The Benefits of Car Sharing

At a glance

Have you ever tried car sharing? What are its benefits? What plans does the market offer?

Anyone wanting to buy a car today faces a difficult choice:
- an electric car or a petrol car?
- A new or used vehicle?

For those unsure, there's another solution: car sharing, an increasingly popular option, especially among younger generations.
How does car sharing work? What forms of car sharing exist? Our blogger Alain Dierckx tells us more.

Car sharing is a system in which several people share a car. Car sharing differs from car rental in that the vehicle can be used for very short periods, ranging from a few hours down to just a few minutes.
As with traditional car rental, you can take passengers along on your trips. Commercial use of the shared car is not allowed, however, unless explicitly stated in the contract.

Cars used for car sharing are used more efficiently, since they sit idle for less time than average.
Drivers turn more often to other means of transport due to not having their own car, which reduces traffic.
Parking problems are reduced.
You can choose the type and model of car based on your needs at the time (errands, recycling center, an outing...).
You don't have to worry about the vehicle's maintenance or repairs.
You only pay when you use the car, and therefore not for a car that sits unused for long periods.

If you have a car but drive less than 10,000 kilometers a year;
If you don't have your own vehicle but sometimes need one;
If you occasionally need a second car that isn't used much;
If you own one type of car and sometimes need another type (e.g. electric).

On this website, you can calculate whether car sharing is worthwhile for you.

There are 4 forms of car sharing:

Through a car-sharing organization WITH a fleet of cars

Such a company has a fleet of cars in different models that can be used by its members for a fee. The vehicles are parked at various strategic locations so that they're never too far from customers' homes.

There are two ways to return the car after use:

"Round trip": you bring the car back to the place or zone where you picked it up.
"Free floating": you can leave the car at a different place or in a different zone.

Different rates are available for paying for the vehicle rental:

A price per kilometer
A price per duration of use
A price per consumption

An additional joining fee or subscription cost is sometimes charged.

With this option, the car, the driver, and all passengers are insured by the car-sharing organization. The deductible for damage caused to the car is high (500 to 1,000 euros), but can be waived by paying an extra amount in advance.

Finally, the driver always remains personally liable for any fines incurred in the event of a traffic offense.

Through a car-sharing organization WITHOUT a fleet of cars

This type of company has created an online platform where owners can list their cars and rent them out to others. Anyone who registers as a user on the platform can rent a vehicle. However, a contract must always be drawn up.

The rate per kilometer or per hour is set by the person renting out the vehicle. Fuel costs are borne by the user. The vehicle must always be returned with a full tank.

As the owner of the shared car, you're responsible for its insurance. However, through the car-sharing service provider, you can take out special insurance for shared trips. Please note that contract terms differ from one provider to another.

Through a car-sharing group

With this option, the vehicle may belong to one person or have been purchased by several people ("co-ownership"). The car is rented exclusively within the group.

The rate paid by renters corresponds to the actual cost of the car per shared kilometer. There is therefore no profit involved.

In terms of insurance, the situation is the same as for car-sharing organizations without a fleet. It is therefore advisable to take out special car-sharing insurance for shared trips.

Informal car sharing

You can also share your car informally, that is, without going through a car-sharing organization. In this case, we recommend putting all the arrangements and commitments of the different parties in writing in a contract, in order to avoid any potential issues.

Can I go abroad with a shared car?

This depends on the terms of the insurance taken out with the car-sharing organization. It's best to discuss this with the provider in question.

On the website https://www.waytogo.be/fr/, you'll find a map of Belgium with all current car-sharing providers.

Cambio is one of the largest car-sharing organizations in Belgium. It offers access to more than 2,900 vehicles spread across around 150 towns and cities.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Have you signed a contract and received a copy of it?
Have you taken out car-sharing insurance?
Do you know the rules for refueling (or recharging)?
Do you know what to do in the event of a breakdown or accident?
Do you know where the car is parked and where it needs to be returned after use?
Are all the legal documents present in the car?
Is the odometer reading correct?
Is the fuel level (or battery charge level) correct?
Does the vehicle show any visible damage that wasn't mentioned in the contract?

Cars aren't the only vehicles rented out through car-sharing systems. It's also possible to do this with other types of vehicles, such as bicycles, scooters, and e-scooters.