Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Shared Vehicles in Cohos

[Chris ScottHanson (chris]

I am not an expert, but from second hand information I understand  
that it is difficult if not impossible to buy insurance to cover  
"acknowledged" car sharing. Guessing, you have to form a corporation  
and create a liability shell, and then insurance the corporation, etc.

If, on the other hand, I choose to loan my car to my neighbor once in  
a while, my policy covers me, the car and the driver I loan the car  
to.  My policy with State Farm also cover me while driving borrowed  
cars or rental cars.  NOTE that there should be NO exchange of money  
so that there is no commercial transaction.

Keep in mind that I am advocating only that there is a less formal,  
low key way to do this, as long as it is non-commercial.

Chris



On Nov 8, 2005, at 10:36 AM, Selwyn Polit wrote:

> Hi Chris,
> could you define "don't like" as in "Insurance companies don't like  
> these kinds of situations, of course." Is it really necessary to  
> explain to them that this is the situation?  If one does explain  
> this, what kinds of problems does this cause?  Of course the price  
> goes up, but any idea as to how much?
>
> Selwyn
> Austin, TX
>
>
>
> > And depending on where your community is located...  (living on an
> > island can be helpful in this case)
> >
> > Another way is to just leave the keys in those vehicles that a person
> > or household is willing to share  with others.  Then talk to your
> > neighbors over dinner and share info about use limitations or
> > idiosyncrasies for these vehicle(s) (like how to get it started), and
> > poof, you have cheap car sharing.
> >
> > Insurance companies don't like these kinds of situations, of course.
> >
> > Chris
> >
> >
> > On Nov 8, 2005, at 4:56 AM, Dave and Diane wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Andrea,
> > > We will have a Zipcar on site. Zipcar is a car cooperative, and
> > > they own the vehicle and cover insurance, gas, and maintenance. We
> > > have what is called a "sponsored account." Details below.
> > >
> > > If you wanted to use the minivan as a community car I imagine you
> > > would have to form a trust or some other ownership entity to own,
> > > maintain and insure it. This could involve some set-up work, but I
> > > think it's a great idea.
> > >
> > > --Diane(:^]
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info  
> > at: http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L/
>
> __________
> Selwyn Polit
> (512)926-7876
> <mailto:selwyn [at] austintx.com>selwyn [at] austintx.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info  
> at: http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L/