Car sharing services have grown substantially over the past couple of years, and the number of companies that enter this business increases constantly. Car-sharing operators have introduced many innovations in efforts to provide more affordable, customized and personalized services. They are embracing new technologies, with many companies having included alternative fuel vehicles in their fleets, such as electric and fuel-cell cars, and allowing customers to reserve and locate cars through smartphone apps, which is very convenient and practical. Services that car-sharing companies provide are similar in many ways to those offered by rental car companies, and they often target the same customers and the same markets.
For a while now, several car-sharing services in the U.S. have had their eyes on a market segment that has been dominated by rental car companies. It’s the airports across the country, which have collaborated with the rental car industry for decades. Some of the most prominent car-sharing operators, such as FlightCar and RelayRides, have been trying to convince the nation’s largest airports to allow them to operate on their premises, but the fees that they would have to pay to airport operators have been the biggest hurdle that was preventing them from reaching an agreement.
However, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has decided to allow RelayRides to operate at what is one of the country’s busiest airports, and bring some competition for the rental car companies that already offer their services there. People leaving and arriving at SFO will be able to use RelayRides’ services. Most people rent cars to get to an airport they need to catch a flight at, which can be a bit expensive. Now, if you want to fly from SFO, you can use your own car to get there, instead of renting one. This seems like a very logical thing to do, but it’s not very cost-effective, considering the high parking fees all airports charge. That’s what RelayRides is here for. If you leave your car near the airport, you won’t have to pay for parking. In exchange, you allow other RelayRides customers to use your car while you are away. As a bonus, the company will have your car washed free of charge.
While RelayRides only provides free parking for their customers who leave their cars at the airport, FlightCar customers can earn some money, in addition to leaving there cars for free at a parking lot near the airport. This car-sharing company is also allowed to operate near SFO, and pays a certain amount of money to their users. Depending on how old your car is, you can earn $10 or $20 each time it is rented. If you own a luxury car, you can earn much more. This is a very convenient arraignment, that, as the company claims, helps you reduce the costs involved in getting to and from the airport, and in addition, earn some money, without having to worry what to do with your car during your trip.
By Jordan Perch, author at DMV.com
