CA AB1197

Authorizes rental car companies to use geofence technology to detect when a rental vehicle is moved outside the country (if unauthorized by the rental agreement) or into an impound/tow yard

Requires rental companies to notify renters when their vehicle is detected in an impound or tow yard; the vehicle is deemed abandoned if it remains there 24 hours after notification

Changes the presumption of no renter liability for vehicle theft to require that an authorized driver returns the ignition key, rather than the previous standard of having possession of the key or proving it wasn't in the vehicle at the time of theft

Maintains existing protections allowing renters to avoid theft liability if they return the key and file a police report within 24 hours of learning of the theft while cooperating with the investigation