Related: Los Angeles Pushes for Legalization Of Uber, Lyft at LAX
Ride Sharing Versus Rental Cars
A writer for Forbes magazine decided to try using only ride-sharing services (Uber and Lyft) during a 10-day trip to Los Angeles. In the end, she saved only $6 by using ride-sharing services rather than renting a car.
by Staff
August 5, 2015
Uber's mobile app platform. Photo courtesy of Uber.
1 min to read
Uber's mobile app platform. Photo courtesy of Uber.
Laura Shin, a writer for Forbes magazine, decided to try using only ride-sharing services during a 10-day trip to Los Angeles.
Before her trip, she did some research on rental cars. The cheapest rental for that time period would be $289 for an economy vehicle. Including gas costs and parking, she rounded the amount to approximately $400 on a car rental for 10 days. That meant she needed to spend less than $40 a day on Uber and Lyft rides.
Ultimately, after taking current gas prices into account and adding up the number of miles traveled, Shin discovered that she saved only $6 by using ride-sharing services rather than renting a car during her trip.
Click here to read the full Forbes article: http://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2015/04/30/planning-a-trip-when-its-cheaper-to-take-uber-and-lyft-than-rent-a-car/
More Rental Operations
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 →
ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers
The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.
Read More →
Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service
Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.
Read More →
Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap
A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.
Read More →
U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana
The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.
Read More →
When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?
As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)
Read More →
European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country
Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.
Read More →
Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.
Read More →