Getting commercial insurance for your FairCar listing

FairCar does not provide or arrange any insurance or coverage for hosts or vehicles. Every listed car must be covered, year-round, by a policy that permits commercial or business use of the vehicle outside of rental periods.

Most personal auto policies explicitly exclude any use of the vehicle for hire, rental, livery, or peer-to-peer car-sharing. If you list a car under a personal policy, your insurer can deny a claim and even cancel the policy — leaving you personally on the hook for any damage or liability.

The accepted alternatives are: (a) a commercial auto policy that names car-sharing/rental as a permitted use, or (b) a rideshare/delivery 'Period X' endorsement on a personal policy that extends to car-sharing. A peer-to-peer carsharing rider on top of a personal policy is also welcome.

American Insurance Group (AIG) — best for hosts listing a single vehicle. AIG writes straightforward commercial auto policies with monthly billing, no surprise audits, and a quick online quote. They're comfortable with hosts whose primary use is still personal driving with occasional peer-to-peer rentals.

Roamly — best for hosts listing 3 or more vehicles. Roamly was built specifically for peer-to-peer car-sharing fleets, so the underwriting model is designed for this exact use case. Per-vehicle premiums are typically the lowest in the market once you cross 3 cars, and they bundle multiple vehicles under one policy.

Both carriers are accepted on FairCar — you're not locked into either one. Use them as your benchmark when comparing other quotes.

When you call or fill out an online quote, ask for a 'commercial auto policy that permits peer-to-peer car-sharing / TNC (transportation network company) use.' Don't just ask for 'commercial auto' — some commercial policies still exclude rental/livery use.

Have these ready: VIN, current odometer, garaging ZIP code, your driver's license number, your estimated annual mileage, and your three-year driving history.

Ask the carrier to confirm in writing two things: (1) the policy covers the vehicle while it is being driven by a guest renter on a peer-to-peer platform, and (2) the policy covers the vehicle while it is parked and not being rented (this is the 'outside of rental periods' coverage FairCar requires).

Look at the per-vehicle annual premium, not the monthly payment. Some carriers quote low monthlies but add a setup fee that doubles the first month.

Liability limits matter — minimum acceptable is your state's mandated commercial liability limit, but most hosts choose at least $100K/$300K to protect personal assets. AIG and Roamly both default to higher commercial limits than personal carriers.

Check the deductible. A $500 collision deductible on a commercial policy is normal. A $2,500 deductible is cheap up front but expensive if a guest scratches a bumper.

Confirm whether physical damage (collision + comprehensive) is included or quoted separately. You want both for any vehicle worth more than your bank balance.

Save a PDF of your declarations page (the 'dec page'). You'll be asked to confirm carrier name during FairCar onboarding, and FairCar may request the dec page if a claim is ever filed.

Set a calendar reminder for 30 days before your renewal. Commercial policies are more sensitive to lapses than personal policies — even a one-day gap can trigger a re-underwriting at a higher rate.

Re-attest your insurance once a year on FairCar — the dashboard will prompt you automatically. If you change carriers, update the carrier name on your attestation right away.

Don't rely on the platform's coverage — FairCar does not provide one. If another platform you've used before included insurance, that policy does not extend to your FairCar trips.

Don't hide the commercial use from your insurer. If you originally wrote a personal policy and later add car-sharing, call the carrier and convert it. Otherwise the policy is voidable.

Don't forget passengers. Standard commercial auto typically covers the vehicle and the renter — verify passenger medical coverage if you want guests' passengers protected too.