More Expansion for the Car-Sharing Concept
New company touts the environmental benefits of car sharing.
A new car-sharing company is pairing car owners with individuals who need a short-term rental car, according to Mother Nature Network. RelayRides is hoping to turn underused vehicles in the U.S. into a revenue stream for the car owner and RelayRides.
RelayRides will soon be launching its service in Baltimore, Md.
Although ZipCar is probably the most well-recognized car-sharing service in the United States, RelayRides is a new company that is also touting the environmental benefits of car sharing.
The company states that a shared car replaces 14 to 18 cars on the road, causing less pollution. To participate in the program, RelayRides requires drivers to be at least 21 years of age, with exceptions for drivers as young as 18 with excellent driving records who have been licensed to drive for at least two years, and who are insured.
RelayRides charges no age-related premiums. The company’s pricing plan includes hourly and daily rates, at $6 per hour for an economy vehicle that is model year 2003 or older. Specialty vehicles that are model year 2007 or newer top out at $12 per hour.
The company also charges a separate fee for excess miles. Anything over 20 miles per reservation hour or 160 miles per day is excess, and the company doesn’t impose a fixed cap on rental length. A car is available for as long as the participating owner designates. RelayRides talks about the potential profit that owners can receive by participating in the program.
Owners of a brand new 2010 luxury car that rent out a vehicle for 20 hours per week could earn about $8,000 in a year. Income potential does vary based on the year of the vehicle, the type of vehicle and the condition of the car.
RelayRides maintains an auto insurance policy beyond what is carried by the owner in case a driver has an accident while driving a RelayRides vehicle. This policy will pay for repairs or replacement costs and provide the owner with a rental car during the repair period. Consumers who don’t live in Baltimore can sign up for the car-sharing service on the RelayRides Web site.
More Rental Operations
Clean on Paper: Red Flags in Exotic Car Rental Verification
A suspicious $45,000 Lamborghini booking reveals the strengths and limitations of renter verification, from forged insurance documents to coverage gaps and unauthorized drivers. (Part 2 of 3)
Read More →
Turo and Tesla Take the Next Step Toward Autonomous Car Rentals
The partnership brings Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) technology into the rental experience, offering a glimpse of how increasingly automated vehicles could change car rental.
Read More →
How Rental Operators Can Navigate Personalized Pricing Rules
As regulators scrutinize the use of customer data in pricing, rental operators need to know whether they can explain why one renter pays more than another.
Read More →
Direct, Broker or Hybrid? How Travel Retailers Source Rental Cars
As travel retailers weigh direct supplier relationships against third-party distribution, rental operators need to understand how those decisions affect their business.
Read More →
How Did This Independent Rental Operator Grow to 170 Vehicles in 4 Years?
With 170 vehicles across three Kentucky locations, Joel Price relies on an overseas team to handle reservations, payments, and after-hours customer service. It's one part of an unconventional approach to growing an independent rental operation.
Read More →
What Does It Take to Succeed in B2B Rentals?
The fundamentals may be familiar to daily car rental operators, but project-based truck rentals put different demands on the fleet and the business.
Read More →
NPR Builds on International Partnerships to Grow Rental Bookings
With Ana Laborde supporting broker development, NPR Auto Group is tailoring distribution strategies, rate packages, and partnerships to grow international reservations across its three brands.
Read More →
Advantage, Sixt Place Among Top Five in Annual Satisfaction Study
While Enterprise and National retain the top spots in JD Power’s 2026 rankings, the latest customer satisfaction results suggest renters can find competitive service beyond the biggest car rental names.
Read More →
The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals
Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.
Read More →
The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?
For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.
Read More →