Guide to late returns

If the driver can’t return your car on time, it's imperative that they extend the rental via their rental page so the insurance coverage is also extended, otherwise any damages to the car will be their sole responsibility. Your coverage is not affected either way.

Note that the extension request can only be made via the driver’s account. However, you may need to validate their request on your end.

The extension will be accepted automatically, provided you haven’t blocked the car’s calendar and there is no other rental booked for that same timeframe.

If your car is not available or if you choose not to accept the extension, the driver must return the car on time. If they’re unable to extend even though the car is available and you’re willing to let them keep it for longer, they should immediately contact our customer support team to get help before the rental end time has been reached. Past that point, an extension will no longer be possible.

Late fees

If the driver doesn’t extend the rental and is late by more than 30 minutes, you’re entitled to a compensation of $30 per start hour of lateness. In addition, the driver will have to pay the usual rental price for the extra time they had the car, so you’ll be compensated the same as you would be for an extension.

For example: if the driver returns the car 45 minutes late, that counts as 1 hour of lateness so you’ll receive $30 in late fees. If the driver is 2 hours and 30 minutes late, that counts as 3 hours of lateness, so you’ll receive $90 in late fees. In both cases, you’ll also get the normal compensation for extending the rental.

You’re only entitled to late fees if the driver is more than 30 minutes late, otherwise, they’re within the tolerated grace period. The maximum late fee that can be charged is $300. If after 24 hours the car still hasn’t been returned, you should report it to the police as stolen and let us know. Click here for more information.

Note: If a Driver returns a car late, Getaround may, upon successfully collecting the corresponding Late Return Fee from such Driver, remit compensation for each hour the Driver is late returning the car.

Fees will apply automatically starting from 30 minutes of lateness. If you want to waive them as a gesture to the driver, you have 24 hours from the end of the rental to opt-out. To do so, go to Your Rentals > Ended rentals > Selected rental > Switch the toggle to “opt-out.”