8+ Best Car Sharing Apps (Ranked & Reviewed)
Whether you’re looking for a more cost-efficient commute, an easy way to run errands on the go, or a greener lifestyle when it comes to cars - car sharing apps are quickly becoming one of the top solutions. With their low prices and increased convenience, these apps provide effortless navigation from point A to B. But with so many choices out there, how do you know which one is best for you? Here we explore 8+ of the top car sharing apps available and evaluate them based on price, user experience, customer support, and more - all so that you can decide which app works best for your needs!
In modern times, owning a private car is associated with a series of expenses and responsibilities that can become unsustainable for many individuals. The maintenance and insurance costs of private cars often pose a significant financial burden. However, sustainable options like public transit, walking, and biking are viable alternatives for short trips. When it comes to long trips or recreational activities to out-of-town destinations, car-sharing apps offer the perfect solution.
Car-sharing involves the short-term rental principle, which allows users to rent a car only when it is needed, without bearing the costs of ownership. There are two types of car-sharing services:
The traditional car sharing service allows you to rent a car from specialized companies by reserving it and returning it to pre-designated parking lots. This type of car sharing is a convenient and practical solution for short-term rental needs, without the burden of owning a car.
On the other hand, the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) car sharing model is another growing trend in the sharing economy. It gives individuals a platform to rent out their private vehicles to strangers, which is a unique and sustainable approach to car rental. P2P car sharing eliminates the need for middlemen or car rental companies, which in turn reduces costs and offers flexible rental options for both parties.
In P2P car sharing, the vehicle owners also benefit from the additional income that can be generated from their unused or underused vehicles. This type of car sharing has become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly in urban areas where owning a car can be very expensive. In addition to affordability, P2P car sharing is also environmentally friendly as it promotes resource sharing and reduces the number of cars on the road.
Car-sharing services have numerous benefits for individuals, families, cities, and the environment. By taking advantage of car-sharing, people can limit traffic and fully apply sustainable mobility concepts. The latest generation cars offered by car-sharing companies often have high safety standards and reduced environmental impact. Tesla ride-sharing is a great example of eco-mobility options in the car-sharing industry.
Carsharing is a cornerstone of sustainable mobility as it promotes the transition from car ownership to car-use services. Car-sharing companies offer the convenience of a private vehicle without the expense and hassle of ownership. In essence, car-sharing transforms cars from consumer goods to service products. This model of car-sharing reduces the environmental impact, improves safety, and provides a viable transportation option for people across the globe.
Find below a list of the best car sharing apps ranked and reviewed by our BestReferralDriver team. If you are from LA, take a look at our guide with the best car sharing options in Los Angeles.
Zipcar is the foremost car-sharing network globally, owned by the Avis Budget Group, Inc. The concept behind Zipcar is simple – users can either instantly reserve cars on demand as per their convenience or schedule a reservation in advance.
Zipcar boasts a diverse fleet of vehicles, making car rental highly customizable and user-friendly. Customers can choose from a range of vehicle types suiting their specific needs and preferences. From compact and economic cars to larger vehicles and even electric vehicles, Zipcar has it all. This unique feature not only provides flexibility to users, but it also contributes towards reducing carbon emissions, supporting environmentally responsible living.
Zipcar is not just a car rental service, but a smart solution for urban transportation, enabling seamless point-to-point trips while eliminating the hassles of car ownership.
The service aims to make personal transportation more sustainable, affordable and accessible to all. Zipcar's innovative business model has evolved over the years, using advanced technology and data analysis to further streamline the process of car-sharing. It has successfully revolutionized the concept of car-sharing, changing the course of transportation for millions of people worldwide.
Overall, Zipcar offers exceptional convenience, unparalleled flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, making it the preferred choice for many people today who seek a personalized and sustainable mode of transportation.
What we like:
It is really easy to use. You do not even need a key to unlock your vehicle. Once you are approved you will get a Zipcard by mail in 3-7 days and you will use it to enter the car. Your rental includes everything you need such as gas, insurance, maintenance and roadside assistance.
Zipcar offers discounted hourly rates for faculty, staff and students aged 18 and older.
Rates start at $9.50/hour or $79/day.
What we don't like:
The app works with a system of membership and of course it is not free.
The app allows you to reserve your Zipcar for a set period of time in advance. However the system of reservation will not guarantee you a car. We recently received a lot of complaints by users that had their reservation canceled because the vehicle was unavailable.
Finally, Zipcar mileage limit is 180/day. If you drive more, you will pay $0.58 per mile.
Availability: ZipCar is available in in urban areas and university campuses in the following countries: United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Iceland, Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom
Gig car share is one of the best Zipcar alternatives.
Gig car rates depend on your car sharing location. However you will always only pay for what you use.
What we like:
Sometimes you have to walk a lot to find a car available. However, with Gig Car Share you can end the trips almost everywhere in your HomeZone.
What we don't like:
The app doesn’t offer specific discounts or deals for students. However, users can save money using the pre-paid options.
You can rent a car for a day with exclusive daily rates:
Availability: San Francisco Bay Area including Oakland airport, Seattle, Sacramento
Share Now is another service like ZipCar. The German car sharing service born from the merger between Car2Go and Drive Now.
To use the service, the first step is to download the app and complete the form with all your required information. A debit or credit card is required for the registration.
You can choose between different types of vehicles. You can even book a vehicle with a car seat at no additional charge.
What we like:
Whether you want to use a car for fifteen minutes or for fifteen days, the car-sharing company offers various adapted offers, including:
With short- and long-term rental options, SHARE NOW covers almost all use cases, providing customers with complete flexibility without having to commit to owning a car.
What we don't like:
Common customer complaints we encounter are for customer support.
Availability: The company is focused on the European market and currently operates in the following countries: Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands and Spain.
If you are looking for a vehicle rental app to use for your next gig, you should take a look at HyreCar. Whether you are a DoorDash driver or an Uber driver, Hyrecar offers daily, weekly, and monthly rentals for gig workers.
What we like:
You do not need a car to sign up for Lyft, however, rental programs like Express Drive allow you to drive the car only for personal use or for Lyft. The gig economy car rental gives you the freedom to rent a vehicle to use for all your gigs.
Every HyreCar rental car comes with all the paperwork needed to drive with Uber or Lyft such as the vehicle inspection.
What we don't like:
A car renter should only be able to rent high-quality cars, and will pay accordingly. However on the platform there are sometimes low quality cars.
Availability: United States
👀 Related Article: Hyrecar Reviews
If you are looking for an app to rent people's cars, you should take a look at Turo. Turo is the Airbnb for cars. Turo is a secure platform on which you can offer your rental car to travelers, by the day, by the week or by the month.
What we like:
You do not need to subscribe to a membership to rent a car through the platform.
Turo is the platform with the widest selection of cars available.
The Peer to Peer car sharing company provides renters with an opportunity to make money renting out their car.
What we don't like:
The rent a car app doesn't offer hourly rates, additionally, unlike other traditional car sharing services, fuel costs are not included on the rental price.
The company has officially ended its Referral Program , which provides people with the opportunity to earn other rewards.
Availability: Turo is available in over 56 countries all over the world.
Getaround is one of the best Turo alternatives. Getaround connects individuals who need a vehicle with car owners who share their cars in exchange for payment.
What we like:
On the platform there are a lot of vehicle options and you can find attractive prices. Getaround offers rental cars for Uber drivers.
What we don't like:
If you are having issues during your trip, it is not easy to contact the customer support. It can really be frustrating when you can contact them to actually speak with a representative and get help.
Availability: United States, United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Spain
Enterprise Car Sharing is one of the most popular car rental apps and one of the best car rental apps in the UK. It is developed by a vehicle rental company in order to facilitate the hassles related to the operation of this activity.
Enterprise is a particularly ergonomic web platform. It has a geolocation system designed to ensure rapid management of reservations. So, you will be able to rent a car without great difficulty.
What we like:
Very similar to ZipCar, insurance and gas are included in your rental price. However, you are responsible for refilling the gas tank prior to returning your vehicle.
You will use the fuel card you have received and swipe the card like you would any credit card at the pump.
You may cancel for FREE up to 5 hours before your reservation starts.
What we don't like:
The Enterprise car rental app offers less flexible rental options. Indeed you have to return the car where you picked up.
You have to sign up and pay for an annual membership to be able to rent a car on the platform.
For each trip you’ll be charged for the vehicle based on the following factors:
Find the prices for your location.
You will always get a price estimate for your rental before you confirm your reservation.
Keep in mind that rates may vary depending on the time of day or day of the week.
Availability: US, Canada & UK.
When you are looking to save money on airport parking, you can take a look at our guides on how to find cheap parking at LAX and at the Denver DIA airport. You can also take a look at Avail.
The car sharing company allows car owners to share their car avoiding expensive airport parking costs and earning money.
What we like:
Avail takes care of everything including the car exchange, cleaning, inspection, and insurance process.
What we don't like:
Every vehicle on the platform has a 150 miles limit per day. If you need to drive more, we suggest you take a look at other car rental apps like Budget or Enterprise.
Availability: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix.
Mobile apps: iOS
New Yoyrk is one of the most exciting cities in the world. At BestReferralDriver we have a team of members that work every day to provide our NY readers with the most up to date information about the mobility of the “Big Apple”. You may also like our guide with all the taxi and rideshare apps in NYC.
Find below all the options for car sharing in NYC.
Now you know everything about car sharing. If you are looking for a traditional car shasharing app, our best pick is Zipcar. The service is available in more cities and airports nationwide and offers special deals for students. If you are looking for peer-to-peer services, our choice is Turo. The P2P company is available worldwide and offers lower daily and weekly rates especially if compared to other car sharing services.
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