Okla. Stat. tit. 47, § 47-8-101

responsibility.

A. It shall be unlawful for the owner of any motor vehicle

engaged in the business of renting motor vehicles without drivers to

rent a motor vehicle without a driver otherwise than as a part of a

bona fide transaction involving the sale of such motor vehicle,

unless he or she has previously notified the Department of Public

Safety of the intention to so rent such vehicle and has given proof

of financial responsibility, and Service Oklahoma shall not register

any such vehicle unless and until the owner gives proof of financial

responsibility either as provided in this section or, in the

alternative, as provided in Section 8-102 of this title. Service

Oklahoma shall cancel the registration of any motor vehicle rented

without a driver whenever Service Oklahoma ascertains that the owner

has failed or is unable to give and maintain such proof of financial

responsibility.

B. Such owner shall submit to the Commissioner of Public Safety

evidence that there has been issued to him or her by an insurance

carrier authorized to do business in this state a public liability

insurance policy or policies covering each such motor vehicle so

rented in the amounts as hereinafter stated and insuring every

person operating such vehicle under a rental agreement or operating

the vehicle with the express or implied permission of the owner

against loss from the liability imposed by law upon such person

arising out of the operation of said vehicle in the amount of

Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) for bodily injury to or

death of one person and, subject to said limit as respects bodily

injury to or death of any one person, the amount of Fifty Thousand

Dollars ($50,000.00) on account of bodily injury to or death of more

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 47. Motor Vehicles Page 454

than one person in any one accident and Twenty-five Thousand Dollars

($25,000.00) for damage to property of others in any one accident.

Provided, that the Commissioner is authorized to accept, in lieu of

such public liability insurance policy covering specific vehicles,

proof by evidence satisfactory to the Commissioner of a valid and

binding lease contract between the owner and a renter wherein it is

agreed between such owner and the lessee-renter that such lessee-

renter accepts responsibility for loss from any liability imposed by

law upon any person arising out of the operation, either by express

or implied permission of the lessee-renter, of any vehicle covered

by such lease in amounts not less than the minimum amounts before

set out in this subsection, together with satisfactory evidence of

issuance to such lessee-renter, by an insurance carrier authorized

to do business in this state, proper public liability insurance

policies in amounts of not less than the minimum amounts before set

out in this subsection or sufficient showing of financial

responsibility of such lessee-renter as is required of owners by the

provisions of Section 8-102 of this title.

C. The owner shall maintain such policy or policies in full

force and effect during all times that he or she is engaged in the

business of renting any motor vehicle without a driver unless said

owner shall have given proof of financial responsibility as provided

in Section 8-102 of this title.

D. Said policy or policies need not cover any liability

incurred by the renter of any vehicle to any passenger in such

vehicle.

E. When any suit or action is brought against the owner of a

for-rent motor vehicle upon a liability under this title, it shall

be the duty of the judge of the court before whom the case is

pending to cause a preliminary hearing to be had, in the absence of

the jury, for the purpose of determining whether the owner has

obtained and there is in full force and effect, a policy or policies

of insurance covering the person operating the vehicle under a

rental agreement, in the limits above mentioned. When it appears
hall

be the duty of the judge of the court before whom the case is

pending to cause a preliminary hearing to be had, in the absence of

the jury, for the purpose of determining whether the owner has

obtained and there is in full force and effect, a policy or policies

of insurance covering the person operating the vehicle under a

rental agreement, in the limits above mentioned. When it appears

that the owner has obtained such policy or policies and that the

same are in full force and effect, the judge or magistrate before

whom such action is pending shall dismiss the action as to the owner

of the motor vehicle.

F. Whenever the owner of a motor vehicle rents such vehicle

without a driver to another, it shall be unlawful for the latter to

permit any other person to operate such vehicle without the

permission of the owner.

G. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this

section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction

thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than Five Hundred

Dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more

than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 47. Motor Vehicles Page 455