Car sharing just got a little easier at Tampa International Airport.
The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority on Thursday approved updated rules for peer-to-peer car sharing apps and services that connect car owners and renters, like an automotive version of Airbnb. It also approved an official concessions agreement with one such service, Turo, with which it has waged a long legal battle over licenses and fees.
The agreement follows the Florida legislature’s recent passage of a bill setting tax, surcharge and insurance rules for the peer-to-peer car sharing industry, and comes after a more than two-year court battle between the Aviation Authority and Turo.
“This is a major step forward in ensuring Turo and all other peer-to-peer car sharing companies do business here legally and responsibly, which is what we expect from all the businesses that operate out of TPA,” Michael Stephens, the airport’s general counsel, said in an emailed statement.