How to use an extra car for car sharing

As your lifestyle and needs evolve, you may realize that you don’t drive your extra car as much as you used to. Instead of selling it, you can start a rental car business on the side and use it to make money on the side with car sharing. This option allows you to offset some of the costs of car ownership while still having access to the vehicle in case a need arises. We’ll review how car sharing works, what’s required of you and how much you can expect to make.

How does car sharing with an extra car work?

Locals who have an extra car are able to rent it out to other drivers (called borrowers) who need one, whether for errands, a trip or another purpose. This helps make use of cars that are already available and puts money back into the local community. Car sharing works a little differently depending on the platform. For example, lets compare Avail vs Turo. Avail is hands-off for owners and doesn’t require them to interact with borrowers at all. Turo requires more of a time commitment from owners and makes them responsible for coordinating pick-up and drop-off with the borrower, who is later able to rate and review their experience. Avail offers passive income while Turo is more geared toward those who aspire to run a multi-car operation.

What are the benefits of car sharing with Avail?

When you have an extra car that you want to rent out, car sharing with Avail requires minimal effort — just listing your car, dropping it off and then picking it up at the end of the listing period — that can quickly be done during your off hours.

1. Guaranteed earnings

Avail created an easy way for car owners to make passive income. For every 7 consecutive days that your car is listed for sharing, you are guaranteed to make at least $50 (this amount is prorated based on the number of days you list). That means if your car is listed for sharing but never gets borrowed, you will still make money. If it gets booked often, you’re able to easily surpass the guaranteed earnings. 

2. Car care and protection

Your car is protected by Allstate insurance coverage from the moment it is left in Avail’s care. In the event of the unexpected, Avail will facilitate the claims process on your behalf, as well as any necessary repairs. 

The Avail Car Care Plan is available to all owners and helps reduce routine maintenance expenses by sharing costs for things like oil changes, tire rotation and battery replacement. Every mile driven while your car is shared on Avail reduces your part of the shared cost. 

3. Flexibility and convenience

Avail has dozens of neighborhood locations across Chicago and Denver, and each one is equipped for self-service with designated parking spaces and a secure on-site key box for both owners and borrowers to use. When you share your car on Avail, you’ll choose the location that is most convenient for you and then park your car there for free during its sharing period. If you aren’t local to Chicago or Denver, you can email share@availcarsharing.com and we’ll help coordinate vehicle transportation to one of these cities so you can still use our services to share your car.

If you need to use your car while it’s listed for sharing, you can check it out for the time you need it as long as it’s not already booked for a trip. By checking it out, you’re able to keep the listing active for more consecutive days and therefore earn more money.

4. Minimal effort

We’ve already mentioned that sharing your extra car on Avail isn’t time-consuming and can be done at your convenience. But here’s a look behind the scenes so you understand just what that means. Avail pre-screens borrowers, promotes your car on our platforms, facilitates borrower pick-up and drop-off, cleans and inspects your car upon return and manages payment processing. Since you never interact with borrowers, there’s no rating and review system you have to worry about.

Is car sharing right for you?

If you have an extra car taking up garage space or sitting idle while you work from home or are on vacation, then car sharing with Avail is an easy way to earn passive income while still maintaining access to your vehicle when you need it. There are no out-of-pocket costs and you can quickly sign up to share your car in the Avail app or on our website. Get started today, learn about common mistakes to avoid and see if sharing your extra car on Avail is right for you.