When so-called car-sharing companies began to emerge around the world, allowing people to rent a car easily for the short term, many people rejected the concept, claiming it was merely a trend that would not work. While car sharing can indeed be considered a trend, statistics show that people are increasingly opting for car sharing than traditional car rental. The number of users of applications like Giro is increasing year by year, so car sharing is more than just a trend and, as we know it today, is a very established concept in the automotive industry. How does car sharing prove itself compared to traditional car rental?

Car rental or car sharing?

What exactly is car sharing is explained in details in a blog entry that you can read HERE, but - if we briefly renew - car sharing is actually a short-term car rental. The most obvious difference with traditional rentals is that car sharing is more convenient option than renting through traditional channels. You can find a car near you, book it, pay for it and then you can already get in the car and drive away. This is, above all, a simple transaction that is also fun for many people. Compare this to a car rental scenario where you stand in line, fill out paperwork, have an inspection, followed by a sales speech by a salesman trying to sell you e.g. additional insurance. Compared to car sharing services, renting a car through traditional channels is a much more time consuming and complicated process, which is why more and more people are opting for the convenience of car sharing.

More responsibility with ratings

Apart from the convenience which car sharing world brings, the difference with classic car rentals is that user’s ratings on car sharing platform offer a higher level of responsibility than car rental via standard methods. Reputation system between users rewards good behaviour on both sides of the transaction, which can lead to a better experience for all users. While with car sharing services, poor business means poor reputation and poor reputation consequently means even worse business, the problem with traditional hiring is that companies have more freedom to do bad business and drivers have more freedom to abuse cars.

The concept itself is different

Comparing car rental and car sharing services, it is hard to say that car sharing is just another trend that has emerged in the rental industry. It is true that the line between car sharing services and classic car rentals can be very thin, but it is hard to ignore all the benefits that weigh in favour of car sharing services.

Do you want to get involved in the growing car sharing industry and always have a car at your disposal, no matter where you are or what you need? Do you want extra cash while your car is left in the parking lot? Then download the Giro app** **on your smartphone.