Wheels when you want them: the pros and pitfalls of car sharing
Using a car for a few hours before handing it back has caught on well in cities across Europe, mainly with people who do not want the cost of owning and insuring their own vehicle. — dpa
For drivers who cover fewer than 10,000 kilometres a year car sharing can actually work out cheaper. But there are downsides.
Using a car for a few hours before handing it back has caught on well in cities across Europe, mainly with people who do not want the cost of owning and insuring their own vehicle.
Figures for Germany showed that 1.7 million clients share 17,200 vehicles owned by rental companies, according to car sharing federation bcs. These statistics for the first months of 2017 are similar to those coming out of many other European countries.
For drivers who cover fewer than 10,000 kilometres a year car sharing can actually work out cheaper than owning a car.
There is a downside though and before signing up for a car borrowing deal it is a good idea to weigh up the pros and cons in order to see what arrangement works best for you.
The choice at the moment is between a traditional stationary rental or a free-floating rental.
"Stationary rental means that the customer collects the car at a pre-determined location and returns it after use," says Gunnar Nehrke of the bcs. The advantage here is predictability. A car can be reserved weeks ahead and the car will be there when the client needs it.
"The choice out there is huge and ranges from city cars through to large cabs," says Sabine Behr of Germany's huge ADAC car club.
Free-floating rental companies do not offer such a wide choice of vehicles. "The plus side here is that a user can park the car anywhere he or she likes within the rental company's business area," Behr says. "You do not have to say in advance how long you will be using the car."
Cars from BMW's Drive Now service can be ordered by app or just picked up on the street spontaneously. They vehicles are scattered around a city and customers will need a smartphone in order to track down one.
Cars from BMW's Drive Now service can be ordered by app or just picked up on the street spontaneously. The vehicles are scattered around a city and customers will need a smartphone in order to track one down. — dpa
"This is ideal for people in urban areas who need a car at short notice since the vehicles can only be booked on the fly," says Nehrke.
This kind of car sharing is the most expensive and usually costs between two times and three times more than regular stationary car rental.
Naturally potential users will need to gen up on what kind of car rental offers are available in their area. Generally-speaking free-floating rentals are not feasible in lower-populated areas.
Most free-floating rental companies charge a membership fee plus an hourly or per minute charge, which include petrol, insurance and any extra mileage racked up beyond around 250 kilometres a day.
Drivers who go beyond 24 hours or drive a great distance will find the car-borrowing experience more expensive than traditional rental, especially for a weekend break.
Time is money when it comes to borrowing at short notice. The car is locked and unlocked with a membership card and the keys are stashed under the dash. From that moment on the rental clock is ticking.
Those unfamiliar with a particular car model may find it takes at least 10 minutes to adjust the driving seat and mirrors and even longer get familiar with the controls, says Behr. The handbook might be missing in some cars too.
It pays to check in advance what kind of insurance cover is on offer. This can be a costly extra for many rentals with only minimal coverage included in the basic fee.
Most rental cars have fully comprehensive insurance cover but "regardless of whether it's a scratch or a rear-end shunt, customers are nearly always expected to pay an excess, namely a contribution towards repairs," says Simon Forst of Germany's GDV insurer's umbrella group. The sum can be anywhere between 600 and 1500 dollars.
For people who drive only occasionally and for those whose driving skills may be a little rusty there is a lot to be said for on-top policies which reduce the amount of excess due after an accident.
Before taking over a hire car it pays to check over the vehicle for visible damage. If in doubt you can take a quick photo with a smartphone to show the current condition. It's worth noting too that many cars will not have been checked for cleanliness or petrol level in between rental sessions.
Take a look at the tyres too and ensure the turn signals are working properly. In many countries the rental driver will be to blame if stopped by highway police for a problem that has not been reported to the rental firm. — dpa
