Affordable Car-Sharing Platforms in the US and Canada

The cheapest car-sharing options in the US and Canada right now are Zipcar and Enterprise CarShare for hourly city trips, Turo for multi-day rentals from private owners, and Communauto, Evo and Modo in Canadian cities. Several well-known services, including Getaround, GIG Car Share and Kyte, have shut down, so this list covers services still running in November 2026 and what to use instead of the ones that closed.

What Is Car Sharing?

Car sharing lets you rent a car by the minute, hour or day through an app, usually with gas and insurance included. Peer-to-peer platforms like Turo rent out cars owned by individuals instead of a company fleet.

It makes the most sense in dense cities where parking and ownership are expensive and you only need a car a few times a month. For a week or longer, a regular rental is often cheaper.

1. Turo: Rent From Private Owners

Turo lets you rent cars directly from their owners. Owners set the daily price, and Turo adds trip fees and optional protection plans at checkout, so compare the total rather than the daily rate. In 2025 Turo bought some assets of Kyte, the rental-delivery startup that shut down.

• Best for: Road trips, specific models and multi-day rentals.

Coupons: See today's Turo coupons.

2. Communauto: Car Sharing Across Canada

Communauto runs car sharing in Montreal, Quebec City, Gatineau, Ottawa, the Toronto region, Kitchener-Waterloo, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax and other Canadian cities.

• Best for: Canadians in those cities who need a car a few times a month.

3. Zipcar: Hourly Rentals With Gas Included

Zipcar charges a membership fee plus hourly or daily rates that include gas and basic insurance, with a daily mileage allowance. Each car has a home spot, and you return it there.

• Best for: City residents and students who need a car for a few hours.

Coupons: See today's Zipcar coupons.

4. Evo Car Share: One-Way Trips in Vancouver and Victoria

Evo, from BCAA, charges $0.49 a minute, $17.99 an hour or $104.99 a day plus tax, including gas, insurance, parking and unlimited kilometres. You can end a trip anywhere in its Home Zone.

• Best for: One-way city trips in Vancouver and Victoria.

5. Modo: Co-op Car Sharing in British Columbia

Modo is a car-sharing co-op with cars in Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo and Kelowna. You pay for time and distance, overnight bookings from 9 pm to 7 am are capped at three hours, and booking an EV lowers the co-op fee.

• Best for: BC residents who drive occasionally and can book ahead.

6. Envoy: Electric Cars at Your Apartment or Office

Envoy places shared electric cars, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model 3, at apartment buildings and workplaces. Residents book and unlock them in the app, and the property pays Envoy a monthly fee.

• Best for: Residents of participating buildings. Ask your property manager.

7. Hertz Weekly Rentals for Uber Drivers

HyreCar shut down with Getaround's US business in 2025. Rideshare drivers can rent through Uber's Vehicle Marketplace instead: a Hertz EV listing in Nashville was $275 a week, with insurance, maintenance and roadside assistance included.

• Requirements: An approved Uber driver account, usually age 21 or older, and at least 30 Uber trips a week during the rental.

8. Enterprise CarShare: Hourly Rentals on Campuses and in Cities

Enterprise CarShare is a membership program for renting cars by the hour, day or week, and many colleges use it as their campus car share.

• Best for: Students and staff at schools with an Enterprise CarShare program.

9. Regular Rentals for Longer Trips

For trips longer than a couple of days, a regular rental often costs less than car sharing. Check today's Hertz and Avis coupons before you book.

• Best for: Weekend and week-long trips where hourly car-sharing rates add up.

10. Poparide: Carpooling Between Canadian Cities

Poparide matches drivers and passengers for intercity trips across Canada, with posted seat prices such as $10 for Hamilton to Toronto and $50 for Toronto to Ottawa.

• Best for: Intercity trips in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta.

11. BlueLA: Electric Car Sharing in Los Angeles

BlueLA, run by Blink Mobility, rents Chevy Bolt EVs from hubs in Westlake, Koreatown, Pico-Union, Downtown, Echo Park, Boyle Heights and Chinatown, with low membership fees and per-minute rates.

• Best for: Central Los Angeles residents without a car.

12. Services That Have Closed

Getaround and HyreCar ended US rentals in February 2025, GIG Car Share closed in December 2024, Kyte shut down in August 2025, Allstate's Avail ended consumer car sharing in July 2024, and SHARE NOW (formerly car2go) left North America in 2020. Turo and Zipcar are the closest replacements in most US cities.

13. Free2Move: Rentals Only in the US

Free2Move ended its Washington, DC car sharing on September 15, 2026, to focus car sharing on Europe. In the US it still rents cars for one day to a month at airports and city locations, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami.

• Best for: Airport and city rentals of a day or longer.

Why Car-Sharing Platforms Save You Money

1. No Maintenance Costs: Car sharing spares you from expenses like oil changes, tire replacements, and unforeseen repairs. These costs can add up significantly for car owners.
2. Fuel Savings: Many platforms include fuel in their pricing, eliminating the worry of fluctuating gas prices or refueling charges.
3. Flexibility: You only pay when you need a car, unlike ownership, which requires fixed monthly expenses for insurance and loan payments.

Tips to Save More with Car-Sharing Platforms

• Sign up for deals: Many platforms offer first-time user promotions, referral credits, or seasonal discounts. Watch out for promotional campaigns.
• Opt for budget vehicles: Choose smaller or older vehicles to enjoy lower rental rates. Skip the premium options unless necessary.
• Share with friends: If your platform allows, split the cost of a rental with friends or coworkers for group outings or errands.

Comparison table

Platform	Starting Cost	Key Features	Best For
Turo	Set by each owner	Peer-to-peer, many models	Road trips
Communauto	Varies by city	Car sharing in Canadian cities	Occasional drivers in Canada
Zipcar	Membership plus hourly or daily rate	Gas and basic insurance included	City residents and students
Evo	$0.49 a minute, $17.99 an hour	One-way trips, gas and parking included	Vancouver and Victoria
Modo	Time plus distance	Co-op, overnight cap	BC residents
Envoy	Set by the property	EVs at apartments and offices	Residents of partner buildings
Hertz via Uber	$275 a week (Nashville listing)	Insurance and maintenance included	Uber drivers
Enterprise CarShare	Membership plus hourly rate	Hourly, daily and weekly rentals	Campuses
Hertz, Avis rentals	Daily rates	Coupons on DealHack	Longer trips
Poparide	$10 to $100 a seat	Intercity carpooling	Trips between Canadian cities
BlueLA	Cents per minute	Chevy Bolt EVs	Central Los Angeles
Free2Move	Daily rental rates	Rentals of one day to a month	US airport and city rentals

Which option to choose

In US cities, Zipcar and Enterprise CarShare cover hourly trips, and Turo covers longer ones. In Canada, Communauto, Evo and Modo are the main car-sharing services, and Poparide is the cheapest way between cities. For a week or more, compare a regular rental with a coupon.

FAQ

What is car sharing?

Car sharing lets users rent vehicles for short periods, like by the hour or day, through app-based platforms with perks like insurance and fuel.

How does it work?

Reserve, locate, and unlock cars using an app. Return the vehicle to its designated spot or a specified zone.

Is it cheaper than owning a car?

Yes, especially for occasional drivers, as it eliminates maintenance, insurance, and parking costs.

Do platforms include insurance?

Most include basic insurance, but coverage varies, so check the terms before booking.

Can I use car sharing for long trips?

Yes. Turo is built for multi-day rentals, Evo has a daily rate, and Poparide covers shared intercity rides.

Are there age restrictions?

Yes. Minimum ages differ by service and city, so check the requirements before you sign up.

How do I choose the cheapest platform?

Compare the total for your trip, including membership fees. Zipcar and Evo suit short trips, and Turo suits multi-day trips.

Do I have to return the car to the same location?

Not always. Evo lets you end trips anywhere in its Home Zone, while Zipcar cars go back to their home spot.

What about work-related rentals?

Uber's Vehicle Marketplace lists weekly Hertz rentals for drivers, with insurance and maintenance included.

Can I rent out my car?

Yes. Turo lets owners list their cars for rent.