Discover the benefits of car sharing

Car sharing allows you to borrow a car when you need one. You can also share your car with others to earn money. Avail simplifies the process of car sharing by taking care of the details, from key exchange to cleaning, to offer a convenient and contactless experience for borrowers and car owners alike.

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What is car sharing?

Car sharing is a new way to rent a car that differs from traditional rental companies. When comparing car sharing vs. car rental, with car sharing, borrowers rent a car from a local owner, as opposed to a corporation. Car sharing companies, including Avail, help local vehicle owners make money by letting pre-screened drivers pay to borrow their car.

Avail uses dedicated reserved parking spots where users can pick up and drop off vehicles. For people who don’t need to drive every day, it offers convenient access to cars without the headache and hassle and cost of car ownership. For vehicle owners who want to earn some cash, it’s easy to make money by sharing your car.

How does car sharing work?

Car sharing is a convenient way for visitors and car-less residents alike to get around a city, allowing them to save money and time when they want an alternative to public transportation. For car owners, car sharing can free up valuable space in your garage or driveway. To get started, follow the steps listed below and check out the Avail car rental requirements for additional information.

What is car sharing?

Car sharing is a new way to rent a car that differs from traditional rental companies. When comparing car sharing vs. car rental, with car sharing, borrowers rent a car from a local owner, as opposed to a corporation. Car sharing companies, including Avail, help local vehicle owners make money by letting pre-screened drivers pay to borrow their car.

Avail uses dedicated reserved parking spots where users can pick up and drop off vehicles. For people who don’t need to drive every day, it offers convenient access to cars without the headache and hassle and cost of car ownership. For vehicle owners who want to earn some cash, it’s easy to make money by sharing your car.

How does car sharing work?

Car sharing is a convenient way for visitors and car-less residents alike to get around a city, allowing them to save money and time when they want an alternative to public transportation. For car owners, car sharing can free up valuable space in your garage or driveway. To get started, follow the steps listed below and check out the Avail car rental requirements for additional information.

Borrow a car

We make it simple to borrow the car you need when you need it. It’s easy to get started:

1

Create an Avail account and validate your driver’s license.

2

Choose your dates, vehicle type and pick-up location.

3

Head to the Avail lot, grab the keys and go.

To borrow a car, drivers need to be 21+ years old, pass a motor vehicle records check, provide a valid U.S. driver’s license and have a valid payment method.



Share my car

Leave your keys with us and come back to a clean car and easy money. Signing up is simple:

1

Create an Avail account and share details about your vehicle.

2

Choose the dates you want to share your car.

3

Drop it off at the Avail lot you selected.

To share a car, owners need to have a vehicle that meets our eligibility requirements and a valid U.S. driver’s license. You must also provide proof of having your state’s minimum legal liability insurance, comprehensive coverage and collision coverage.

We offer everything you need for a smooth trip.

Renting a car through Avail is even more convenient than traditional car rental services. In addition to a wide range of makes and models for your unique trip needs, we offer affordable pricing with a second driver included. Customer support and 24/7 roadside assistance are available for every trip, giving you peace of mind as you travel to your destination or throughout the day. With Allstate insurance protection available, you won’t stress about buying car sharing insurance.

Every trip is protected by Allstate insurance

24/7 roadside assistance

Free second driver

Affordable daily rates

A range of vehicle types

Borrow a car

We do the work. You get paid.

There are plenty of reasons to start a car rental business on the side. When you choose Avail, you’ll get a guaranteed minimum $50 per week when you list your car for seven consecutive days. Additionally, when your car is borrowed more often, you can earn money beyond the guaranteed minimum. 

We make the process incredibly simple. All you need to do is list your car for sharing on our site then bring your vehicle to the Avail location of your choice and drop off the keys. We’ll promote your car to interested drivers in our app and website, and pre-screen all borrowers to ensure you can trust the person driving your vehicle. Cars are inspected before and after each trip to make sure they come back without a scratch. Avail even cleans your car to make sure it’s ready when you return to pick it up.

Pre-screening borrowers

Listing your car to be borrowed

Handing off & collecting keys

Post-trip inspections

Cleaning & refueling

Share my car

Insurance from Allstate. Protection options to meet your needs.

From the second a car is left in Avail’s care, Avail’s Allstate policy kicks in.

We provide borrowers with $100,000 in liability coverage, or their state’s minimum requirement (whichever is higher). This coverage is excess over any other insurance that may exist. Additional fees may apply.

Owners receive up to $1 million in primary liability coverage.

Learn more

Insurance from Allstate. Protection options to meet your needs.

From the second a car is left in Avail’s care, Avail’s Allstate policy kicks in.

We provide borrowers with $100,000 in liability coverage, or their state’s minimum requirement (whichever is higher). This coverage is excess over any other insurance that may exist. Additional fees may apply.

Owners receive up to $1 million in primary liability coverage.

Learn more

Start car sharing today

Car sharing offers a cost-effective, sustainable transportation option for vacationers and residents of cities like Chicago and Denver who may not usually need a car for more than a day or two at a time, but it’s also a great option for people who want to offset the costs of car ownership, like insurance, car payments and pricey maintenance. We even offer long-term car sharing in Denver and Chicago that goes up to 4 weeks for those longer vacations or vehicle needs. 

Car sharing lets you make money by sharing your car when you don’t need it, backed up by the peace of mind of Allstate insurance coverage. Learn more about how Avail car sharing makes cars more accessible. Download the app and find your next ride today.

Avail locations near you

Find us in neighborhood locations throughout Chicago and Denver.

Chicago skyline from Lake Michigan

Chicago locations

Skyline of Denver, Colorado, at sunrise.

Denver locations

Avail locations near you

Find us in neighborhood locations throughout Chicago and Denver.

Chicago locations

Denver locations

Frequently asked questions about car sharing

If you’re new to car sharing as an owner and a borrower, you probably have plenty of questions about how much it costs and how it works. Listed below are some of the most commonly asked questions we get about car sharing.

With car sharing, you’re borrowing a vehicle from another driver in your city for the duration of your trip or for your day of running errands. Compare that with traditional car rental, in which you rent from a fleet of vehicles. Typically, car sharing is a more affordable option than renting a car. 

If you live in a busy area with public transit or walkable areas, you may not need a car for daily use. This cuts down on your carbon footprint and the costs associated with owning a car. But when you need a car for a day, borrowing one is easy and convenient, and it will be less expensive in the long run than paying the regular costs associated with ownership.

Most car sharing companies offer several different vehicle brands and models for renters to choose from. Avail offers our borrowers a choice between standard sedans, mid-size SUVs,  full-size SUVs and vans.

Avail offers car sharing customers the ability to borrow a car with insurance protection from Allstate. Other car sharing companies may require vehicle owners to carry specific car sharing insurance.

Avail’s Allstate coverage provides borrowers with $100,000 in liability coverage, or their state’s minimum requirement (whichever is higher). This coverage is excess over any other insurance that borrowers may have. Additional fees may apply. Owners receive up to $1 million in primary liability coverage.

The cost of car sharing usually depends on the type of vehicle you’re borrowing and the length of time you need it. Avail also charges a general insurance fee to manage our policy, which can be waived if you provide proof of having your own car insurance. There are also additional fees that may be incurred, such as if you smoke in the vehicle, drive with pets or exceed our mileage limit of 200 miles per day, which is charged at $0.50 for every additional mile. 

Each vehicle is inspected after it is dropped off at our lot to ensure it meets our safety and cleanliness qualifications. We also make note of any current cosmetic issues. Once the vehicle is returned, we clean it to make sure it remains in the same condition as when it arrived at our lot.

Avail simplifies access to car sharing. All cars are owned by real, local people, but we take care of the car exchange, cleaning, inspection and insurance process so it’s easier for the borrower and the owner of the car.

Avail makes it easy to borrow or share a car at any of our neighborhood locations across Chicago and Denver.

Avail is located in neighborhoods throughout Chicago and Denver. Choose the sharing location most convenient for you — this is where you’ll pick up and drop off your car.

All drivers must be 21 or older and have a valid U.S. driver’s license (probationary and provisional licenses are not accepted), a clean driving record and a valid credit card to book a reservation (debit cards are not accepted).

We require bookings and modifications to be made at least 4 hours in advance of pick-up. This helps give our staff time to prepare your vehicle.

Yes, all Avail drivers are covered by Allstate insurance complete with access to 24/7 roadside assistance. This insurance is excess over any other insurance that a borrower may have. Avail also covers the cost to repair damage done to the Avail vehicle over $3,000, which can come in handy if there is severe damage! If you’re not comfortable with paying up to $3,000, you can select an alternative protection plan to limit your potential out-of-pocket cost to either $1,000 or $500. This protection is not insurance and only covers damage done to the Avail car. Additional fees may apply. Additional fees may apply.

For questions about whether your personal auto policy or credit card policy may apply, please contact your insurance provider or a licensed insurance agent.

Total trip mileage is limited to 200 miles per day. That means a 3-day trip is allowed up to 600 total miles before incurring a fee of an extra $0.50 per mile. We calculate total mileage by looking at the odometer before and after your trip.

Avail charges a general insurance fee and a trip fee. Avail doesn’t charge extra fees to add a second driver or to cancel your trip before the reservation start time.

You may be charged fees or fines if you break our Borrower Rules and Guidelines, including for smoking or vaping, bringing a pet (service animals are accepted), damaging the vehicle, unauthorized drivers, excessive wear and tear and returning the car with less gas than was provided at pick up.

Cars must be less than 10 years old and have fewer than 125,000 miles to be shared on Avail.* To maintain our safety standards, we only accept vehicles that have an automatic transmission, no open recalls, no major cosmetic damage and no significant interior or exterior damage.

*Cars aged over 10 years old at the time of listing are ineligible for sharing and will not be accepted. Avail retains the discretion to make exceptions for vehicles with active listings, considering their condition and sharing history.

Yes. After your booking is confirmed, have them create an Avail account and upload their driver’s license, then contact our support team via chat or SMS. We will then add that person to your reservation. It’s free to add a second driver.

We can’t guarantee a vehicle will have all-wheel drive, but many of our SUVs come equipped. If you’d like to borrow a car with four-wheel drive, just reserve a midsize or large SUV and then chat Avail support with your preference. We will do our best to fulfill your request.

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