The Best Car Sharing Services of 2024
Written by: BestApp.com App Testing Team - Updated: Aug 13, 2021
Car sharing apps should offer flexibility and convenience. After review, ZipCar is our top pick for the best car sharing service available. But if ZipCar’s membership model doesn’t suit your needs, we found nine great alternatives to help you get around. Here are the 10 best car sharing services currently on the market.
Top 10 Car Sharing Services to Try
- ZipCar — Top Pick
- Getaround — Best Short-Term Bookings
- Turo — Best Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing
- Enterprise CarShare — Best for Businesses
- HyreCar — Best for Gig Workers
- Sixt — Best for Leasing
- Urbi — Most Variety
- GIG Car Share — Best for Eco-Friendly Rides
- Lyft — Best for Lyft Members
- Uber — Best for Ride Hailing
How We Chose the Best Car Sharing Apps
To create our list of the best car sharing apps, we prioritized five key features, including the ability to pay within the app, the option to create user profiles, GPS tracking capabilities, the ability to unlock vehicles via the app, and in-app maps. These features make it easy to find and rent cars on-demand so that you always have a ride when you need it.
Choose the car sharing service that’s right for you
Many of these services offer the same basic features but cater to different audiences. ZipCar, for example, is a membership-based service that’s best suited for users that need to regularly rent vehicles for personal or business use, while HyreCar is targeted towards individuals that want to rent a car to use to drive for Uber or Lyft. Depending on your needs, some of these apps will be more appealing than others.
Pay attentions to fees
When choosing between these apps, make sure to consider the fees that each of these services charges. Some, like ZipCar, include gas, while others, like Getaround, require users to pay for their own gas. Other apps, like Enterprise, offer the option to rent by the hour, while apps like Turo only allow users to rent by the day.
Our Car Sharing App Reviews
ZipCar — Top Pick
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
ZipCar is our top pick for the best car sharing service available due to its wide availability, ease of use, affordable rental prices, and other features that make it easy to find cars on-demand. After signing up as a member, which costs $7 per month or $70 per year, users receive a Zipcard that they can use to unlock cars after booking them through the app. Gas,180 miles, insurance, and 24/7 roadside assistance are available with all rentals. The ZipCar app includes several unique features, including using the app to honk a car’s horn, making it easier to find. ZipCar also partners with universities across the United States to offer affordable rental cars, making it a great choice for students. Student memberships are available at discounted rates, depending on the university.
Notable features:
- Free version not available
- Subscription plans: Monthly: $7/month; Annual: $70/year
- Support available: Phone, Help Center, Email
| ZipCar Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| 24/7 roadside assistance | Requires subscription |
| Gas is included with each rental | |
| Discounted student memberships | |
Getaround — Best Short-Term Bookings
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Getaround is a peer-to-peer car sharing service, meaning users book vehicles directly from their owners. Getaround excels when it comes to short-term bookings. Whereas most car sharing services require a minimum of anywhere from one hour to one day, Getaround bookings start at just fifteen minutes with rates starting as low as $5 per hour. After booking a car, users can use the app to lock and unlock it, and insurance is included with all bookings. For car owners interested in sharing their vehicles, Getaround offers generous revenue splits, with owners receiving 60% of the booking costs.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: None
- Support available: Help Center, Email, Ticket
| Getaround Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| No membership fees | Gas is not included |
| Short-term booking options | |
Turo — Best Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Turo is another peer-to-peer car sharing app that edges out competitors like Getaround when it comes to availability and revenue splits for owners. Tur only takes 10% to 35% of rental revenue, making it ideal for car owners that want to earn passive income. Unlike other car sharing services, Turo offers doorstep pick-up and drop-off, making it a more convenient alternative to some of the other apps on our list. However, Turo rentals are a minimum of one day, so it is a less desirable option for individuals that just need a car for a few hours. When renting out your own car, you are able to set your own rates and mileage limits.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: None
- Support available: Help Center, Email, Chat, FAQs
| Turo Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Generous revenue splits for car owners | Gas is not included |
| Wide availability | |
| Doorstep drop-off | |
Enterprise CarShare — Best for Businesses
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
While individuals can use the app for their own personal needs, Enterprise CarShare is a car sharing service that is particularly beneficial for businesses that need to supply vehicles for their employees. Whereas most similar services focus on individual car rentals, Enterprise provides fleets for businesses with five or more employees, helping them to cut mileage costs and reduce their economic impact. Members must pay an annual fee to utilize the service, and this fee varies by location and can be up to $50 per year. Hourly rates start as low as $5 per hour, and mileage costs start at $0.25 per mile.
Notable features:
- Free version not available
- Subscription plans: Variy by location
- Support available: FAQs, Email, Phone
| Enterprise CarShare Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Affordable hourly rental prices | Requires a membership |
| Custom vehicle fleets for businesses | |
HyreCar — Best for Gig Workers
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
HyreCar is a niche car sharing service designed for individuals that need to rent or purchase a car to use for Uber, Lyft, or other ridesharing and delivery services. There are no contracts or membership fees required. Users simply need to sign up, browse vehicles, and apply to book a car. Once approved, users can use the vehicle to drive for Uber or a similar app for the duration of their rental period. All rentals include rideshare insurance, which offers special coverage for gig workers. You can extend your rental at any point through the app if you decide you need the vehicle for longer than initially intended, and once you’re finished, you simply return the vehicle to the owners.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: None
- Support available: Help Center, Email, Phone
| HyreCar Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Provides cars for Uber and Lyft drivers | Not for personal use |
| Rideshare insurance is included | |
Sixt — Best for Leasing
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Sixt offers several transportation services, including rentals, leases, ridesharing, and car sharing solutions. Its car sharing service, Sixt Share, is only available in Germany and the Netherlands and offers affordable short-term rates, starting at $0.09 per minute. Sixt’s standout service is its Sixt+ subscription leasing service. With Sixt+, users can lease cars on a monthly basis with no down payments, no depreciation, and no financing charges. Users can swap vehicles once a month and customize mileage packages to meet their needs. Sixt also offers traditional rental services that are available in the United States.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: Sixt+, rates vary depending on vehicle
- Support available: FAQs, Email, Phone
| Sixt Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Subscription leasing service | Car sharing only available in Germany and the Netherlands |
| Affordable rental rates | |
Urbi — Most Variety
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Urbi is not a car sharing service in itself. Instead, it helps users find car sharing, ridesharing, and other transportation options in their areas from services like Sixt, car2go, and more. Users don’t need to sign up to use Urbi’s map and transportation finding features, but you will have to verify your phone number to make purchases through the app. The app includes many unique features to help users get around, including a fare calculator, parking finder, gas station finder, and an offline map. In addition to car sharing and ridesharing, users can use Urbi to find e-scooters, bikes, and taxis.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: None
- Support available: FAQs, Email
| Urbi Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Fare calculator | Options are limited in certain locations |
| Various transportation options, including scooters and bikes | |
| Parking finder | |
GIG Car Share — Best for Eco-Friendly Rides
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
GIG Car Share is a one-way car sharing service, meaning you can rent a car and drop it off at any location within the HomeZone — the area in which GIG operates. HomeZones include the Bay Area in California, Sacramento, and Seattle. Depending on your use case, this may be a preferable alternative to other car sharing services that require you to return your vehicle to the pickup location. GIG does not require any membership or sign-up fees, and every rental includes fuel and insurance. Unlike many other car sharing services, GIG focuses on providing hybrid and electric cars to reduce the service’s carbon footprint.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: None
- Support available: FAQs, Email, Phone
| GIG Car Share Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Hybrid and electric vehicles | Limited to the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Seattle |
| Fuel and insurance are included | |
Lyft — Best for Lyft Members
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Lyft is one of the two leading ridesharing services alongside Uber, and to offer more variety to its users, the app has also started offering car rental services. When renting through Lyft, users can choose from several free optional add-ons, including ski racks, child seats, and a USB phone charger — options not offered by most car sharing services. Users can also choose to rent through Sixt, and Lyft Pink members are eligible for free upgrades when renting through this service. Cars rented through Sixt also come with unlimited miles, making it a great option for longer trips.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: Lyft Pink: $19.99/month
- Support available: Help Center, Email, Ticket
| Lyft Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Free optional add-ons | One-day rental minimum |
| Free rental upgrades for Lyft Pink members | |
Uber — Best for Ride Hailing
Download: Android ★★★★★★★★★★ | iOS ★★★★★★★★★★
Uber is a popular ridesharing service that partners with third-party rental companies to provide rental cars to its users. When booking through Uber, users earn 10% back in Uber Cash to use on future rides. Rentals are charged by the day, making it less ideal for short day trips. For shorter trips, Uber offers its traditional ridesharing, bike sharing, and scooter sharing services. When using the app to search for rides, users have the option of choosing low-emission rides to reduce their carbon footprint.
Notable features:
- Free version available
- Subscription plans: Uber Pass: $24.99/month
- Support available: Help Center, Email
| Uber Pros & Cons | |
|---|---|
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Rentals generate 10% back in Uber Cash | One-day rental minimum |
| Low-emission options | |
Car Sharing Services: Features Summary Table
| Car Sharing Apps Comparison Table | ||
|---|---|---|
| App | Subscription Fees | Features |
| ZipCar — Top Pick | Monthly: $7/month Annual: $70/year |
✓ In-App Payment ✓ User Profiles ✓ Maps ✓ GPS Tracking ✓ Unlock Via App |
| Getaround — Best Short-Term Bookings | None | ✓ In-App Payment ✓ User Profiles ✓ Maps ✓ GPS Tracking ✓ Unlock Via App |
| Turo — Best Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing | None | ✓ In-App Payment ✓ User Profiles ✓ Maps ✓ GPS Tracking ✓ Unlock Via App |
| Enterprise CarShare — Best for Businesses | Varies by location | ✓ In-App Payment ✓ User Profiles ✓ Maps ✓ GPS Tracking X Unlock Via App |
| HyreCar — Best for Gig Workers | None | X In-App Payment ✓ User Profiles ✓ Maps ✓ GPS Tracking X Unlock Via App |
| Sixt — Best for Leasing | Sixt+: Varies depending on vehicle | X In-App Payment ✓ User Profiles ✓ Maps ✓ GPS Tracking ✓ Unlock Via App |
| Urbi — Most Variety | None | ✓ In-App Payment ✓ User Profiles ✓ Maps ✓ GPS Tracking X Unlock Via App |
| GIG Car Share — Best for Eco-Friendly Rides | None | X In-App Payment ✓ User Profiles ✓ Maps ✓ GPS Tracking ✓ Unlock Via App |
| Lyft — Best for Lyft Members | Lyft Pink: $19.99/month | ✓ In-App Payment ✓ User Profiles ✓ Maps ✓ GPS Tracking ✓ Unlock Via App |
| Uber — Best for Ride Hailing | Uber Pass: $24.99/month | ✓ In-App Payment ✓ User Profiles ✓ Maps ✓ GPS Tracking ✓ Unlock Via App |