Car rental and car sharing - which should I choose?

There are several mobility options to choose if we don't have an own car - public transport, community carpooling, car sharing, car rental - but what aspects should be considered? Let's look at the two most popular services provided by companies: car rental and car sharing. 

When we rent a car we typically do so for several days, weeks or months. Usually planned and booked in advance we choose the ideal size and type of car for us from the car rental company's fleet, with the special services we require (e.g. extra insurance), and then pick up and drop off the rented car at a specified location. Compared to a car sharing company we may have to do more administrative work but for example our insurance excess may be much lower. It's also worth looking at medium-sized domestic providers, where we can rent a good quality, reliable car at typically lower rates than at international rental companies. For more distant destinations or longer periods it is clearly a cheaper and more predictable option. 

Car sharing provides us quickly find the nearest available vehicle by simply registering and using an app. Depending on how widespread the service is, it may offer more limited access than car rental, not really an option for commuters, but it is more flexible as the car can be picked up from many places in the city and the fee usually includes fuel. As the service is usually per-minute or per-kilometre it is ideal for short trips, especially within the city. 

It is worth considering our individual needs and circumstances to decide which is the best option for us. For occasional short trips within the city, shopping or going to meetings, car sharing is an excellent option. Car hire is suitable for longer journeys both within the country and abroad, is cheaper for long distances and feels almost like having your own car. If you’d like to rent a car, we are at your disposal!