Car-Sharing Service Opens In Iceland

A new Icelandic car-sharing company is letting people rent their cars out to others, or rent a car from others themselves.

The company in question, Caritas, allows registered users to advertise their car for rent, at rates the car owner sets themselves. Other users can log on to look for a car that meets their travel needs and their budget.

The idea is not a new one, and company co-founder Vignir Már Lýðsson told MBL that Caritas’ model is based on foreign companies offering the same service. Amongst these companies are Relay Rides and easyCar. RelayRides recently came under scrutiny when a legal dispute kicked off after a fatal accident involving one of their rented cars. The dispute arose because car insurance companies in the US typically do not cover vehicles employed for commercial use.

However, all cars at Caritas are insured and come with 24-hour roadside assistance, the company is also working in close conjunction with The Icelandic Transport Authority.

For more information, check out Caritas’ FAQ.