Tips for Staying Safe in Carsharing, Ride-Hailing Vehicles
Experts offer consumers and companies advice on how limit the spread of the coronavirus in rental and ride-hailing vehciles.

Options for long-distance travel are limited, with public transit being reduced and concern over shared services like scooters or bikes.
Photo via Uber.
While the coronavirus pandemic has a large portion of the world's population staying indoors, some people may still need to travel for work and other necessary reasons. Options for long-distance travel are limited, with public transit being reduced and concern over shared services like scooters or bikes.
Consumer Reports spoke to industry experts to compile a guide regarding rental car and ride hailing safety during COVID-19:
While ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft have provided cleaning supplies to drivers to frequently disinfect cars, Founder and CEO of The Rideshare Guy Harry Campbell advised against taking such services. While Uber and Lyft are providing paid leave for drivers who get sick or are under quarantine orders, asymptomatic drivers could still pas on the illness.
Taxis are slightly safer bet than ride-hailing, as most taxis have partitions between the driver and passengers. However, cleaning procedures varry among companies. It is advised to ask the dispatcher about specific cleaning practices.
Both peer-to-peer and traditional carsharing come with cleaning challenges, as the business model allows for quick sharing among customers. It is advised to opt for an extended rental, so the renter can thoroughly clean and disinfect the vehicle.
While many rental companies have updated their cleaning protocols to be more rigorous, experts still advise for renters wipe down surfaces with a disinfect as an extra layer of precaution.
More Rental Operations

How Rental Operators Can Navigate Personalized Pricing Rules
As regulators scrutinize the use of customer data in pricing, rental operators need to know whether they can explain why one renter pays more than another.
Read More →
Direct, Broker or Hybrid? How Travel Retailers Source Rental Cars
As travel retailers weigh direct supplier relationships against third-party distribution, rental operators need to understand how those decisions affect their business.
Read More →
How Did This Independent Rental Operator Grow to 170 Vehicles in 4 Years?
With 170 vehicles across three Kentucky locations, Joel Price relies on an overseas team to handle reservations, payments, and after-hours customer service. It's one part of an unconventional approach to growing an independent rental operation.
Read More →
What Does It Take to Succeed in B2B Rentals?
The fundamentals may be familiar to daily car rental operators, but project-based truck rentals put different demands on the fleet and the business.
Read More →
NPR Builds on International Partnerships to Grow Rental Bookings
With Ana Laborde supporting broker development, NPR Auto Group is tailoring distribution strategies, rate packages, and partnerships to grow international reservations across its three brands.
Read More →
Advantage, Sixt Place Among Top Five in Annual Satisfaction Study
While Enterprise and National retain the top spots in JD Power’s 2026 rankings, the latest customer satisfaction results suggest renters can find competitive service beyond the biggest car rental names.
Read More →
The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals
Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.
Read More →
The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?
For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.
Read More →
ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers
The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.
Read More →
Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service
Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.
Read More →
