A car share is a platform that connects people to convenient and short-term car rental services. For some people in the United States, buying a car is not feasible or overbearing. Purchasing a car, aside from the excessive cost comes with maintenance, insurance, and constant fueling. Car share is a cost-effective way to get a car within a fleeting time and meet your demands in every way. Most times, it is cheaper than taking a public bus or train, hence, it is a fast-rising trend. Instead of dealing with an extensive line of rental cars that comes with other ridesharing apps and traditional rental services, car share is a great and comfortable alternative that allows you to complete your rides safely. Car sharing services differ from one another, but the general aim is to quickly and easily help you find a car to share in your area and just hop in and drive.
Here are few Car sharing services:
- ZIPCAR- is an American car-sharing company that provides automobile rental services to its members. It is available in cities across the US and allows users to book nearby cars from their website or mobile app. Rental charges for Zipcar vehicles vary from city to city, members are charged a 7$ monthly membership fee or a discounted fee of $70 per year. users must pay this basic fee before they can use the Zipcar service. In addition, members are required to pay reservation fees every time they book a car, and they are charged per hour of use. A zip Card gives you access to unlock your selected car; different cars are available on the platform ranging from standard cars to the regular ones. It also gives you the flexibility of making a choice anytime or day.
- Maven- unlike the Zipcar service, maven does not charge a membership fee before you can rent a car, except for reservations. maven helps you gain access to privately-owned vehicles around you by just unlocking them with your smartphone. An additional advantage of maven is that it also rents cars to Uber or Lyft drivers and bills them as they work without a membership fee. Maven used to be a very prosperous car-share company but has in recent times, cut back in business, and can only be found in a few cities in the US.
- SHARE NOW- With an app, you can access thousands of cool cars with your fingertips. Share now is a merger venture between car2go and DriveNow. The service provides free-floating cars all over the European cities and selected US cities, all you need to do is hop into one and drive. They provide access to cars parked by the roadside and direct you to another location to park the rented car when your trip is complete. ShareNow rental charges are calculated by the minute, and they have a wide range of high-class car models. The service does not demand membership fees before you can rent a car.
- Getaround- this is a peer-peer car-sharing service that allows members to use any type of vehicle from convertibles to cargo and pick-up trucks in the area for individual reasons. Get around does not demand a membership card, but initial booking costs are charged before a trip. A standard cost for 200 miles per hour is required, after which you will be charged per mile for the rest of the trip. Rates differ according to the specialty of the car.
- GIG car share- From the tables of the American Automobile Association, GIG car share is a flexible car-sharing company available to only limited cities in the US. It operates on a pay-as-you-drive plan. The company strongly supports keeping it ‘green’. They employ the use of hybrid and electric vehicles and are advocates of a car-free lifestyle. They also do not charge a membership fee and have cars parked randomly within the area. With the app on your smartphone, you can find a GIG car and drive it anywhere. Insurance and gas fees are included in the rental rates, with a bill charged per hour for both hybrid and electric vehicles.
Conclusion
Conclusively, the general idea of any car share service is personal freedom. The aim is to connect drivers who need to make car reservations with car owners ready to share their cars in exchange for money. Also, it provides a convenient alternative for people who do not wish to purchase a car or cannot afford to buy one.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What is the minimum age to use a car share service?
This answer depends on the service you are making a reservation for. Research about the terms and conditions of a company before making a reservation, but usually, the minimum age is 21. Some services also have a young driver’s offer. Check out the one that best suits you.
- Can I park a rental car anywhere?
Answer- Different cities have parking policies, if there are no parking restrictions and fees, you can park anywhere. Though some companies demand that you park the cars at specific addresses, companies like GIG and SHARENOW do not.
