HONOLULU — The Hawaii Department of Taxation has been boosting its monitoring of peer-to-peer car rentals.
The industry operates with the help of apps like Turo, which people can use to rent their personal cars to others.
Department Director Isaac Choy told Hawaii Public Radio that residents should do research before doing so.
One thing to know, he said, is that Hawaii law requires taxes and a rental car surcharge to be collected on every vehicle.
“I think it’s along the lines of vacation rentals and everything. Everybody’s trying to make a little extra money,” Choy said. “Peer-to-peer cars, I don’t know if it’s going to be the next big thing, but it’s going to be a thing and we just want to make sure that if you’re renting your car that you’re being really, really fair with any commercial car rental operation.”
The state requires Turo to pay rental car taxes, he said. The person who owns the car must pay a half-a-percent wholesale rate.
Lou Bertuca, the head of government relations for Turo, told The Associated Press rental car companies don’t pay sales taxes on vehicles they purchase in most states, creating what he called a “front-end sales-tax loophole.” In Hawaii, Bertuca said the companies must pay a 0.5% tax on vehicle purchases, which is significantly less than the more than 4% general excise tax plus paid by Hawaii retail car buyers.
Choy said owners should also check with their insurance agent or attorney before posting their vehicle on Turo because it’s important to know what their liability would be if a renter damages the vehicle or private property.
Some residents have complained to officials after seeing their streets become parking lots for vehicles. The issue emerged at a Waialae-Kahala neighborhood board meeting this month.
Tax department investigators recently checked out a site in Kahala and took pictures of more than a dozen cars offered on Turo that were parked on public streets.
The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting has received complaints from Kahala as well as Ewa, Kalihi and Salt Lake.
Turo wants people to reach out to the company to let them know if a host is not being a good neighbor, Bertuca said. “We want hosts to be good community members and citizens,” he said.
Hawaii airport officials have ticketed operators in Honolulu and Maui. They said they are monitoring the situation closely and considering changing some administrative rules.
Turo is trying to obtain parking permits from airports around the country, Bertuca said. It already has such arrangements with airports in Denver and Tampa, he said.
Choy said. “Peer-to-peer cars, I don’t know if it’s going to be the next big thing, but it’s going to be a thing and we just want to make sure that if you’re renting your car that you’re being really, really fair with any commercial car rental operation.”
Taxation doesn’t give a _____ about the car rental companies! They want the tax money!!! Good government begins with TELLING THE TRUTH Mr. Choy
While Turo vehicles may be lining the streets of Oahu, private rental offers are filling Facebook on Kaua’i. Many have no business insurance or license, are not paying taxes, and are offering old vehicles that will break down on renters leaving them stranded. This affects all of us.
There is a misconception that full coverage insurance is sufficient. It is not enough. When aunty is hit by an uninsured driver, we all suffer. When she is killed, the suffering spreads.
Please, if you are renting out your vehicle, know the laws, not just what your friend told you. The renter’s personal auto insurance or the owner’s personal Insurance does NOT cover you when renting from an individual unless they have business insurance and a license to rent vehicles.
Anyone renting vehicles to the public must register as a business and pay a rental vehicle surcharge tax to the state. See Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 18 Chapter 251. The state is actively pursuing individuals renting out cars without a business license.
Why make this official? There’s a parking fee. But the rental would be able to offset it. You will get more as a renter. They pay a parking fee at their homes.
Equity. Renter has it.
hahahaha love it ! great idea….way around taxes….loan your car for free, but rent a pillow in the back seat for $200 per day…
Um. What?! Re: $200 pillow rental. I appreciate the humor — we all need to remember to laugh — but you know you still gotta report the $200 as “rental income”, no matter if you rent the car, the pillow, the tires, or the air in the tires, ha!!