There was a time—not too long ago—when the very idea of sharing a car would have seemed absurd. This was back in the days before smartphone apps made it possible to find a set of wheels within walking distance of your home and rent them for a trip to a big-box store in the suburbs. When Zipcar launched in 2000 as a membership-based car-sharing company, it had four vehicles—all parked in Cambridge, Mass. Today it has a fleet of 12,000 autos at the ready in North America, Europe, and Asia for people in need of a quick ride that might last only an hour. Roughly 900,000 Americans use such car-sharing services, according to Susan Shaheen, co-director of the Transportation Sustainability Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley—and with good reason. Between loan payments, insurance, fuel, and maintenance, the average vehicle costs $9122 a year. And yet most vehicles sit idle much of the day.That’s why people with alternative transportation options, such as city dwellers and college students, have started to pass up car ownership in favor of car membership. It’s also why some owners are willing to hand over their keys to strangers via peer-to-peer services such as Turo and Getaround. If you still think it sounds crazy, consider this: Avis paid $500 million to purchase Zipcar. GM and BMW have also joined the fray with their ride share offerings called Maven and ReachNow. When you’re ready to give car clubbing a try, here’s what you need to know.ConvenienceFlexibility is the chief selling point. With car sharing you can start your trip at any time of the day or night, even if you’re under 21. Using a mobile app or the Internet, simply find the nearest available vehicle, wave your membership card over the windshield, and—voilà!—the doors unlock. Inside are the keys and a credit card for refueling. Just like that, you’re on your way.Some services require you to pick up and return the vehicle at specific stations. Others let you leave it somewhere near your destination, provided it’s within the borders of the service area. Car2Go’s vehicles, for example, can be left in municipal parking lots throughout Seattle; Portland, Ore.; Minneapolis; and Austin, Texas.MavenCostThe rates are measured in minutes, hours, days, and/or miles. At first glance the price tags may not look like a bargain—at least compared with rental-car rates. But keep in mind that you’re essentially only paying for the time behind the wheel. Better still, gas, insurance, and maintenance are included in the fee—and sometimes parking. So, do the math. If you’re just going to the local supermarket, choose the mileage option—the numbers will work in your favor. If you’re making a lot of stops, the hourly plan is a safer bet. And if you intend to leave town for the weekend, you may be better off with good ol’ Hertz.Insurance CoverageIf you’re a renter, you don’t have much to worry about here. Zipcar’s hourly rate includes $300,000 of liability coverage. Most peer-to-peer companies provide up to $1 million. If you’re the one who owns the car, however, the insurance picture is cloudier. Much like using your Mini Cooper to deliver pizzas, sharing a vehicle falls into the gray area between commercial and private use. Geico was initially opposed to ride sharing insurance but now offers it in select states. Its rivals? Well, they appear to be playing wait and see. California, Oregon, and Washington now have laws to protect individuals who share their cars from insurance-company reprisals. But in New York, the Department of Financial Services deemed Turo coverage “illegal and inadequate.” The conflicting opinions are a natural offshoot of the disruption caused by the sharing-economy movement. The final word is yet to come, so make sure to check your states local laws before signing up to share your vehicle.MavenA Choice RideCar sharing can be a practical alternative for one-car families that settle for a sensible, fuel-efficient sedan but want to order up a 4x4 on any given Saturday at the height of ski season. But saving money isn’t the only upside; don’t forget the style points. At Maven a Cadillac Escalade runs $18 per hour and at ReachNow a BMW 328i goes for .41 cents per minute. Other status symbols include Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks, Jeeps, Nissan Leafs, and Priuses. Getaround even offers a few Tesla Model S electric vehicles. And you can still reserve a minivan for that all-important run to Ikea.ConservationCities and universities have been quick to champion the concept because car sharing reduces traffic. According to Zipcar, each of its cars removes 15 personally owned vehicles from the road. What’s more, car-sharing services tend to employ newer models, with better fuel efficiency and cleaner emissions, not to mention electric and hybrid technology. And because members pay for each trip they take, they’re more inclined to travel by bicycle or mass transit when possible.There’s even evidence to suggest that car sharing persuades owners to give up a vehicle or two. Among the 6281 households that participated in a 2008 North America survey conducted by the University of California Transportation Center, there was a drop from 2968 cars to 1507 after giving the experience a try. That’s a reduction of nearly 50 percent.The DownsideOf course, there are compromises. For starters, you have to decide in advance how long you want to keep the car, which makes it hard to accept last-minute dinner invitations while visiting friends. In fact, it’s wise to add an extra hour to the reservation just in case you get caught in traffic heading back to the drop-off location. The penalties for late returns are steep. And because most services operate on an honor system, every now and then you get stuck with an empty gas tank or seats covered with dog hair. Online ratings systems do help to keep irresponsible renters and owners in check, though. It can also be difficult to use a valet service with these vehicles, as there is often times no key and the vehicles are only controlled via an app on the driver’s phone.And, finally, don’t expect to find a vehicle awaiting your arrival at the start of Thanksgiving weekend—or during rush hour, for that matter. Like your carless colleagues, you may well find yourself taking the bus during peak travel times.The Next StopIn the past year car-sharing services have expanded into an even more inviting marketplace—the nation’s airports, where rental-car companies log up to half of their $25 billion in annual sales. It’s an obvious move. Airports are filled with inbound travelers in search of vehicles, and outbound travelers in need of parking. If you connect the two, life gets much simpler, and consumers save money. Currently Turo and Zipcar are available at select airports, but the established rental car companies aren’t happy about it. FlightCar, an early car sharing service available at airports, was acquired by Mercedes-Benz a few years ago and ceased their airport operations amid regulation difficulties.Car-Sharing BasicsRates and membership fees vary among companies, as do the cars. In a peer-to-peer program, you actually drive somebody else’s car. Corporate programs operate a full-time rental fleet.Peer-to-Peer ProgramsTuroNetwork 1500 cities nationwide, mostly face-to-face key exchangeMembership FreeRates $20 per day and upPickup/Return At a location designated by ownerGetaroundNetwork Chicago, San Diego, Portland, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, Boston, New Jersey, OaklandMembership FreeRates $24 per day and upPickup/Return At a location designated by ownerCorporate ProgramsMavenCorporate Ties GMNetwork 15 cities across the USMembership One-time FreeRates $8 per hour+tax and upPickup/Return At same Maven location you picked upZipcarCorporate Ties AvisNetwork 500 cities across the USMembership From $7 per month to $70 per year.Rates $8-$10 per hour and upPickup/Return Only at designated spotsCar2GoCorporate Ties DaimlerNetwork Eight U.S. cities, including Miami, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.Membership One-time $5 application feeRates $15 per hour and upPickup/Return At any legal parking spot within the designated service areaReachNowCorporate Ties BMW and MiniNetwork Seattle, Portland, BrooklynMembership FreeRates .41 cents per minute and upPickup/Return At any DriveNow stationTimothy DahlDIY EditorTimothy is a lifelong DIY enthusiast who is fixated on smart home tech, beautiful tools, and wrenching on his FJ62 Land Cruiser. He’s the DIY editor at Popular Mechanics and also the founder of the home improvement site, Charles & Hudson, the Webby-nominated family site, Built by Kids, and Tool Crave. When not working, you’ll find him on his board or bike enjoying the LA weather with his family and friends. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.
