Getaround
Encyclopedia
Getaround is an online car sharing or peer-to-peer car rental
service that allows drivers to rent cars from private car owners, and owners to rent out their cars for payment. Owners set their rental prices and earn a 60% commission from their rental revenue.
Getaround launched to the public in May 2011 at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference. To date, it has received $3.4 million USD in seed funding. The company currently operates rentals in the San Francisco Bay Area
and San Diego, California, USA.
Similar to other car sharing services such as Zipcar
, Getaround utilizes the economic principals of collaborative consumption
. However, the peer-to-peer rental model doesn’t require the company to maintain a fleet of vehicles; rather, owners manage and maintain their own vehicles.
Getaround renters and owners conduct rental transactions online or through their mobile phones via a web browser, smart phone (iPhone
) application or SMS messaging. Renters can request up to five cars at a time for a single rental period. The rental is made with the first owner to approve the request.
Owners can choose to install the "Getaround Carkit" as an alternative to the standard key exchange before and after a rental. Using GPS, WiFi and keyless remote technology, the carkit allows renters and owners to open and lock the car using a web-enabled mobile phone.
Owners must provide their vehicle license place number, VIN vehicle identification number
and proof of personal auto insurance. Vehicles must have less than 150,000 miles and be 1995 or newer. Additional restrictions exist for alterations, performance and commercial vehicles.
This type of custom insurance is a recent development. In January 2011, the California state legislature
voted to pass Bill AB 1871, which allows car owners to receive temporary insurance when they are part of a personal car sharing community.
. In May 2011, Getaround won the TechCrunch
Disrupt NYC competition
Peer-to-peer car rental
Peer-to-peer car rental is the process whereby an existing car owner makes their vehicle available for use to other drivers in their area in exchange for payment...
service that allows drivers to rent cars from private car owners, and owners to rent out their cars for payment. Owners set their rental prices and earn a 60% commission from their rental revenue.
Getaround launched to the public in May 2011 at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference. To date, it has received $3.4 million USD in seed funding. The company currently operates rentals in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
and San Diego, California, USA.
Similar to other car sharing services such as Zipcar
Zipcar
Zipcar is an American membership-based car sharing company providing automobile reservations to its members, billable by the hour or day. Zipcar was founded in 2000 by Cambridge, Massachusetts residents Antje Danielson and Robin Chase, and is now led by Scott Griffith, Chairman and Chief Executive...
, Getaround utilizes the economic principals of collaborative consumption
Collaborative consumption
The term collaborative consumption is used to describe an economic model based on sharing, swapping, bartering, trading or renting access to products as opposed to ownership. Technology and peer communities are enabling these old market behaviours to be reinvented in ways and on a scale never...
. However, the peer-to-peer rental model doesn’t require the company to maintain a fleet of vehicles; rather, owners manage and maintain their own vehicles.
How It Works
Owners create an online profile for their car and set hourly, daily or weekly rates. They can determine who they want to rent to, when they want to rent, and set personal standards for the “quality” of the driver. "Getaround’s founder Sam Zaid said the service uses a reputation management system with review and ratings so owners and renters can get a sense of who they’re dealing with."Getaround renters and owners conduct rental transactions online or through their mobile phones via a web browser, smart phone (iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
) application or SMS messaging. Renters can request up to five cars at a time for a single rental period. The rental is made with the first owner to approve the request.
Owners can choose to install the "Getaround Carkit" as an alternative to the standard key exchange before and after a rental. Using GPS, WiFi and keyless remote technology, the carkit allows renters and owners to open and lock the car using a web-enabled mobile phone.
Requirements
Renters must be 19 years or older, with at least 2 years driving experience and a valid Facebook account (as an extra security layer). DMV records are required for a membership with Getaround, with certain ineligibility based on “incidents”, major violations and alcohol-related violations.Owners must provide their vehicle license place number, VIN vehicle identification number
Vehicle identification number
A Vehicle Identification Number, commonly abbreviated to VIN, is a unique serial number used by the automotive industry to identify individual motor vehicles. VINs were first used in 1954...
and proof of personal auto insurance. Vehicles must have less than 150,000 miles and be 1995 or newer. Additional restrictions exist for alterations, performance and commercial vehicles.
Insurance
Getaround provides comprehensive, collision and liability insurance coverage via a third-party insurer. During an active rental period, this coverage supersedes the personal insurance policy maintained by the private car owner.This type of custom insurance is a recent development. In January 2011, the California state legislature
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
voted to pass Bill AB 1871, which allows car owners to receive temporary insurance when they are part of a personal car sharing community.
History
Getaround was founded in the summer of 2009 by Sam Zaid, Jessica Scorpio and Elliot Kroo. Zaid and Scorpio were attendees of the inaugural Graduate Studies Program of Singularity UniversitySingularity University
Singularity University is an academic institution in Silicon Valley whose stated aim is to "assemble, educate and inspire a cadre of leaders who strive to understand and facilitate the development of exponentially advancing technologies and apply, focus and guide these tools to address humanity’s...
. In May 2011, Getaround won the TechCrunch
TechCrunch
TechCrunch is a web publication that offers technology news and analysis, as well as profiling of startup companies, products, and websites. It was founded by Michael Arrington in 2005, and was first published on June 11, 2005....
Disrupt NYC competition