D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine’s office has reached a settlement with car-sharing company Getaround, claiming the company ​​allegedly misrepresented the safety of its services, operated without a license in D.C., and failed to pay local sales tax.

Getaround Inc. will pay $950,000 in unpaid taxes and processing fees to the District, institute protocols to investigate and resolve theft and damage complaints, maintain all licenses required to do business in the District, and restitute ​​customers who experienced theft or damage in a Getaround vehicle, according to Racine’s office.

“Gig economy companies must abide by the same rules as their brick-and-mortar counterparts,” Racine said in a Friday statement. “They must provide clear and accurate information to consumers, especially about the safety of their services, and they must pay their fair share of taxes like everyone else does.”

Racine’s office issued a consumer warning in February 2020 cautioning Getaround users that vehicles on the app have an increased risk of theft because keys are left inside of the car and its location is visible by anyone on the platform. The office said it was aware of approximately a dozen auto thefts in the District believed to be connected to the app at the time.

Getaround, which operates in more than 900 cities across the world, works with a network of vehicle owners, who can rent out their own cars for hours or days at a time. The app has safety features including lockboxes and enhanced security that make car keys accessible with a four-digit code and immobilize a car unless authorized in the app, respectively. At the time, Racine’s office said it was aware that some of these features were not working properly and could be easily hacked.

Racine’s office has a track record of taking legal action against large tech companies including Amazon, Google, and AT&T for alleged price gouging and misrepresentation of services.

A representative for Getaround told DCist in an emailed statement that it made changes to its safety and security services as soon as the issues were brought forth and will continue reimbursing car owners for theft and damage. The settlement specifies that the company’s compliance is not to be taken as an admission of “of any liability or wrongdoing.”

“Today, the Attorney General announces a settlement of politically motivated allegations and what amounts to Getaround paying a tax bill it never disputed,” wrote a representative for the company. “Getaround categorically disagrees with the Attorney General’s allegations concerning the operation and benefits of Getaround’s digital car-sharing platform, and provided documentation to the Attorney General to back up related statements on its website regarding the operation of its platform and those benefits.”

Getaround has 45 days to meet the demands of the settlement and must deliver a first installment of at least $237,500 to the District in 30 days.

“While the Attorney General is focused on scoring political points, Getaround remains focused on connecting safe, convenient, and affordable cars with District residents who need them to live and work,” the statement reads.