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Which car sharing service fits your needs?

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How do you go about choosing which car sharing service is the perfect fit for you?

Are you toying with the idea of going carless? Do you live in a city that has a great public transportation system? Do you own a car and rarely drive it? No matter the answer, I'm sure you still need occassional car services to visit your family or run to the grocery store. Not to worry, there are short-term car rental services that will allow you to share a vehicle. Making an informed decision is the first and most important step. Simply looking through the hourly/daily rates and picking from there isn't always the most resourceful. Following these guidelines can help you make a smart decision.


1. Check Availability In Your Area

Depending on your location, certain car sharing services won't be available. Generally, most car sharing and ride-hauling services are only available in larger cities. For example, St. Louis, Missouri, only has three Zipcar hubs. Price discrepancy, as well as vehicle makes and models are different in each city. In St. Louis, you can rent a Ford Focus Hatchback for 9$ an hour and 69$ a day. A Ford Focus Sedan is 7.50$ an hour and 69$ a day. 

Screen_Shot_2016-03-07_at_12.54.16_PM.pngSource: Zipcar 

Los Angeles, California on the other hand has 20 main Zipcar hubs. The Zipcars in Los Angeles range anywhere from 12.25$ an hour to 7.50$ an hour. For a BMW X1 the cost is 11.25$ an hour and 89$ per day. A Honda Fit is priced at 8.50$ an hour and 69$ a day. 

Screen_Shot_2016-03-07_at_12.53.53_PM.pngSource: Zipcar 

Whichever company you decided to ride with -Zipcar, Car2Go or Enterprise CarShare- make sure to check their website and see if they do indeed operate in your area. 

2. Which Fits Your Needs

How long do you think you'll need the car? Will you be running errands around town? Or are you more of a road-trip person? 

If you aren't a fan of ride-hauling services, such as Uber and Lyft, you may want to look closer into Car2Go. Once you reach your destination with Car2Go, you can either end your trip or have a stopover and continue driving. If you are ending your drive, you have to return the vehicle to its home area and park in an approved spot. During a stopover you use the vehicle just as you would a personal car. It should be noted that throughout the stopover, your trip time is still accumulating. 

Enterprise CarShare is always another option. All it takes is four easy steps: Join, Reserve, Unlock & Go and Return. There’s an annual membership fee and one-time application fee. (The rates vary by city, location and time.) As does Zipcar, Enterprise CarShare partners with Universities and Businesses. If you're a college student or know a college student who could benefit from the University Enterprise CarShare program, the fees are waived, which means you will be saving money!

Webster University Fees and Rates from Enterprise CarShareSource: Enterprise CarShare

Source: AutoMotoTV, Youtube Channel

3. Make A Decision

Based on the car sharing services availabilty/price and your exact needs, you are now able to make an educated decision on which is the perfect fit! After reading this article you may have decided to keep your car. There is also a posibility that you have decided that you'll continue to use mass transit and ride-hauling companies like Uber and Lyft. Either way, the number one priority, is that you choose the service that will benefit you the most. Doing your research is essential in any process. Good luck! 


Be sure to check out True Auto Vehicle Breakdown Protection on Facebook, TwitterLinkedIn and Google+ for more valuable vehicle information.


 

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Topics: Ride-hauling, Mobile Apps, Short-term Car Rental, Reservations, Car Sharing, Hourly Rates, Vehicle Options, Enterprise CarShare, Fuel Efficiency, Car Services, True Auto Vehicle Breakdown Protection, Technology, Car Rental, Zipcar, Car2Go, Car Sharing Service, Daily Rates, Membership Benefits, Rental Time, Plans

Top Free iPhone Travel Apps

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Check out the Top 5 Free Travel Apps

Top 5 Travel iPhone Apps via True Auto Protection In a world that depends more and more on technology, mobile phones and apps are taking over. The mobile phone industry allows for people to stay more connected than ever before. Instead of hauling along the atlas, drivers are able to use apps, such as Google Earth and Hotel Tonight to map out a route and book a hotel room for a night. Travel apps help to stay more connected with your surroundings and save money at the same time. Having an number of these will help you stay in the loop no matter where you are. Get to know the apps a little bit better! 


1. Uber 

Uber allows users to get a reliable ride in minutes, no reservations or waiting in taxi lines. From low cost to premium, every ride option feels like an upgrade to the everyday. The process is simple: Create your account using a credit card or PayPal, and your fare will be charged automatically at the end of your ride. (You can also pay in cash in select cities.) After your trip, you receive your receipt via email. Source: Uber

Uber Website

 

2. Yelp

Whether you’re looking for a pizzeria that’s open now or a coffee shop nearby, Yelp is your local guide to finding just the place to eat, shop, drink, relax and play. Discover great local businesses and search for nearby restaurants, shops and services. Read over 70 million reviews written by the community of active and expert locals. You can also find Deals offered by your favorite local businesses and make reservations directly from the app. Source: Yelp

Yelp Website

 

3. Lyft - Taxi & Bus App Alternative

Need a Lyft? Try Lyft for a friendly, affordable ride whenever you need one. Request a ride with the tap of a button and get picked up by a nearby community driver who’ll take you to your destination within minutes. You are able to split the cost of the ride with friends. It’s east, fast and secure. All Lyft drives pass comprehensive background and DMV checks. Drivers are rated by passengers and only there highest-rated drivers are allowed on the road. Left provides a first-of-its-kind 41M liability insurance for total peace of mind. Source: Lyft

Lyft Website

4. Google Earth

Fly around the planet with a swipe of your finger with Goodle Earth. Explore distant lands or reacquaint yourself with your childhood home. Search for cities, places, and businesses. Browse layers including roads borders, places, photos and more. Visit the Earth Gallery to find exciting maps such as real-time earthquakes, planes in flights, hiking trails, city tours and more. Integrated Google Maps Street View allows you to explore the world at street level. Use the new  “tour guide” to easily discover exciting new places to explore. With a quick swipe on the tab at the bottom of the screen, you can bring up a selection of virtual tours from around the globe. With new 3D imagery, you can now fly through complete 3D recreations of select cities, including San Francisco, Boston, Rome, and others. Source: Google Earth

Google Earth Website

 

5. Trip Advisor Hotels Flights Restaurants

Use the millions of traveler reviews, photos, and maps from TripAdvisor to plan and book your next perfect trip. With over 225 million reviews and opinions by travelers, TripAdvisor makes it easy to find the lowest airfare, best hotels, great restaurants, and fun things to do, wherever you go. And booking options for hotels, restaurants and flights are just a tap away. The TripAdvisor mobile app is free and easy to use. Browse millions of reviews, opinions and candid photos by travelers. Find the best hotel for you, including Travelers’ Choice award winners. Explore restaurants and reserve tables online. Use Near Me Now to discover places near your current location. Add your own reviews and photos. Source: TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Website


For the latest Automotive Industry related news, be sure to check out True Auto Vehicle Breakdown Protection on FacebookTwitterLinkedIn and Google+ for more valuable vehicle information.


 

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Topics: Uber & Lyft, Ride-booking Apps, Trip Advisor, Mobile Phone Industry, Ride-hauling, Mobile Apps, Uber, Google Earth, Lyft, Car Services, True Auto Vehicle Breakdown Protection, Driving Mobile Apps, Technology, Car-pooling, iPhone Travel Apps, Yelp, Staying Connected

Uber & Lyft Ride-hailing Game Changers

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Which ride-hailing company do you think of when you need to get from one place to another?

Either way you look at it, both Uber and Lyft are major game changers in the industry. While Uber is the giant of the ride-hailing space, Lyft, has recently partnered with General Motors Company. The partnership will allow Lyft drivers to rent GM vehicles to an on-demand, autonomous ride service. 


Uber: Based in San Francisco, Uber caters to 64 countries and over 347 cities around the world. 

  • Uber X - Low Cost Uber | Seats 4+
  • UberTAXI - Taxi Without The Hassle
  • UberBLACK - The Original | Seats 4+, Luxury sedan
  • UberSUV - Room For Everyone | Seats 6+, Luxury SUV
  • UberLUX - Ultimate Luxury | Seats 4+, Glamorous + Luxurious car option

Screen_Shot_2016-01-08_at_3.09.37_PM.png

(Source:Uber)

 

Lyft: San Francisco based company, operates in 61 of the top metro areas within the Uunited States. 

  • Lyft - The Original Ride | Seats 4+
  • Lyft Plus - Six-passenger Ride
  • Lyft Line - Share The Ride (Split rides with strangers going the same way)

Screen_Shot_2016-01-08_at_3.09.12_PM.png

(Source:Lyft)


Both Uber and Lyft have ride-booking apps and have services enabling car-pooling. If booking the ride isn't your style, you could always become a driver for either company. Drive for Uber or Drive for Lyft


Be sure to check out True Auto Vehicle Breakdown Protection on Facebook, TwitterLinkedIn and Google+ for more valuable vehicle information.

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Topics: Uber & Lyft, Ride-booking Apps, Ride-hauling, Extended Vehicle Warranty, Mobile Apps, Car Services, True Auto Vehicle Breakdown Protection, Technology, Car-pooling

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