Peer to Peer (p2p) Car Rental...Getaround.com

This seems like a natural and good use of peer-to-peer business plan. Basically they connect you with someone in your neighborhood that is willing to rent their car out on an hourly/daily basis.

Making your car available for rent in the pool could have the car pay for itself in rental fees.

Getaround has a master insurance policy that becomes primary for your car during the time of the rental, eliminating any extra charges or limitations on your policy. You can request a car via an iPhone app (Android soon!?), and that app works to open and start the rented car via the little device they provide to the person renting their personal auto.

Pretty slick.

This is similar in concept to the ZipCar model that has people sign up for access to ZipCar owned vehicles in several cities.

But the P2P model may work better.

As a simple example of why it may be better, it took ZipCar 6 YEARS to have 1,000 vehicles available for rent. WhipCar in London had 1,000 vehicles available within 6 MONTHS of starting their business. To date the services are available in limited locations;

Getaround, San Francisco and San Diego, CA, but sign in to their beta and as they get enough interested parties they will roll out the service across the country.
WhipCar, London
RelayRides, San Francisco and Boston

www.getaround.com to sign up.

Google's RelayRides operates under the same concept. Currently in Boston and San Francisco.

Click Image below to sign up for free at RelayRides.

Sample rates from RelayRides.

Tags: RelayRides, WhipCar, car, getaround, p2p, rental

Comment by Andrew on April 4, 2011 at 10:28am: This is great! I was just on Facebook and my friend was telling me about how he got rid of his car and is using Zipcar.

He also shared this link regarding California passing car sharing insurance: http://carsharingus.blogspot.com/2010/09/california-passes-personal...

Comment by Steve on April 14, 2011 at 9:59am: ZIPcars had their IPO of stock this morning.

Zippy stock sales!

In the first few minutes of trading today, ZIP (what a great trade symbol) gained 66% from the IPO offering price.

They raised $174 Million for a company that has yet to show a profit. The CEO pointed out that ZIP is profitable in the cities where it has been established for over a year. It costs big $$ to enter new markets and that is where the IPO money will be used, along with paying down debt.

With the quick rise in value, ZIP is now valued at $1.2 Billion....or 60% of Rental Car Giant AVIS. Wow.

Comment by Andrew on January 24, 2012 at 10:04am: That is awesome! I heard in Europe they also have a service that brings a taxi cab AND another person if you are too intoxicated to drive. One drive you home, the other drives your car home so you have it in the morning! If the US wasn't so 'sue crazy' this concept would work...and likely solve all sorts of driving under the influence problems.

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