Private Car Rentals Terms and Conditions

Last updated: October 19, 2021

Please read these terms and conditions carefully before using Our Service.

 

Interpretation

The words of which the initial letter is capitalized have meanings defined under the following conditions. The following definitions shall have the same meaning regardless of whether they appear in singular or in plural.

 

Definitions

For the purposes of these Terms and Conditions:

Affiliate means an entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a party, where control means ownership of 50% or more of the shares, equity interest or other securities entitled to vote for election of directors or other managing authority.

Country refers to: Virginia, United States

Company (referred to as either the Company, Host, We, Us or Our in this Agreement) refers to Private Car Rentals, Inc., Herndon, VA 20171.

Device means any device that can access the Service such as a computer, a cellphone or a digital tablet.

Service refers to the Website.

 Terms and Conditions (also referred as Terms) mean these Terms and Conditions that form the entire agreement between You and the Company regarding the use of the Service.

 Third-party Social Media Service means any services or content (including data, information, products or services) provided by a third-party that may be displayed, included or made available by the Service.

Website refers to Private Car Rentals, accessible from https://privatecarrentals.com

You (referred to as either the You, Guest or Renter in this Agreement) means the individual accessing or using the Service, or the company, or other legal entity on behalf of which such individual is accessing or using the Service, as applicable.

 

Acknowledgment

These are the Terms and Conditions governing the use of this Service and the agreement that operates between You and the Company. These Terms and Conditions set out the rights and obligations of all users regarding the use of the Service.

 Your access to and use of the Service is conditioned on Your acceptance of and compliance with these Terms and Conditions. These Terms and Conditions apply to all visitors, users and others who access or use the Service.

 By accessing or using the Service You agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If You disagree with any part of these Terms and Conditions then You may not access the Service.

 You represent that you are over the age of 18. The Company does not permit those under 18 to use the Service.

 Your access to and use of the Service is also conditioned on Your acceptance of and compliance with the Privacy Policy of the Company. Our Privacy Policy describes Our policies and procedures on the collection, use and disclosure of Your personal information when You use the Application or the Website and tells You about Your privacy rights and how the law protects You. Please read Our Privacy Policy carefully before using Our Service.

 

Links to Other Websites

Our Service contains/may contain links to third-party web sites (i.e., Turo.com) or other services that are not owned or controlled by the Company.

The Company has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third party web sites or services. You further acknowledge and agree that the Company shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any such content, goods or services available on or through any such web sites or services.

 We strongly advise You to read the terms and conditions and privacy policies of any third-party web sites or services that You visit.

 

Introduction

Private Car Rentals, Inc, through the online car sharing platform Turo Inc. and its subsidiaries, enters into car-sharing agreements that permit vetted travelers and locals with vehicles owned by the Company.

 

Eligibility

The Services are intended solely for persons who are 18 or older. Any use of the Services by anyone that does not meet these age requirements is expressly prohibited.

 

Registration

To access certain features of the Services, you must first sign up for a Turo account  (a “Turo Account”) at https://turo.com/us/en/sign-up.

 

Verification

Where permitted, Turo has the right, but not the obligation, to undertake screenings, checks, and engage in processes designed to (1) help verify the identities or check the backgrounds of users, including driving history and driver’s license validity and (2) verify vehicle details. Turo does not endorse any vehicle, user, or a user’s background, or commit to undertake any specific screening process. Turo may in its sole discretion use third-party services to verify the information you provide to us and to obtain additional related information and corrections where applicable, and you hereby authorize Turo to request, receive, use, and store such information.

Turo may permit or refuse your request to book a vehicle in its sole and absolute discretion. Private Car Rentals is not involved in the vetting process of any person interested in renting one of its vehicles through Turo.

Fees

Turo will charge you for using the Services provided by Private Car Rentals.  The rental fee and any other charges imposed by Turo will be itemized at checkout. You can verify the amount for your trip at checkout before you submit your trip request. Private Car Rentals does not have any say in or control over any fees (above the daily rental fee) charged by Turo.  If you have an issue with the fees above the daily rental fee, you must resolve those issues directly with Turo.

When you provide Turo a payment method, you authorize Turo, or third-party service providers acting on behalf of Turo, to store your payment credential for future use in the event you owe Turo or Private Car Rentals any money pre or post trip.  Private Car Rentals does not have access to or visibility of your method of payment.

 

User Content

We may, in our sole discretion, post, upload, or publish user content on Our website that was originally provided by You through Turo regarding our Services.  This includes publicly accessible reviews and written feedback (i.e., testimonials).  Private Car Rentals does not claim any ownership rights in any such content and nothing in these Terms will be deemed to restrict any rights that you may have to use and exploit any such content.

 

Prohibited activities

In connection with your use of or access to the Services, you agree that you will not, nor advocate, encourage, request, or assist any third party to:

• Dilute, tarnish, or otherwise harm the Private Car Rentals brand in any way, including posting false, inaccurate, misleading, defamatory, or libelous content
• Registering and/or using “Private Car Rentals” or derivative terms in domain names, trade names, trademarks, or otherwise
• Registering and/or using domain names, trade names, trademarks, social media account names, or other means of identification that closely imitate or are confusingly similar to Private Car Rentals domains, trademarks, taglines, promotional campaigns, or Turo and/or user content

Fail to honor your commitments, including:

• Fail to pay fees, penalties, or other amounts owed to Private Car Rentals for your use of Our vehicles
• Fail to timely return any vehicle and optional Extras, without express written permission from Private Car Rentals
• Leave a vehicle unlocked or running with the keys inside, except where instructed to do so directly by Turo or Private Car Rentals in certain limited circumstances

Harm or threaten to harm employees or contractors working for Private Car Rentals, including:

• Verbally or physically harass, stalk, or defame any employee or contractor working for Private Car Rentals or collecting or storing any personally identifiable information
• Engage in physically or verbally abusive or threatening conduct
• Use the Services to transmit, distribute, post, or submit any information concerning any other person or entity, including without limitation, photographs of others without their permission, personal contact information, payment method details, or account numbers
• Treat anyone differently based on the way they look, who they love, what they believe, how they self-identify, where they are from, or when they were born. Discrimination of any kind is not tolerated
• Contact employees or contractors of Private Car Rentals for any purpose other than in relation to a booking, vehicle, listing, or the use of the Services

 

 

Guest/Renter commitments

As a guest, you commit that you will be a legally licensed driver and provide proof to the  Host or via the Services of a current, valid driver’s license. You will treat the vehicle and any applicable Extras well and will take all reasonable measures to return the vehicle and any applicable Extras on time and in essentially the same condition as received. You will not allow anyone other than a person listed in the trip details as an Approved Driver to drive the vehicle you booked.

 

Guest financial responsibility for physical damage to the vehicle

The guest that booked the trip (“primary guest”) is financially responsible for all physical damage to or theft of a booked vehicle that occurs during a trip, plus any additional costs and fees resulting from damage of any kind to the vehicle, regardless of who is found to be at fault. This responsibility applies whether the primary guest has their own auto insurance or not.

 

Primary guests may be insured against damage to the booked vehicle under their own automobile policies. When you book a vehicle on Turo, you agree that if any damage occurs to the booked vehicle during the booked trip, you will work with Turo to make a claim for coverage under any policy of insurance that applies to the loss.

 

The primary guest can limit the amount they are obligated to pay out of their own pocket in the event there is damage to the booked vehicle during the booked trip by choosing a protection plan offered by Turo on the Services. The limitation on the amount a primary guest may have to pay out of pocket included in any protection plan only applies (1) if the primary guest and any Approved Driver abide by these Terms and (2) to physical damage that is not mechanical or interior damage.

 

If the guest has their own personal auto policy, it will be primary over the Turo protection depending on various factors such as applicable laws, where the guest books the vehicle, and/or where the accident or damages occur.

 

Use of the vehicle

When you book a vehicle on the Services, you must use the vehicle only for your personal use and not for any commercial purposes (e.g. driving other passengers for a fee such as through Uber or Lyft or delivering food or other packages).

Our vehicles are not available for one-way rentals – a vehicle must be returned to the same location where it was picked up.

You may not access a vehicle until the trip start time and you must return the vehicle on time and to the correct location.

You must present the  Host with a current, valid driver’s license.

You must exercise reasonable care in your use of the vehicle. You are required at all times to operate the vehicle safely, and in compliance with all applicable laws, including without limitation, speed limits and prohibitions on impaired or distracted driving.

In the event Private Car Rentals or Turo has any concern about your use of a vehicle, Turo may terminate your trip in its discretion at any time and require the return of the vehicle, including recovering the vehicle on behalf of the  Host.

You are required to wear seat belts during the operation of the vehicle and to require that all of your passengers wear seat belts. You are also required to meet any laws or regulations concerning child safety seats and other protections for children.

You must not leave the car unlocked or with the keys unsecure (such as in the ignition or in an unlocked lock box).

You will not engage in any illegal activities while in possession of the vehicle or while driving/operating the vehicle

If you misuse a vehicle, you will be fully financially responsible for any related claims, loss, or damage, and your protection plan may be voided. Guests also acknowledge that using a vehicle in a prohibited manner or otherwise breaching the Agreement may lower available liability coverage to legal minimum limits, or nullify coverage, and may furthermore nullify any comprehensive or collision protection and/or protection plan where allowed by applicable law.

 

Condition of the vehicle and optional Extras

Private Car Rentals is responsible for complying with all legal requirements (including ensuring the vehicle is registered and insured) and maintaining its vehicles in safe and roadworthy condition.

Please complete a visual inspection before you begin your use of the vehicle. If you find damage in your initial inspection, you should upload photos of such pre-existing damage at the start of your reservation as described here to ensure you are not held responsible for pre-existing damage.

If you find damage on your initial inspection and fail to report it, Turo, third-party administrators, or insurance partners, may assume that the damage occurred during your reservation period. If, after your initial inspection, you believe that the vehicle is not safe to drive, please do not use the vehicle; instead, please contact the Turo team immediately at 1-415-965-4525 in the US.

 

Incident reporting

Where you elected for a protection plan when booking your trip via the Services, you must immediately report any damage to the vehicle you are using to Turo at support.turo.com, or 1-415-965-4525 in the US.

If there has been a collision, you must also make a report to the police. You will need to use all reasonable efforts to secure evidence from any available witnesses and to provide Turo or third-party claims administrators with a written description of the incident and any other information requested, including identity and insurance information of any parties involved in the incident.

You are also required to cooperate in any loss investigation conducted by Turo, third party claims administrators, or insurers. After an incident, you may not continue to use the vehicle unless you have the explicit permission of Turo staff. Failure to timely report an incident or cooperate in an investigation may reduce or invalidate any protection plan received via the Services.

 

Vehicle theft

The following conduct may result in the reporting of the vehicle you have booked as stolen to law enforcement, possibly subjecting you and any other driver to arrest, and civil and/or criminal penalties, and the voiding of your protection plan:

 

If you fail to return the vehicle you booked at the time and place agreed upon with the Host and/or designated in your reservation

If you do not return the vehicle by the end of the reservation period and you have not properly obtained an extension of the reservation through the Services as set forth here

If the vehicle is returned to any place other than the return location on the reservation or agreed upon with the Host. Any damage to, or loss or theft of, a vehicle occurring prior to the Host inspecting the vehicle upon return at the end of the reservation is the guest’s responsibility

If you misrepresent facts to the Host pertaining to booking, use, or operation of vehicle

If the vehicle’s interior components are stolen or damaged or the vehicle itself is stolen or damaged when the vehicle is left unlocked or running or unattended with the keys not secured during reservation period

If you fail or refuse to communicate in good faith with the Host, police, Turo, or other authorities with a full report of any accident or vandalism involving the vehicle or otherwise fail to cooperate in the investigation of any accident or vandalism

If the vehicle is operated by anyone who has given a fictitious name, false address, or a false or invalid driver’s license, whose driver’s license becomes invalid during the reservation period, who has obtained the keys without permission of the Host, or who misrepresents or withholds facts to/from the Host or Turo material to the booking, use, or operation of vehicle

The primary guest who books the reservation is responsible for any private investigation costs Turo deems necessary to recover a vehicle that is not returned. In addition, a $500 case administration fee will be imposed on the primary guest if Turo and/or the Host has to report a vehicle as stolen to law enforcement due to it not being returned.

 

Repossession. Turo, a hired agent of Turo, or the Host may repossess any vehicle booked through the Services without demand, at the guest’s expense, if the vehicle is not returned by the end of the reservation, is found illegally parked, apparently abandoned, or used in violation of applicable law or these Terms.

 

Missing Vehicles. If a vehicle you have booked through the Services goes missing and/or is stolen during the reservation period (or extension period), you must immediately return the original ignition key to the  Host, file a police report immediately after discovering the vehicle is missing or stolen, but in no event more than 24 hours after discovering it has gone missing, and cooperate fully with the  Host, law enforcement, Turo, and other authorities in all matters related to the investigation.

 

 

Dispute resolution

PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY. IT CONTAINS A MANDATORY ARBITRATION PROVISION AND THEREFORE AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS AND GOVERNS HOW CLAIMS BETWEEN YOU AND PRIVATE CAR RENTALS AND/OR TURO HAVE AGAINST EACH OTHER ARE RESOLVED.

 

Subject to applicable law, the Parties agree that any disputes or claims between us relating in any way to, or arising out of, this or previous versions of these Terms, your use of or access to the Services, or any breach, enforcement, or termination of the Agreement will be resolved in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Dispute resolution.

 

Pre-arbitration dispute resolution. Should a dispute or claim arise between You and Private Car Rentals via Turo, you agree to notify Turo in writing of the nature of the dispute or claim prior to initiating arbitration, and the Parties will attempt to negotiate an informal resolution to it first.

Turo will contact you at the email address you have provided it; you can contact Turo by email at noticeofdispute@turo.com. Please provide your name, phone number, email, mailing address, and briefly describe both the nature of your dispute and the relief you would like.

Full instructions on the arbitration process is described here: https://turo.com/us/en/policies/terms#specific-terms-for-guests

 

General provisions

Termination

You may discontinue your use of the Services at any time and Turo may terminate your access to the Services. Termination of access to the Services will not release a Party from any obligations it incurred prior to the termination. Termination of the Agreement will not have any effect on the disclaimers, waiver or liability limitations, or legal disputes provisions under the Agreement and/or any fees due, and all of those terms will survive any termination of the Agreement.

 

No vehicle transfer or assignment

Guests and Hosts agree that nothing in these Terms constitutes an actual or purported transfer or assignment of any right or interest in a vehicle or optional Extras shared through the Services.

 

Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, You can contact us by visiting this page on our website: https://privatecarrentals.com/contact-us