Everything you need to know about car sharing in Portland
Car sharing has been a trend in Portland for several years. Car sharing allows you to rent a car 24 hours a day. It is more flexible than a traditional car rental service and you can make a free reservation at any time. This way of traveling helps to reduce the number of cars in the Portland area, especially downtown. By using a carshare company, you'll have access to a wide variety of vehicles from a van to a city car. Find out everything you need to know about car sharing in Portland.
Car sharing in Portland user guide
As mentioned above, Portland's car sharing services have grown in recent years. You can use a shared vehicle, motorcycle or bicycle anywhere in the city. Let's take a look at these services.
Portland car sharing definition
Car sharing, also spelled carsharing, is a self-service car rental service. The app has no opening hours, you have a fleet of cars available 24 hours a day. With just a few clicks, you can access a list of all available vehicles in Portland. Car sharing services offer plans for people who need a car but don't own one. This is a great alternative if you live in Portland and don't need to travel long distances every day.
This service is available 24/7 throughout Portland, including the Portland International Airport. There are two types of car sharing services. The first one allows you to pick up the car from a service center near you and return it to any other service center in the city. The second requires you to return the car to the same location where you picked it up.
Car sharing services available in Portland
There are three major carsharing companies in Portland: Getaround, Turo and Zipcar. All services are available 24/7, and the main difference between them is the price. Getaround has the easiest pricing. The app shows you the total cost with no surprise fees at the time of payment. Turo's prices are only a few dollars higher than Getaround's. It's the car owners who set the prices, so car rental prices can vary widely, even for the same car model. Turo charges separately for insurance and travel costs. Unlike Getaround and Turo, Zipcar does not operate on a peer-to-peer basis, and Zipcar rentals include the cost of gas.
The pros and cons of car sharing in Portland
Car sharing provides businesses, employees and individuals with a highly flexible car rental service. A traditional car rental company is located near the airport or train station such as Portland International Airport or Portland Union Station. A car sharing service gives you 24-hour access to rental cars anywhere in Portland. Car sharing in Portland is also a great way to go green. This transportation option anchors the Portland area in an environmentally responsible approach.
Sharing a car means you may not be able to do what you want with the vehicle. Whether you rent a car from Getaround, Zipcar or Turo, you'll need to abide by their terms and conditions. Some car owners ask renters not to bring pets into the car. Others ask that you not to smoke in the vehicle, including tobacco and electronic cigarettes. You'll need to respect the driver's recommendation to avoid extra charges after the rental. Some of the rental cars do not have a designated parking space. Although the city has 20,000 metered parking spaces, parking in downtown Portland can be tricky. If you need to return the car to the same location where you picked it up, you'll need to take this into consideration.
Shared vehicles available in Portland
The three car sharing services available in Portland offer the same wide variety of vehicle types. You can rent electric cars, SUVs, family cars, vans and trucks. The cost of a rental depends on the service you use but also on the type of car and how long you plan to rent the vehicle for. Other motor vehicles are available for rent in Portland. Biketown offers shared e-bikes and scooters throughout Portland.
Want to try car sharing near your home in Portland? Check out the available car sharing rentals in Portland! And if you want to find out more, consult our guide to car sharing!
