In the Czech Republic, car-sharing abuse is on the rise. Police and providers are grappling with an increasing number of users bypassing regulations and handing over vehicles to unauthorized individuals. Recent incidents in Kladno and Prague highlight the severity of the issue.
In Kladno, police stopped two men driving a car-sharing vehicle without proper documentation. The car had been rented using someone else’s account. Days earlier, another individual under the influence of drugs was caught driving a car from the same provider, also without documents. Additionally, a 15-year-old boy in Kladno drew police attention for reckless driving in a car-sharing vehicle.
In Prague, a serious accident involving seven damaged vehicles saw the driver flee the scene. The estimated property damage totals several hundred thousand crowns.
Registering with car-sharing services is a quick and straightforward process. A reporter from Czech Television (ČT) tested the system and successfully registered in minutes using just an ID card, a driving licence, and a selfie. However, there is no follow-up verification to confirm who is ultimately behind the wheel.
Although car-sharing companies include clauses in their terms and conditions prohibiting users from sharing vehicles with third parties, enforcing these rules proves challenging. “If you allow someone else to drive a vehicle registered under your name, you may face additional costs of tens of thousands of crowns,” warns Fabian Strecker, Managing Director of Bolt Drive.
To combat abuse, providers are implementing stricter penalties and technical enhancements. For example, failure to report an accident or fleeing the scene could result in fines of up to 75,000 crowns.
Tomas Brada, Marketing and Communications Director at Car4Way, adds, “We rely on registered users not to share their personal account details.”
Some companies are also exploring artificial intelligence for improved identity verification. However, experts acknowledge that even these measures may not fully eliminate the problem.
