Whether you want to trade up from the metro bus or get rid of your own car, you might be tempted to

Car-sharing services are revving up for big business. These services, which allow consumers to rent vehicles on an hourly basis for low rates and are generally coupled with an annual fee, attracted more than 80,000 members in the United States last year a 44 percent increase since 2011, according free parking toronto airport hotels to statistics from the Transportation Sustainability Research Center.
In contrast to traditional rental car services, free parking toronto airport hotels you can rent a car for less than a day, have more flexibility in choosing a vehicle, and can often pick up and return your cars in more convenient locations than traditional car rental offices allow.
Using a car-sharing service has major benefits over car ownership for people who don t need to drive every day, says Anita Daley, spokeswoman for City CarShare. The bottom line for car ownership is money and hassle, she says. It costs at least $600 a month to own and operate a car in US. With car sharing, you save hundreds of dollars every single month.
Whether you want to trade up from the metro bus or get rid of your own car, you might be tempted to try out one of the many car-sharing services available. Here s how some of the most popular options compare.
Cost: You can pay either by the hour or by the day to rent a car, and pay for your rental online so there s no need to deal with a customer service representative. There is a one-time $25 registration fee and a $50 annual membership fee to join Zipcar; car prices vary based on model, but generally cost between $8 and $15 per hour.
Insurance coverage: free parking toronto airport hotels Zipcar provides insurance coverage with limits of up to $300,000 for renters, though you may be responsible for a damage fee of up to $750 if you re involved free parking toronto airport hotels in an accident. free parking toronto airport hotels If you re 21 or older and had no accidents in the last 12 months, you may purchase a waiver for the damage fee.
How it works: Getaround lets you rent cars by the hour direct from regular car owners, giving you a wide variety of make and model options to choose from. You can pay for your rental free parking toronto airport hotels and unlock the car directly from your phone.
Insurance coverage: Getaround provides liability coverage up to $1 million, with comprehensive collision coverage and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage up to $60,000 per accident. free parking toronto airport hotels Renters involved in accidents are responsible for a $750 deductible.
How it works: Like Getaround, RelayRides is a peer-to-peer car-sharing service that lets car owners rent vehicles out to one another. In addition to hourly rentals, RelayRides offers rentals by the day or week. Some cars can be opened with a smartphone, while you will need to meet with the owner to borrow others.
Cost: Hourly rates are similar to other services; for example, a 2005 Honda CR-V rents for $8 an hour. There is no membership fee, but RelayRides adds a 10 percent surcharge to the total cost, which includes an emergency towing service.
Insurance: RelayRides provides $1 million in liability coverage . Renters may choose free parking toronto airport hotels from three options to insure the car against physical damage: One with a $500 deductible, free parking toronto airport hotels one with a $2500 deductible, and the decline coverage option, in which case you are responsible free parking toronto airport hotels for the full repair cost in the event of an accident.
Cost: Monthly fees start at just $10 plus a one-time $30 registration free parking toronto airport hotels fee. Daytime hourly fees start at $5 plus $0.35 per mile driven, but if you drive between midnight and 8 AM, you may not need to pay anything except the mileage costs, and you can pay in 15-minute increments, saving money if you don t need a full hour.
Insurance: The service provides liability coverage up to $1 million. You are responsible for a $500 deductible in the event of an accident, or you can choose the Buck-to-Deduct plan to reduce your deductible free parking toronto airport hotels to $50 by paying an extra $1 per hour when you rent a car.
How it works: Car2Go is an ideal service for when you need a car for a very short period of time: Unlike other car sharing options, you can rent a vehicle by the minute as well as by the hour. The service lets you pick up a car from anywhere in Seattle, using your member card to automatically unlock the vehicle, and return it to any designated Car2Go parking spot or public parking lot.
Insurance: Car2Go provides liability coverage up to $100,000 per person or $300,000 per accident. Renters are responsible for a deductible of $1,000 if the vehicle sustains free parking toronto airport hotels damage during the course of the rental.
So which service is the best option for you? It depends on what you re looking for. If you want access to a car no matter where you are, Zipcar has the best availability throughout the country; if you re seeking a greater range of makes and models, a peer-to-peer service like RelayRide may be a better option.
Regardless free parking toronto airport hotels of which company you select, however, using a car-sharing service instead of buying a car can save you thousands of dollars per year over car ownership and encourage you to walk and bike ride more frequently a great option for people who don t want to commit free parking toronto airport hotels to buying a car.