urban hacks, ride share, everything you need to know about car sharing in australia
Do you really need to own a car? That’s the question car sharing hopes to answer, with a ‘No’

‘Car sharing’ (or ‘carsharing’, if you’re more the compound word type) may bring about mental images of teenagers on their Ps desperately negotiating with their parents to be granted access to the family car on the weekend, but the truth is it’s something far more harmonious.

‘Car sharing’ is, in fact, a type of car rental aimed at replacing car ownership, where people rent cars for short periods of time – typically by the hour or by the day – from car-sharing companies, and the transaction is done via an app.

Car-sharing services differ from standard car-rental services in a number of ways, including the fact that reservation, pick-up and return are all self-service style, which means office hours are no obstacle since you can book any time. Users do have to be pre-approved before they’re able to drive a share car, of course.

Car sharing also shouldn’t be confused with ‘car pooling’, a type of ride sharing where a driver shares a journey with one or more other passengers – sometimes for a fee – so that they don’t have to make the same trip in their own car, thus contributing to traffic congestion and car pollution (BlaBlaCar is a popular car-pooling service overseas – primarily in Europe – but it’s not yet available in Australia).

Also, an important note if you’re travelling: the Brits call car pooling ‘car sharing’, and car sharing there is known as ‘car club’ (just to confuse things).

If you’ve ever thought “I’d totally let a stranger drive my car”, then car sharing might be a feasible way to make some money from your car rather than have it sitting stationary, slowly depreciating in value in real time.

Advantages to using car sharing include carbon-footprint reduction, having access to a wider range of models and types of vehicle – you can treat yourself to a convertible, or even rent a van, should you be going through the horror of moving house – and anyone who travels less than 10,000km a year will likely find that car sharing turns out to be a cheaper option than actually owning a car (remember that dread word, ‘depreciation’? You can kiss it goodbye.)

Although there have been variations on car sharing as far back as 1948, modern car sharing emerged in the late-1990s in the US, but soon spread to to other global markets with dense urban populations such as Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Russia and Turkey.

It arrived in Australia in the early-2000s, and those that want to carshare in Australia now have several services to choose from (although some car-sharing companies that were mooted to set up shop in Australia, like Daimler’s Car2Go, never quite got off the ground).

1. GoGet

urban hacks, ride share, everything you need to know about car sharing in australia

The first car-sharing service in Australia launched in the Sydney suburb of Newtown in 2003, and it’s now Australia’s biggest car-sharing network, operating in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney. Members pay a yearly fee ranging from $12 to $49 depending on need, and hourly rates start at $6.70/hr plus $0.40/km (daily rates start at $76 and include 150km at no charge).

2. Flexicar

urban hacks, ride share, everything you need to know about car sharing in australia

Rebranded from Hertz 24/7 in 2016, Flexicar has locations in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart. Flexicar guarantees the vehicles in its car fleet are less than three years old, and members can either book cars by the hour starting at $8.50/hr, and non-business users pay a $49 annual fee ($35 for students), although annual fees are returned as driving credit.

3. Popcar

urban hacks, ride share, everything you need to know about car sharing in australia

Popcar (not ‘pop car’) is one of the smaller car sharing services, with around 180 cars available from the cities of Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Byron Bay. Subscriptions and fees start at $19.90 per month plus a $10 joining fee for rates of $5.50/hr plus $0.40/km (or $59/day with 200km included), to no monthly fee, a $25 joining fee and rates of $9.90/hr plus $0.40/km (or $80/day with 200km included).

4. Turo

urban hacks, ride share, everything you need to know about car sharing in australia

Beginning in Boston in 2010 as RelayRides, Turo bills itself as ‘the world’s largest car sharing market’ and is a peer-to-peer car-sharing company that connects private owners wanting to rent their cars (as of 2020, Turo has 14 million members and 450,000 vehicles listed, operating in 56 countries). Prices start at $25 per day, and customers can get a full refund if they cancel up to 24 hours before their trip is set to start.

5. Car Next Door

urban hacks, ride share, everything you need to know about car sharing in australia

Operating as a kind of Airbnb for cars, Car Next Door is a peer-to-peer car-sharing service that currently operates in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, the Gold Coast, Hobart, Canberra and Perth. There are no joining fees, and once you’re approved you’ll have access to 1,300 cars across Australia, which you can book by the hour or by the day. Rates start from $5/hr or $25/day, with a $6.99 booking fee and $0.21/km distance fee.

Keyword: Everything you need to know about car sharing in Australia

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

August 2022 COE Results 1st Bidding: Premiums See A Mix Of Increases and Decreases Across All Categories

In the 1st COE bidding exercise for August 2022, Cat A closed at $80,000, Cat B at $107,001, Cat C at $56,089, Cat D at $11,000 and Cat E at $113,000. Cat A (Cars up to 1600CC & 97KW) received 689 bids and saw a $1,101 increase from the ...

View more: August 2022 COE Results 1st Bidding: Premiums See A Mix Of Increases and Decreases Across All Categories

Learner driver car insurance explained

If you want to learn to drive in your own, or a parent’s, car you’ll need to get the right learner driver car insurance cover

View more: Learner driver car insurance explained

How to pass your CBT test: motorbike and moped training explained

Compulsory basic training - or CBT - allows you to ride unsupervised on the road and is the first step to a full motorcycle licence

View more: How to pass your CBT test: motorbike and moped training explained

Week Of 25th July: LTA To Revise COE Quota Calculation Method, First Look At The All-New Range Rover And Audi RS 3 Sedan mReview!

In this edition of mRecap, we take a look at LTA revising COE quota calculation method, a first look at the Range Rover and test-drive the Audi RS 3 Sedan! LTA To Revise COE Quota Calculation Method With The Aim Of Reducing Volatility  First Look: The All-New Range Rover ...

View more: Week Of 25th July: LTA To Revise COE Quota Calculation Method, First Look At The All-New Range Rover And Audi RS 3 Sedan mReview!

Paperwork, handover and how to complain

Everything you need to know about all the paperwork involved in buying a car, and what to do if you need to complain...

View more: Paperwork, handover and how to complain

How to negotiate a car sale

Follow our simple haggling tips to make sure you get the car you want for the best possible price...

View more: How to negotiate a car sale

3.5-tonne tow ratings: Busting the great 3500kg myths

4×4 DUAL CAB UTES Toyota HiLux Ford Ranger (3.2-litre) Mazda BT-50 Isuzu D-Max Holden Colorado VW Amarok V6 Nissan Navara 4×4 HEAVY-DUTY SUVs Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 litre V6 diesel auto Nissan Patrol Y62 Ti & TiL Land Rover Discovery S SD4 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series and 70 ...

View more: 3.5-tonne tow ratings: Busting the great 3500kg myths

EV charging stations in Australia explained

Download the EVGuide Report, 2022 Electric car charging stations in Australia The future of EV charging stations in Australia  What are the different types of charging stations? There are a lot of things to dislike about service stations: petrol pump nozzles you need to insert and withdraw a dozen ...

View more: EV charging stations in Australia explained

How to write the perfect car advert

Payment, paperwork and avoiding scams

What is a plug-in hybrid and should you buy one?

July 2022 COE Results 2nd Bidding: Premiums See Increases Across All Categories Again

Driving hacks for newbies that can improve safety

Holiday car hire tips - don't get ripped off

Week Of 11th July: Honda Accord Euro R Motorist Buyer's Guide, Tesla Model Y First Drive And Audi RS 3 Sportback mReview!

Car security: how to keep your car safe

Car security: what to do if your car is stolen

Plug-in hybrid vehicles on sale in Australia in 2022

Wheel alignment: What causes misaligned wheels?

How far can you drive with your fuel light on?

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel