Car-share company Modo calls on B.C. to include its members in gas rebate

Car-sharing companies are calling on the B.C. government to clear the air. They fear their members won’t be getting recently announced gas rebates because they’re not actually car owners.

Modo Marketing Director Jane Hope says as the company is set up like a co-op, members share the costs of everything, including the impacts of high gas prices in recent months.

“We were really frustrated to find out that we were not eligible for the ICBC rebate, the $110 offered by the provincial government to drivers, despite this model of co-ownership that we have adopted,” Hope said.

“All members co-own the vehicles and share the cost of fuel, maintenance, and insurance,” she said.

“We’ve asked members to reach out to Mike Farnworth to communicate that they see themselves worthy of this rebate,” she said.

She suspects about 200 people have asked the government to be included in the rebate but have not heard back from the minister responsible for ICBC.

Personal insurance is not required to sign up for a Modo membership, and in the case of a crash, members will have to pay a damage deposit.

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Farnworth announced the rebate at the end of March alongside B.C. Premier John Horgan after fuel prices broke records in the province, with Vancouver drivers seeing above $2/litre.

The province announced a rebate would be sent out to ICBC customers with a basic insurance policy. Those with direct deposit set up should see $110 in their accounts next month or receive a cheque in the mail in June.

Those with commercial vehicle insurance will be eligible for $165.

Horgan was asked why the province was opting for a rebate instead of reducing taxes, to which he said taxes serve a vital role. Horgan said it would “just be filled by an increase in prices at the pump.”

There has been some criticism of the plan, with questions as to why the rebate will also be sent out to those who drive electric vehicles.

With files from Mike Lloyd