I would like to compare with a "normal" rent:
1) you are given (by a human) the keys of the car in exchange of providing your driver license and credit card
2) you do (within limits) whatever you want with the car
3) after the agreed upon rent period you bring back the car and keys (giving them to a human) and then the rental company checks how many miles you did (and if you exceeded the included amount you are charged, unless you got an all inclusive/unlimited mmileage contract)
I.e. the renting company actually "trusts" you (backed financially by your credit card).
And this formula worked seemigly just fine for the last 60 years or more.
A "natural" evolution would IMHO be:
1) you get pre-approved (i.e. you provide your driving license and credit card before and outside the actual rent) when you start the rent your smartphone is somehow allowed to open and start the car
2) you do (within limits) whatever you want with the car
3) after the agreed upon rent period you bring back the car in a designed area, you notify the renter of it and somehow your smartphone cannot open or start the car anymore (and at that time the mileage is checked remotely, etc.)
If this was the case the need for coverage would only be needed in the designed pick and leave area.
I fail to see any practical advantage for the renting company to collect data "realtime" (and thus need the anytime coverage).
I.e. it seems to me more like a "because I can" reason than anything else.
1) you are given (by a human) the keys of the car in exchange of providing your driver license and credit card
2) you do (within limits) whatever you want with the car
3) after the agreed upon rent period you bring back the car and keys (giving them to a human) and then the rental company checks how many miles you did (and if you exceeded the included amount you are charged, unless you got an all inclusive/unlimited mmileage contract)
I.e. the renting company actually "trusts" you (backed financially by your credit card).
And this formula worked seemigly just fine for the last 60 years or more.
A "natural" evolution would IMHO be:
1) you get pre-approved (i.e. you provide your driving license and credit card before and outside the actual rent) when you start the rent your smartphone is somehow allowed to open and start the car
2) you do (within limits) whatever you want with the car
3) after the agreed upon rent period you bring back the car in a designed area, you notify the renter of it and somehow your smartphone cannot open or start the car anymore (and at that time the mileage is checked remotely, etc.)
If this was the case the need for coverage would only be needed in the designed pick and leave area.
I fail to see any practical advantage for the renting company to collect data "realtime" (and thus need the anytime coverage).
I.e. it seems to me more like a "because I can" reason than anything else.