Getaround is a car rental service with a twist. Instead of using an
established fleet of cars and a central business location, they make it
possible for regular people to earn a little extra money by offering their cars
as rental vehicles. Today, we have a Getaround review to share
with you containing lots more detail! If you have an extra car that you only drive
occasionally, you could list it on Getaround and earn money on the days when it
would normally be parked in the garage.
Getaraound's
peer-to-peer approach allows them to charge significantly less than other car
rental companies, which makes the service an appealing option for drivers, and
the decentralized nature of the business model helps Getaround operate at a
much lower cost than their more traditional competitors.
How does
loaning your car with Getaround work?
Getaround's
booking and return processes are seamless and ideally require no interaction at
all between drivers and owners. Everything is handled via the combination of a
well-designed app, and some interesting technology.
The key
factor is Getaround's Connect device, which makes it
possible for renters to find your car, and unlock the doors. The Connect device
also provides enhanced security features, including GPS tracking, and the
ability to shut off the engine remotely.
Once
you sign up with Getaround and
your car is approved, the company will send someone to install the Connect
device.
After
that, you'll need to log into Getaround's website to create a profile and set
the days and hours when your car will be available.
You'll
also be able to leave special instructions for future renters, including things
like the location within the vehicle where you plan to hide the keys, local
parking guidelines, and special operational procedures that are unique to your
automobile.
Anytime
your car is made available, you'll be expected to make sure it's road ready,
with the keys hidden somewhere inside, and plenty of gas – a full tank is
preferred, but there should be a quarter-tank at a minimum.
As part of
their agreement, renters are required to replace any gas they use. Fines are
added to their rental fee if they fail to do so, and you can be reimbursed.
Many car
owners, especially those who live in out-of-the-way areas, choose to secure a
permanent parking spot for their automobile in a convenient location where
renters can easily pick it up and return it.
Another
option is to park the vehicle on the street in a well-trafficked area, and
allow renters to find it with the GPS on the Connect device.
Is it safe
to share my car on Getaround?
For some
folks, the whole idea of putting their vehicles into the hands of strangers can
be a source of anxiety. Getaround recognizes this and have gone out of their
way to create several layers of protection.
The first
and most important security measures are the GPS tracking and remote shutoff
features built into the Connect device, which should go a long way in
preventing theft.
Additionally,
all rentals are covered through a full-featured 1-million dollar insurance
policy, and renters must pass a rigorous trust and safety screening which
closely examines their past driving history.
Is there a
fee to participate?
Yes, there
is a $99 installation fee for the Connect device, and you have to pay a $20
monthly fee to keep your car listed with the service.
Most
owners are able to make their money back quite easily, but this might be more
of a concern if you don't think you'll be offering your car for rent very
often.
How do I
get paid, and how much can I expect to earn?
Payments
are delivered monthly via Paypal or check, depending on your preference.
According
to the website, most people are able to earn more than $1,000 a year, but it
will depend on your region and car model.
While
researching this article, I was able to find people online who made more than
$7,000 in a year, and some who only made a few hundred.
Apparently,
you can set your daily and hourly rental price to whatever you like, but
Getaround will provide a recommended fee based on the make and model of your
car, along with the level of demand in your area.
The company
strongly encourages owners to stick to the default rate and not to go much
above it, especially if they want to attract the maximum amount of customer
interest.
Are there
any special requirements to participate?
All cars
must be 2008 models or newer, with less than 125,000 miles.
Additionally,
your car must be a four wheel vehicle that seats no more than eight passengers.
Does it
matter where I live?
At the
time of this writing, sign up with Getaround, but
that number will likely increase going forward.
Getaround
Reviews
I spent
some time looking at several online communities, searching for Getaround
reviews from car owners who've tried Getaround's service.
I found
quite a few, and most seemed very satisfied with their results, even though
many didn't make a huge amount of money.
It sounds
like there's almost no work or hassle involved for the owner once the initial
setup is taken care of.
In some
locations, business can apparently be a little slow. For example, one user said
his car got booked only once or twice a month during vacation season, and less
often than that during the rest of the year.
Despite
this, the individual was pretty happy with the money he was earning, especially
considering the small amount of effort required.
I did find
a few car owners who complained about problems with the initial installation of
the Connect device, but those comments were all posted several years ago during
the early days of the service, and it's possible that most of the bugs have now
been ironed out.
How to get
started with Getaround
If you
have an extra car, and would like to start earning a little side-income with
it, go here to
read more about Getaround's rental service, and get the ball rolling on your
application.
Have you
used Getaround to rent out your own car? Comment below and let us know how the
whole process went for you.
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