Protection plans

Protection plans – In detail | Guests

Protection plans made available on CBCAR to guests include liability insurance and a contract that sets forth your level of responsibility for Physical Damage (which is not insurance). The options include other benefits such as access to roadside assistance, and guests in New York receive priority routing when they call customer support. 

Note: For trips booked in the state of Washington, insurance purchased by CBCAR covers Physical Damage to the host’s vehicle, but CBCAR’s insurance does not change the contractual responsibilities of hosts or guests with respect to Physical Damage to a host’s vehicle.

Guest Responsibilities

As the primary Guest, you’re responsible for:

  • returning the Vehicle on time in the same condition it was in when you first received it
  • Physical Damage (the actual tangible damage) to the Vehicle in the event of a collision or comprehensive events, or theft of the Vehicle (and Related Costs) during the period of the booked trip, regardless of who is found to be at fault for the damage
  • claims processing costs up to Rs.10000 per claim — if a third party accepts total fault for the claim and that third party’s insurer processes it on behalf of the host without substantial processing by CBCAR’s third-party claims administrator, we’ll refund the Guest’s processing fee
  • the actual cash value (ACV) of a Vehicle if there’s Physical Damage that results in it being a total loss, plus Related Costs, minus the salvage value, if any.

Our protection plans for guests do not cover interior damage or mechanical damage — you’re responsible for repair or replacement, as well as Related Costs, for interior damage or mechanical damage occurring during the trip.  Normal wear and tear to the interior or mechanical breakdowns not caused by your neglect or abuse are not your responsibility. The limitation of financial responsibility available under the Premier, Standard, and Minimum plans doesn’t apply to interior damage or mechanical damage.

How guests can protect themselves

  • Choose one of three plans that contractually limit the amount you’re legally obligated to pay out-of-pocket in the event of Physical Damage to the Vehicle that’s not covered, or fully covered by your own insurance 
  • Protect yourself against an allegation that damage to the Vehicle occurred during the period of the booked trip by taking photos of the condition of the Vehicle, including any existing damage, at the start of the booked trip — upload the photos to Trip Photos at the start of the trip. 

Coverage for Physical Damage

Guests may be insured against Physical Damage to the Vehicle during the booked trip under their own automobile policies. Even if the third-party liability insurance coverage under the Guest’s own car insurance doesn’t apply, the first-party liability coverage for physical damage (as defined in that policy) may. When a primary Guest books a vehicle on CBCAR, the primary Guest agrees that if any Physical Damage to the Vehicle occurs during the booked trip, the primary Guest will work with CBCAR to make a claim for coverage under any policy of insurance that applies to the loss.

Protection plans to limit out-of-pocket costs for Physical Damage

The contractual limitation of financial responsibility included in these protection plans ONLY applies:

  • to the amount the primary Guest is obligated to pay in excess of insurance that is available from the Guest and has been collected; and
  • if the primary Guest and each approved secondary driver abides by the CBCAR Terms of service and policies;
  • to Physical Damage that is not Mechanical or Interior Damage.

Primary Guests may choose from three (3) options that contractually limit the amount they’re legally obligated to pay out-of-pocket in the event of Physical Damage to the Vehicle that’s not covered or fully covered by their own insurance, or an option to decline:

  1. “Premier” plan: Under the Premier plan, the primary Guest isn’t responsible for paying out-of-pocket costs for reported Physical Damage (other than eligible Mechanical or Interior Damage) to the Vehicle. When Physical Damage is reported, the primary Guest won’t be financially obligated for the cost of the damage and will pay no deductible to CBCAR. When Mechanical or Interior Damage is reported, the primary Guest will be charged for eligible damage once a final assessment of the damage cost has been made. A Guest who chooses the Premier plan is still responsible for costs unrelated to liability or physical damage costs. These may include such costs as excess mileage costs, parking tickets/tolls, and unremitted fuel costs. The Premier plan isn’t available for trips booked in some vehicles with a total market value of more than Rs. 250,00,00.00 or any vehicles with a total market value of more than Rs. 60,00,00.00. Primary Guests between the ages of 18-20 may not select this plan. Some guests may be unable to select the Premier plan based on trip details, the type of vehicle, or other factors.
    • Note: third-party liability coverage under the Travelers policy is still secondary (excess) for Guests who have other applicable coverage under the Premier plan, other than in some circumstances in the state of Maryland and New York.
  2. "Standard" plan: Under the Standard plan, the amount that the primary Guest is liable to pay out of their own pocket for Physical Damage (other than Mechanical or Interior Damage) to the Vehicle during the booked trip, plus Related Costs such as claims administrative fees and appraisal costs (and after exhaustion of any other applicable insurance), is contractually limited to Rs 12000. When damage is reported, the primary Guest will be charged a Rs 12000 damage deposit. If the final damages plus all Related Costs, minus insurance collected, are below the deposit amount, or the claim is not covered, the difference will be refunded. Primary Guests between the ages of 18-20 may select this plan.
  3. Minimum plan: Under the Minimum plan, the amount that the primary Guest is liable to pay out of their own pocket for Physical Damage (other than Mechanical or Interior Damage) to the Vehicle during the booked trip, plus Related Costs such as claims administrative fees and appraisal costs (and after exhaustion of any other applicable insurance), is contractually limited to Rs. 30000. When damage is reported, the primary Guest will be charged a Rs. 12000 damage deposit unless there was major damage (nondrivable) to the Vehicle, in which case a Rs. 30000 damage deposit will be charged. If the final damages plus all Related Costs, minus insurance collected, are below the deposit amount, or the claim is not covered, the difference will be refunded. Primary Guests between the ages of 18-20 may select this plan.
  4. “Decline Physical Damage Protection” plan: Under this plan, the primary Guest’s financial responsibility for damage to the Vehicle isn’t contractually limited at all. When damage is reported, the primary Guest will be charged a Rs. 12000damage deposit unless there was major damage (nondrivable) to the Vehicle, in which case a Rs. 240000  damage deposit will be charged.  If the final damages plus all Related Costs such as claims administrative fees and appraisal costs, minus insurance collected, are below the deposit amount, or the claim is not covered, the difference will be refunded. Primary Guests between the ages of 18-20 may not select this plan. The primary Guest is legally liable for the cost of repairs or, in the event of a total loss, the actual cash value of the car, plus all Related Costs such as claims administrative fees and appraisal costs, whether the primary Guest has their own insurance or not. For example, if the Vehicle is lost, stolen, or damaged during the booked trip so extensively that the expected cost of repairs exceeds 75% of the actual cash value, the primary Guest is legally liable to pay the entire actual cash value of the car, plus all Related Costs, minus any residual salvage value. If the primary Guest’s liability is not insured, the primary Guest is obligated to pay that money from his or her own pocket. If the primary Guest has applicable insurance, the primary Guest must pay the difference between the loss and the amount paid by the primary Guest’s insurer.
    • Note: Some guests may be unable to decline a protection plan based on trip details, the type of vehicle, or other factors.

If you have questions about selecting among these options, consult your insurance professional. You can also contact us at help.CBCAR.com.

Third-party auto liability insurance  

All CBCAR trips include coverage under a third-party liability insurance policy issued to CBCAR, from Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company (“Travelers”). The Travelers policy provides secondary (excess) coverage, to ensure that any CBCAR-approved driver will be insured up to the state minimum limits required for third-party liability unless primary coverage is explicitly required by an applicable state statute (e.g., Maryland and New York).

Third-party coverage

The Travelers policy provides Guests with the following coverage, which is active while they’re driving the booked vehicle during the booked trip subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions:

  1. Bodily injury and property damage to third parties:
    • The Travelers policy insures Guests against liability to third parties for bodily injury and third-party property damage resulting from the use of the booked vehicle during the booked trip. The coverage provided is up to the minimum liability coverage required by state law. Guests can’t decline this coverage.
    • If the primary Guest selects the Premier plan (discussed below), the limits of the coverage provided under the Travelers policy are increased to a combined single limit of Rs. 75,00,000** subject to the terms of the policy.
  2. Personal Injury Protection (“PIP”):
    • The Travelers policy provides the minimum amount of PIP coverage allowed by law in those states where PIP coverage is required and can’t be waived.
    • The scope of PIP coverage varies by state. It typically protects Guests and passengers (up to a stated dollar amount) for:
      • medical expenses
      • loss of income
      • funeral expenses
      • similar expenses resulting from injuries incurred during the use of the booked vehicle during the booked trip
    • Coverage is provided regardless of who was at fault.
    • CBCAR has either waived this coverage entirely or subscribed to the lowest limit allowable by state law. CBCAR’s election binds hosts and Guests and agrees to be bound by that election under the Terms of Service.
    • The attached files include specific elections, rejections, and waivers for each state, and are incorporated by reference and made a part of the Terms of Service.
  3. Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist (“UM/UIM"):  
    • The Travelers policy includes the statutory minimum amount of UM/UIM coverage in those states where UM/UIM coverage is required by law and can’t be waived.  
    • UM/UIM coverage, when available, protects Guests and passengers from losses resulting from bodily injury caused by:
      • an uninsured driver
      • a hit-and-run driver
      • a driver whose limits of liability have been exhausted
      • a driver whose insurer is insolvent while in the booked vehicle during the booked trip
    • CBCAR has either waived this coverage entirely or subscribed to the lowest limit allowable by state law. Hosts and Guests are bound by CBCAR’s election and agree to be bound by that election pursuant to the Terms of Service.  
    • The files linked below include specific elections, rejections, and waivers for each state, and are incorporated by reference and made a part of the Terms of Service.

Guest primary coverage vs excess coverage

The third-party liability insurance coverage provided to Guests under the Travelers policy is always secondary (excess) to any other applicable insurance the Guest may have. For example, if the Guest has their own personal auto policy, it will be primary over the CBCAR protection.  

Exception for Maryland: In Maryland, the third-party liability insurance will be primary unless the Guest is using CBCAR for a replacement vehicle while the Guest’s own insured vehicle is repaired. Guests should consult the language of their policy or speak to their own insurance agent to determine whether a car booked on CBCAR is considered a “replacement vehicle” under the Guest’s policy. If a Guest is insured under an auto insurance policy issued in Maryland that includes collision and/or comprehensive coverage for physical damage, the Guest’s collision coverage is primary during the booked trip with the Vehicle. If the Vehicle qualifies as a “replacement vehicle,” the Guest’s comprehensive physical damage coverage is also primary. For questions or information about the third-party liability insurance that is included in protection plans, consumers in Maryland and the licensed states listed here may contact CBCAR Insurance Agency at (415) 508-0283 / claims@CBCAR.agency. For questions about how damage to a host’s vehicle is handled, visit help.CBCAR.com.

**Exception for New York: In New York, third-party liability insurance will always be primary and have a limit of Rs. 1,250,000.

Guests should consult the language of their policy or speak to their own insurance agent to understand what coverage might exist for physical damage under their own auto insurance policies during the period of the booked trip. CBCAR and CBCAR Insurance Agency don’t provide information or advice about the Guest’s own coverage.  

Note: Neither CBCAR nor CBCAR Insurance Agency provide information or advice about the existence or scope of any coverage that might be available under the host’s personal policy during the booked trip.

Important considerations   

Know your own coverage

  • If you have an auto liability insurance policy, find out what your insurance covers when you’re driving a car booked through CBCAR. 
  • Don’t assume that your personal auto insurance policy or credit card coverage applies to person-to-person car-sharing trip bookings in the same way it applies to traditional rental car bookings. Get more information about credit card coverage.  
  • Carefully check the terms and conditions of your policies and consult your own insurance agent before you decide which CBCAR protection plan is right for you.

Terms of Service violations

For the Premier, Standard, and Minimum plans, if the Guest or any of their approved secondary drivers violate the Terms of Service, engages in any Prohibited Uses or otherwise intentionally, recklessly, or with wanton disregard, misuse the car, the contractual limitation of financial responsibility is void and does not apply. That means that the primary Guest will be fully liable for physical damage, including up to the actual cash value of the car, in addition to all Related Costs.

Terms to know

  • Guest - Refers to the primary guest tied to the trip booking. We also use it to refer to any CBCAR-authorized additional drivers. 
  • Physical Damage - Any damage to the vehicle
  • Related Costs- These include all costs and fees resulting from damage of any kind to the Vehicle during the booked trip. Cost and fees include but aren’t limited to:
    • estimation or appraisal costs  
    • storage fees
    • towing fees
    • repair or replacement costs
    • registration or transfer taxes
    • claims processing costs and all similar or associated costs, minus any residual salvage value that’s collected
  • Vehicle - Refers to the vehicle booked during the applicable reservation