month.

Question 22

Can I block dates for personal use?

Accepted Answer

Yes — open the calendar for any vehicle and block specific dates or set recurring unavailability (e.g., every Sunday).

Question 23

What if a guest damages my car?

Accepted Answer

Open a damage claim from the trip page within 48 hours of return, upload your before/after photos, and submit a repair estimate. Most claims resolve within 5 business days.

Question 24

What's refundable if I cancel?

Accepted Answer

Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of booking AND the trip is still at least 7 days away. Otherwise non-refundable. Host cancellations always refund 100%.

Question 25

Are there any other guest fees?

Accepted Answer

Optional add-ons you select (child seat, prepaid miles), sales tax where applicable, and the refundable deposit. We don't add booking, insurance, or 'platform' fees on top of the 10% service fee.

Question 26

Why does my deposit appear as two charges on my statement?

Accepted Answer

Pre-authorization and capture look like two transactions. The authorization (pending) drops off when the capture posts — your statement balance reflects only the captured amount.

Question 27

What is the host subscription deducted from?

Accepted Answer

Your first payout of each month. If you have no completed bookings in a month, no subscription is charged.

Question 28

Does FairCar collect sales tax?

Accepted Answer

Where required by state and local law, yes. The exact tax amount appears as a separate line at checkout.

Question 29

Does FairCar provide insurance?

Accepted Answer

No — FairCar is a marketplace, not an insurer. Hosts maintain commercial auto policies on their vehicles. Guests rely on their personal auto insurance (which often extends to rentals) or their credit card's rental coverage.

Question 30

What if my credit card offers rental coverage?

Accepted Answer

Many premium cards include secondary rental coverage. Check with your issuer before the trip and bring the policy details — you may need them to file a claim.

Question 31

What happens if I have a safety issue with a host or guest?

Accepted Answer

Tap 'Report a safety issue' from the trip page. Reports route to our on-call safety team 24/7 and are reviewed in under 2 hours.

Question 32

Can I see a host's or guest's identity is verified?

Accepted Answer

Yes — verified accounts show a check badge next to their name. Hover or tap for details on what's been verified (ID, phone, email).

Question 33

What if the car is stolen during my trip?

Accepted Answer

Call 911 first, then open a safety report. Our team coordinates with the host's insurer and local police. Your deposit and personal items are protected while the investigation runs.

Question 34

What is Sparkle Streak?

Accepted Answer

A guest reward program. Every trip the host marks 'Cleaned to perfection!' on return counts toward your streak. 5 streak trips earn 5% off your next booking, 10 earn 10%, 20 earn 15%.

Question 35

What resets my streak?

Accepted Answer

Returning a car visibly dirty, with trash, under fuel/charge level, or with confirmed damage. Streaks reset to zero but never go negative.

Question 36

Where do I see my streak?

Accepted Answer

Dashboard → Rewards. You'll see your current streak, next-tier threshold, and active discount.

Question 37

Do rewards stack with host discounts?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Sparkle Streak applies to the final price after any host-side weekly or monthly discount.

Question 38

How do I enable two-factor authentication?

Accepted Answer

Dashboard → Account → Security → Two-factor authentication. We strongly recommend an authenticator app over SMS.

Question 39

I forgot my password — what now?

Accepted Answer

Go to faircar.app/forgot and enter your email. The reset link is valid for 60 minutes.

Question 40

How do I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

Dashboard → Account → Delete account. We retain trip records for 7 years as required by tax law, but your profile, contact info, and payment methods are erased immediately.

Question 41

Where does FairCar store my data?

Accepted Answer

On encrypted infrastructure in the United States. See /privacy for the full data-handling policy.

Question 42

Can I export my trip history?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Dashboard → Account → Export data. You'll get a CSV emailed within an hour.

Frequently asked questions

Getting started

Booking a car (guests)

During and after your trip

Hosting and listings

Payments, refunds, and fees

Trust, safety & insurance

Rewards and loyalty

Account & privacy