Car sharing apps and platforms in comparison 2022

It is controversial whether car sharing actually has positive effects on environmental pollution, but it definitely has a gentle effect on the wallet. Because if you do without your own car and share a car with other users, you save the acquisition costs as well as the running costs for repairs, taxes and vehicle insurance. In addition, privately owned vehicles must also be questioned from an economic point of view. After all, private cars are only used one hour a day on average; At the same time, however, an average of around EUR 30,000 was spent on purchasing a new car.

Flexible use with choice of vehicle category

Renting a car through car sharing is not the only reason why it can be an alternative to owning a car. This is especially true for residents of larger cities. Local public transport is usually well developed here; a city car is at most useful for bulk shopping in the supermarket or for visiting a furniture store in the periphery. A bicycle or delivery services such as the Gorillas app are also sufficient for small purchases. If necessary, car sharing users can use a car sharing app to conveniently search for a car or electric car in the vicinity, rent the free vehicle and park it again after the journey. In addition, the vehicle can be selected depending on the purpose: a van or minibus for transporting furniture, a compact model for weekly shopping in the city center or a convertible for a trip to the quarry pond.

We’ve taken a closer look at popular car sharing apps below. In addition to Deutsche Bahn with Flinkster, large automobile manufacturers have also developed appropriate solutions with ShareNow. In addition to stationary offers in which the vehicles are parked in defined places, there are also offers with so-called free floating or “one-way car sharing”. With this model, the available vehicles can be used flexibly in city centers and then parked again at any location in the catchment area.

Car sharing: Inexpensive alternative for spontaneous and short journeys

Car sharing apps are therefore particularly suitable for spontaneous and short trips in larger cities. In general, the following applies: Before getting in, the respective car sharing vehicle should be checked for damage and, if necessary, reported before starting the journey. Depending on the usage scenario, it may be cheaper to use a rental car from a car rental company, e.g. B. on longer journeys. For this purpose, a price comparison is recommended in advance.

ShareNow app (former car2go and DriveNow app)

The car sharing apps car2go and DriveNow have merged to form the ShareNow app. The car sharing service from Daimler and BMW therefore offers a comprehensive portfolio: 11,000 cars are available in 16 cities, including city cars from BMW, such as the 1 Series or the i3 electric car, as well as vehicles from the Mini subsidiary. Convertibles are also available for topless fans. These can be used according to the free-floating principle and can therefore be parked either in a free or public parking lot or in a designated car2go parking spot after the end of the rental period. So there is no fixed rental station.

If you have already used car2go or DriveNow, you can simply log in with the old access data after installing the ShareNow app. The previous credit is also taken over.

When using it for the first time, you register free of charge on the ShareNow website or directly via the app with your current address and payment details. The subsequent legitimation of the driving license takes place either online or via a validation center. Then you look for an available manoeuvrable city car or e-car in the respective catchment area using a real-time map. In Germany, ShareNow is currently represented in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart and the Rhineland. There are also rental options in Milan, Amsterdam and several major European cities.

The ShareNow app is self-explanatory and also acts as a key for the rented vehicle. The vehicle can be reserved for up to 20 minutes. The fees due are calculated either with a minute rate or a package (2 hours to 30 days) along with a certain number of kilometers. There is a choice of different vehicle classes such as Smart or A-Class. Before starting the journey, it is advisable to check the vehicle for any damage. ShareNow is available for iOS and Android.

Flinkster – the car sharing app from Deutsche Bahn

Flinkster is the car sharing network of Deutsche Bahn AG and, according to its own statements, has around 4,000 vehicles in 300 cities. The structure of the app is clear and in the corporate design of Deutsche Bahn. Registration via the associated website and driver’s license legitimation are required for use.

Flinkster is a station-based offer in which the vehicle parking spaces are predominantly located near train stations in larger cities. A total of around 1,700 different locations are available. The app offers navigation to the storage location, and booking is also possible within the app. With the help of filters, the available city cars can be selected according to vehicle class, engine, gear shift variant and other equipment features.

The vehicles can be opened and locked by the renter with the app. Depending on the model, you will be billed per hour of usage time. In addition, a flat rate is due per kilometer driven. The cost of petrol is included in the general cost of the booking. Flinkster is available for both Android smartphones and iPhones.

Stadtmobil – the combined network platform

Stadtmobil is a car sharing provider and association that has existed since 1999 and was originally organized in associations on a voluntary basis. Even then, the aim was to relieve the cities of car traffic and to offer a supplement for public transport. With increasing size – the vehicle fleet now comprises several thousand small cars and other vehicle sizes – there was a merger to form a large company in which central tasks are bundled. This includes technical solutions such as the booking software and the associated mobile app.

Stadtmobil’s offer is station-based car sharing with 180 locations, for example in Karlsruhe, Berlin, Hanover, Stuttgart and Trier. A special feature is the addition of free-floating solutions in Mannheim and Hanover, which promises greater flexibility and mobility than a purely stationary offer.

Car rental is billed according to time, vehicle class and kilometers driven. The desired start and end time of the journey can be entered in the Stadtmobil app and the vehicle class can be determined using a filter. The cars are then opened with an access card. In addition to an admission fee, a small monthly fee is due. Stadtmobil is available for both Android smartphones and iPhones.

Private car sharing: the inexpensive sharing option for bargain hunters

In addition to the classic car sharing model with the apps presented, private individuals also have the option of sharing cars via private car sharing. In private car sharing, customers use vehicles and small cars that are rented out directly by the car owner for a specified period of time.

To rent a private car, you first have to register on a corresponding car sharing platform – such as Getaround (formerly: drivy) or SnappCar. As with the classic car sharing apps, private cars can be booked flexibly via app and then used – easily create an account and upload a driver’s license photo.

The advantages of private car sharing are obvious. Direct contact with the car owner via SMS, WhatsApp, email or a personal meeting or telephone call creates trust and security that the vehicle is perfectly in tact. You also get to know new people, which may even lead to acquaintances or friendships. Even with private car sharing, you are fully covered in the event of accidents thanks to fully comprehensive insurance. For all bargain hunters, the price of private car sharing is also very important, as you can save a lot of money here compared to classic car sharing.

Car sharing is particularly convenient with a high-performance LTE tariff

Car sharing is primarily dependent on the place of residence and the range of vehicles available there. Most providers concentrate on the catchment area of larger cities for economic reasons. There are often several platforms represented there, so that a price comparison is available for the tenant.

The station-based as well as the free-floating model have their advantages: While free-floating promises greater flexibility due to the location-independent choice of parking spaces, the stationary model offers better planning. Overall, car sharing is worthwhile for those who are in metropolitan areas with good transport connections and only occasionally need a car for larger purchases or small trips. The respective app is extremely convenient and sometimes even essential for using the vehicles. One of the high-performance LTE tariffs from yourfone, which are available with current smartphones, is recommended for this. It’s worth stopping by!