

It now offers 12,000 vehicles across 500-plus cities and more than 600 college campuses. Likely the best known of all car-sharing services in the US, Zipcar was founded in 2000 and purchased by Avis in 2013. Zipcar is North America's largest and best-known car-sharing service. We'll update this list as these services evolve. To help get you started, here are some of the most popular car-sharing apps and services available today. Each service is different, however, so be sure to read all the terms and conditions before agreeing to your first rental.

Some services provide insurance and even a gas card to refuel. Vehicle-sharing services all work in similar ways: You reserve a car, truck or SUV ahead of time using an app, borrow it for a specific (usually short) trip or journey, and then return it to the same parking spot later. Naturally, each service has its pros and cons.

Car-sharing services often handle short-term versions of traditional car rentals. They provide a middle ground between ride-sharing services, where someone else drives you to your destination, and car subscriptions, which are services that allow you to keep a specific vehicle for an extended period. If you do own one, but maybe it's too small for you and your friends to travel to the mountains for a camping trip, or perhaps you need a larger vehicle with more cargo capacity for moving house, car sharing might be a better fit than a traditional rental.Ĭar-sharing services aren't new, but they are proliferating. Or you could potentially save money by borrowing one on-demand, especially if you don't own a car. A car is a costly possession, but there are car-sharing services that could help you to make a few dollars renting your vehicle to others. Think of the costs associated with owning a car - your monthly payment, insurance, fuel, maintenance and repairs, and if you live in an urban area, parking. But just because it isn't moving doesn't mean it's not costing you money. But as much as we rely on our vehicle, for many people, it spends most of its time just sitting, motionless. It's usually a necessity to get to work, school, a doctor's appointment or the grocery store. There's a good chance a car is your primary mode of transportation.
