Carsharing or car rental: pros and cons

Q: Can I reserve a car in advance?

Yes, you can reserve a car for your desired date in advance. Booking early allows you to choose your preferred car class and be sure it will be available on the day you need it.

Q: Can the lease term be extended if plans have changed?

Yes, the rental period can be extended provided that the vehicle has not been reserved by another customer. To do so, simply contact the manager in advance.

Q: Is it possible to travel outside of Kyiv or the region?

Yes, you can drive outside of Kyiv and travel around Ukraine. The terms of the trip are agreed upon when the rental is arranged.

Q: What should you do in case of a breakdown or an unexpected situation on the road?

In the event of any technical malfunction or force majeure, please contact our customer support team. We will promptly assist you in resolving the issue or offer a replacement vehicle.

Q: Do I need to pay a deposit when renting a car?

No, renting a car from ProCars does not require a deposit. All vehicles come with full insurance coverage, making the rental experience as convenient and safe as possible for the customer.

Q: Can I travel abroad in a rental car?

Yes, you may leave Ukraine provided you have made prior arrangements and have the necessary documents.

Q: Can I rent a car with a driver?

Yes, we offer car rental services with a professional driver. This option is ideal for business trips, events, or transfers and is available upon request.

Q: Is it okay to let someone else drive while traveling in a rental car if the driver is tired?

Yes, but only if that person is listed as an additional driver in the rental agreement. This is important for insurance coverage: in the event of an accident or other incident, insurance coverage applies only to the drivers listed in the documents. Therefore, if you plan to share the driving, you should add an additional driver right away before your trip.

In today's article, we will consider what is better to choose: car sharing or car rental. We will also talk about the features, benefits, terms of use, and pricing of these types of car rental services. Carsharing is a type of short-term car rental with a per-minute or hourly rate. Such a car rental service first appeared in 1948 in Zurich and has since become a popular solution for residents of large cities who do not want to spend money on buying and maintaining a car and do not like to use public transportation. The principle of using carsharing can be compared to renting scooters or bicycles. The renter pays for the travel time needed to get to the desired location quickly and comfortably. Algorithm of actions:

Download the app of the service provider. It is better to install several different services at once to quickly find the right option.
Conclude an online contract by uploading documents, linking a bank card, providing data, and agreeing to the terms of the car rental.
Choose the nearest car by enabling geolocation.
Visually inspect the car, if there is any damage, record it and contact technical support.
Unlock the car by pressing the button in the mobile application (car documents and keys are usually in the glove compartment).

Everything is ready to go. If you need to make a short stop, the program has a special mode. In this case, the standby mode will be charged at a lower rate than when driving. Moreover, while the car is in this mode, no one will be able to use it.

The main types of carsharing

Let's look at the main types of car sharing:

Classic is a popular format for short-term trips. The car can be picked up and left within a certain area of the city.
Fixed - a type of car rental for planned trips or long-term use of a car that is picked up and returned at special stations.
Freeville is the cheapest car rental directly from car owners with a larger selection of cars.

Each type of use has pros and cons depending on the user's needs. Despite the similarity of use, car sharing and regular car rental have significant differences. Let's take a look at how car sharing differs from car rental. This service is characterized by:

Simple ordering through a mobile application.
The car can be picked up and left within a designated area.
Fuel is included in the price of the service.
Suitable if you need a car for a short time.

Features of car rental

Car rental involves using a car for a longer period of time - it can be several days or even months. Features of car rental:

It is necessary to conclude a contract at the office of the lessor company.
There are usually more car models available.
You need to pay a deposit and fill the fuel tank yourself.

Comparison of terms of use

Carsharing is more flexible in terms of time, as you can take a car even for a few minutes (for example, to take your purchases home from the store). Traditional use is designed for a long period of time. For carsharing, it is enough to have a driver's license and register in a mobile application, while for renting, you need to prepare more documents and find free time to sign a contract at the company's office.

Advantages and disadvantages of each option

Both types of services have their pros and cons, which we will discuss in more detail. Advantages:

it works around the clock;
you can take a car in one place and return it in another, where special zones are provided;
no need to take out insurance and undergo maintenance;
no problems with finding a parking space - the app shows the nearest free parking lot for such cars;
the car is somewhere nearby: a park, shopping center, cinema, or other busy locations.

Disadvantages:

You have to link a payment card;
limited choice - you will have to use the transport that is “at hand”;
you can only travel within one city;
you need a stable Internet connection and a smartphone to log in to the car booking app.

Advantages of classic car rental

Traditional car rental allows you to:

A wider selection of car brands and models - instead of a car located nearby, you can choose a more suitable car for your current tasks.
Drive around the country without being tied to a specific city.
Save money if you need a car for a day or two or longer.
No need to link a payment card.

Potential disadvantages for users

Both car rental options have their limitations, and the choice depends on the situation. For users, car sharing has its own pitfalls, for example

not suitable for trips out of town;
it is difficult to find a car nearby during rush hours;
long-term use is more expensive;
higher fines for traffic violations (companies add their own markup).

Disadvantages of traditional rental:

does not allow renting a car for a few hours, only for a day or more;
you need to book a car in advance and go to the company's office to sign a contract;
usually a high deposit, which may be unaffordable for some users.

For most customers, the main argument when choosing between car sharing and classic car rental is the price of services. It is formed in different ways. Let's take a look at the specifics of pricing and compare costs depending on the car rental period. The cost of a car sharing service is calculated on a per-minute basis (less often per hour of rental). The following factors affect the rental price:

Car mileage - some services may charge an additional fee for each kilometer if there is a limit.
Make and model of the car - the price for luxury cars will certainly be higher.
Additional services (insurance, parking in paid zones, child seat rental).

What affects the cost of car rental?

The rental price is based on the duration of use and additional services (for example, a personal driver or insurance). The longer the period, the more favorable the average daily cost of car rental.

Comparison of costs for short and long term

Short term:

car sharing is profitable because the price depends on the time;
traditional car rental is not rational because of the fixed daily cost.

Long term:

classic rental is cheaper for long-term use;
carsharing will be more expensive because of the per-minute payment.

When deciding to use a particular service, you need to take into account the specifics of the future use of the car. If you need a car spontaneously “here and now” for a one-time trip between points, it is faster and more profitable to use car sharing. If it is a more or less long-term planned rental (for a day or more), it is more rational to choose a classic rental.