Avail Car Sharing In-depth-Review For 2023
Avail car sharing is a great way to access the convenience of having your own vehicle without committing to full-time ownership. Avail offers an affordable, convenient alternative that allows users to reserve vehicles when needed and return them when they’re done with no long-term commitment or hefty monthly fees. The car-sharing concept offers significant benefits over the traditional model. For example, many studies found that cars are parked up to 95% of the time. With car sharing, it is possible to decrease this number dramatically, which ultimately means we need fewer cars produced worldwide. Fewer cars will then result in saved natural resources.
- Avail car sharing is a great way to save money and reduce your environmental impact with convenient access, cost savings, and environmental benefits.
- The company strongly focuses on Chicago and Denver but is also available in other major US-Cities.
In this blog post, we’ll look at what makes avail car sharing so attractive and how it works, as well as explore potential alternatives for those looking for more options in their transportation needs. So whether you’re just starting on your sustainable journey or have been living sustainably for years – keep reading!
Overview of Avail Car Sharing
Avil Car Sharing is a car-sharing company with a different approach than traditional car rental companies. Rather than owning a vehicle, Avil relies on individuals renting their cars to users of the platform. Still, they offer highly flexible solutions, and it is possible to hire a car on a daily-basis.
This business model allows Avail to offer its clients a more flexible and cost-effective alternative to traditional rental cars and car ownership. Founded in San Francisco, California, in 2018, Avil is available in many major cities in the United States. While convenient downtown locations are available in Chicago and Denver, pick-up locations in other cities are always at the airport. Considering the company’s rapid growth, it will likely expand its network further to other locations. They currently have around 170 employees, and the headquarter is in the Chicaco-area.
The company’s mission is to make car ownership a thing of the past by providing people with a convenient, affordable, and environmentally friendly alternative to get around. Avil’s innovative approach to car sharing makes it a popular choice for those looking for hassle-free transportation.
Locations
The main locations with various pick-up and drop-off options are in Chicago and Denver. Pick-up at airports is also available in other major US cities such as Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Dallas, Huston, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phenix, Portland, Seattle, and Salt Lake City. Unfortunately, these locations are pretty poorly advertised on the main website, but here are some directions to the pick-up locations.
My Take
Pricing Structure
Avail offers flexible pricing plans so customers can choose the best fit for their needs. Prices are on a per-day basis and include a maximum of 150 miles per day. Additional miles will result in an extra fee. All plans include fuel, insurance, roadside assistance, and access to your area’s fleet of cars.
The minimum requirements to rent a car are a valid us driving license and a credit card. The minimum age is 21 years old. On a positive note, all prices are final. There are no hidden fees, no additional underage fees for drivers under 25 years, and customer service will add a second driver to an existing reservation at no extra costs.
Prices are competitive and cheaper than traditional car rental companies. For example, I could find a Chevrolet at Chicago Oat Park station for 100$ for two days, including taxes, insurance etc. Prices can go up to 260$ for larger cars.
My Take
Fleet
Avail has various vehicles ranging from small hatchbacks to luxury sedans and SUVs. All vehicles are regularly maintained and inspected for safety before each rental period begins. Customers also have access to electric cars, perfect for short trips around town or longer road trips across the country.
Avail has strong safety and comfort policies in place. Whenever you rent a car with them, you can be sure all vehicles meet the following minimal criteria:
- An automatic transition
- Gas-powered or Hybrid engine
- Less than 125’000 Miles
- Model Year 2014 or newer
- No visible damages or significant maintenance issues
- No open recalls
In addition, all rentals come with the following features. The Allstate insurance is included. It provides borrowers with up to $100’000 liability coverage. However, remember that Avail Car Sharing will charge $500 if you return the car with damages.
My Take
Customer Support
Avail’s customer service team is officially available 24/7 via phone or chat if you need help with anything related to your account or rental experience. Additionally, they is also a help center, which is quite helpful, mainly for non-urgent information, before the rental starts. They also offer live chat support on their website so you can get answers quickly when needed. Today we will take a closer look at both options.
Chat
The chat on their website is easy to find, on the bottom right corner like many other websites have it as well. I attempted to chat with a real-person agent on multiple days. On five different attempts, the waiting time to talk with an agent was more than twenty minutes, which I consider pretty long, unfortunately. It might have been an unfortunate coincidence, but it indicates a potential staff shortage. On a positive note, all employees in the chat were very helpful, professional, and friendly. To be fair, the automatic chatbot can also answer quite a few questions with no waiting time.
Phone
Their phone service is also available 24/7 at 877 447 9403. Here, the waiting times were slightly shorter, between five and fifteen minutes on average. Overall the service was helpful and friendly. However, at times there were some technical problems with the automatic menu.
My Take
Website Quality
The website has a sleek, lean design and is easy to navigate. The sign-up process works flawlessly and is highly self-explanatory.
My Take
Benefits of Avail Car Sharing
With Avail, you can rent cars for short-term use without the long-term commitment of owning one. This option makes it ideal for those who don’t need a car all the time but still want access to reliable transportation when they do.
Convenience:
Avail offers comfort by allowing users to pick up their rental vehicle from any location that has an available car. You can also return your rental at any other location with an open spot, making it easy to get around or even out of town if needed.
Cost Savings:
Renting through Avail saves you money compared to traditional car ownership since you only pay for what you use and don’t have additional costs like insurance, maintenance, or registration fees associated with owning a car. Additionally, many cities offer discounts on rentals during certain times of day or week, which can help further reduce your costs.
Environmental Benefits:
By using Avail instead of buying a new car every few years, you’re reducing emissions from manufacturing and fuel consumption over time due to fewer trips people take in personal vehicles overall.
Furthermore, many cities offer incentives such as free parking spots or discounted rates on public transit fares when renting through Avail, which helps encourage more sustainable transportation habits among its users.
With Avail’s wide selection of vehicles ranging from economy cars to luxury models, there is something for everyone no matter what type of trip they take – whether it be business-related travel or leisurely exploring different parts of town. This wide selection allows users to access the right vehicle for their needs without having to commit long-term financially by purchasing one outright.
How To Use Avail Car Sharing
Signing Up: To sign up for an account with Avail, you will need your driver’s license and credit card details. Once you successfully create your account, you’ll be able to log in and start reserving vehicles immediately.
Reserving a Vehicle
After logging into your account, select the city where you would like to rent a car from the list of available locations. You can then choose several types of vehicles based on availability at that location – including sedans, SUVs, hybrids, and electric cars – and their prices per hour or day. Once you have chosen a vehicle type and time frame for rental, confirm your reservation by clicking “Book Now.”
Picking Up Your Vehicle
When it’s time to pick up your reserved vehicle, go to the designated pickup spot indicated in your confirmation email (or text message). At this point, you will need to show both your driver’s license and credit card before being given access to the keys to the car.
The staff member will also provide instructions on operating any features unique to that particular car model, such as Bluetooth connectivity or GPS navigation systems if needed.
Returning Your Vehicle
When returning the rented vehicle to its original location after use, ensure all personal items are removed from inside it first. Then simply park it in its designated spot at that exact location before locking it using either one of two methods – either via an app provided by Avail or through traditional key fob technology, depending on which car you rented initially.
Finally, take note of any additional charges incurred during usage, such as fuel costs, so they can be paid off later when closing out billing online through your dashboard within their respective accounts page afterward.
That’s all there is to it. Using Avail Car Sharing couldn’t be easier; just follow these simple steps each time you want to rent out a vehicle for short-term use without having to commit to long-term contracts beforehand.
How To Use Avail Car Sharing To Make Money
If you like to make some extra money with Avail car sharing company, I recommend registering on the platform and renting out your vehicle when you are not using it. You can list your car on the Avail platform and set your rental rates and availability.
Avail Car Sharing will handle the booking process and take a percentage of the rental fees as a commission. Still, it means you can earn a good amount of passive income by renting out your car when you are not using it. Because you are setting, your price can potentially earn a considerable amount. It all depends on the demand for rentals in your area and the price you set for your car. However, if you set high prices, you will have fewer rentals. Personally, I know people making between 50 and 200 USD per week when they list their cars on the platform.
Here is what avail car sharing will take care of:
It is important to note that you will be responsible for maintaining and insuring your car. You may also be required to undergo a vehicle inspection before listing it on the platform. Also, if you have an electric car, you are unfortunately not qualified to register at the moment.
Alternatives to Avail Car Sharing
Car sharing has become increasingly popular in recent years, and Avail is one of the leading companies providing this service. However, many other car-sharing options are available for those looking to save money or if Avail Cars aren’t available.
Turo
Turo is my favorite alternative to Avail Car Sharing, allowing users to rent out their vehicles on a short-term basis. Their many benefits are their large global network and low entry barriers.
Zip Car
Zipcar is another popular car-sharing service offering hourly and daily rates without a long-term commitment. It also provides access to a wide variety of vehicles. Zipcars is best for their flexibility.
GetAround
Get around is yet another app-based alternative to Avail that focuses on providing affordable car rentals with no long-term contracts or commitments required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does avail car sharing have an app?
Yes, car-sharing services such as Avail have an app. The app allows users to find and book cars quickly and easily from their smartphone or tablet. It also provides features like payment options, real-time vehicle availability, and other helpful information about the service. Additionally, users can access a variety of discounts on rides when they use the app.
What are the disadvantages of car sharing?
One disadvantage is that it may not always be convenient or cost-effective for those who need access to a vehicle at short notice or for long trips. Additionally, car-sharing services typically require members to return cars with full tanks of gas, which can add up over time if you use the service frequently. Finally, car-sharing companies often charge additional fees for late returns and other infractions, so users must remain aware of their obligations when using these services.
Final Thoughts on Avail Car Sharing
Avail car sharing allows users to rent cars daily, requiring no long-term commitment. Avail’s rates are competitive, and the company provides insurance coverage in case of any damage or accidents that may occur during the rental period.
Overall, Avail Car Sharing is a solid choice for people looking for an affordable way to get around town while reducing their environmental impact. With its competitive rates, convenient booking process, wide selection of vehicles, plus insurance coverage included in every reservation – it’s hard not to see why this service has become so popular among eco-conscious commuters.
Additionally, the company has implemented several eco-friendly initiatives, such as using electric vehicles whenever possible and offering discounts for members who drive fuel-efficient models.
In addition to being more economical and environmentally friendly, Avail also provides convenience by allowing users to reserve cars online or via their mobile app in advance, so they don’t have to worry about finding parking spots when they arrive at their destination. The company also offers roadside assistance if something goes wrong while driving one of its vehicles, adding another layer of peace of mind for renters.
