Our guide for car sharing in Washington DC
Car sharing in Washington DC is a self-service car rental service. Thanks to a mobile app, you can rent a vehicle anywhere in Washington DC. Both individuals and companies have embraced this concept to reduce the number of cars on the road in the Washington DC area. Car share can also be the best way to travel while keeping your budget in check. Find out everything you need to know about car sharing in Washington DC.
Car sharing services in Washington DC
Car sharing, also known as carsharing, is defined as making a wide variety of vehicles available to a group of users. It's a highly flexible car rental service. Everything is done online, so you can find and reserve a car in minutes through a website or through an app. You can pick up a vehicle directly from the place where it is parked. Depending on the car rental service you use, you'll find a car at a designated location in Washington DC or close to where the car owner parked it.
All car sharing services available in Washington DC
As in the rest of the United States, car sharing is on the rise in Washington DC. You'll find services like Getaround, ZipCar and Free2Move in DC. All three services work the same way. You download the app and create a profile. Cars are picked up at designated locations and returned either to the same location or near a driver's destination. Unlike Getaround, ZipCar and Free2Move do not operate as on a peer-to-peer basis. Lyft Rentals is also available in Washington DC, but it offers scooter sharing.
The benefits of car sharing in Washington DC
Car sharing in Washington is much more convenient than a traditional car rental. You can rent a vehicle right from a parking lot near Capitol Hill, and it only takes a few minutes to make a reservation. You can rent a car to visit Washington DC, for a trip to Arlington or to get to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Car sharing helps you go green, but also relieves the city center of unnecessary car traffic. It's a win-win situation. It's good for the environment and complements Washington DC's public transportation system. Another important benefit of car sharing is the variety of vehicles available. Depending on your travel needs, you can easily rent an electric or hybrid car, a family car, a commercial van, or an SUV.
How Washington DC is promoting car sharing
Like many large cities in the United States, Washington DC has an on-street car sharing program. The program is designed to provide public space permit to companies that want to operate a car sharing service in the public space. By implementing this program, DC aims to reduce parking demand, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve the safety on District streets, and relieve congestion on already busy streets.
This program offers a permit for two types of car-sharing services. The first one is called free-floating and allows drivers to pick up a vehicle at one location and return it at another. The second one is called traditional car sharing and allows drivers to pick up and return vehicles in the same dedicated car sharing space.
Driving a car share in Washington DC
If you're not used to driving a car share in Washington DC, there are a few things you should know before you hit the road. The city's system is pretty straightforward when it comes to navigation. Like many busy cities, congestion is extremely common. The worst times to drive through Washington DC are 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
If you're looking for somewhere to park during your rental period, you can usually find a parking garage in the city. The first one is the Union Station, just north of the Capitol. If you're a tourist, park at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. In Southwest Washington, you can park at the Wharf. Street parking is not recommended. Most on-street parking is either metered or time-limited. Street parking is free, but only for DC residents.
Now that you know all about carsharing, want to give it a try ? Check out car sharing in Washington DC!
