If your car is just sitting in the garage why not rent it out?
Dubbed as the AirBnB of car rentals Yourdrive.co.nz is the latest trend in car sharing that helps people earn some extra bucks.
Andrei Doughty, owner of a 1962 red Ford Falcon says that he had his car sitting at home under cover for a year and a half till he heard of the car sharing idea on radio- a model that connects a database of car renters with car owners.
“While my Classic car is in good condition, it is not in showcase condition. I thought it would be nice for other people to enjoy driving a piece of history,” says the Bucklands Beach resident who scrolls down the website to spot a lot of locals that are happy to rent out their car for a small fee.
“This is a good way to cover the maintenance of the car like your WOF, registration and insurance. It also keeps the wheels running.”
In the last two months, Andrei has had three renters with three more booked up.
For renters, the savings are significant as well he says.
They don’t have to foot the bills associated with vehicle ownership; purchasing a car, registration, WOF, servicing, maintenance and fuel costs.
Car sharing provides a sense of community and is a side-earner. Depending on the value, make and model of a vehicle (which determines the recommended rental rate), an owner could earn a decent amount a year by renting out their car for an hour, day, week or for summer cruising.
The idea behind the car sharing model is that a lot of people are moving away from car ownership as they live in more dense areas and have better access to public transport. They don’t want the ongoing costs that come with owning their own vehicles.
“In comparison to regular car rentals companies you can find a range of car models and can pick up whatever tickles your fancy,” says Andrei who is now planning to put his Mustang Convertible for car sharing.
The concept of Yourdrive was borne out of founder Oscar Ellison’s frustrations with the high cost of car ownership after he returned to Auckland from his O.E.
The young entrepreneur launched Yourdrive in 2015 and it quickly caught the attention of transport company Jucy, which bought a 50 percent share last year and now offers car sharing as an alternative transport option to its rental car fleet.
“New Zealand has one of the highest rates of car ownership in the world, and cars often sit unused in driveways, so this provides a win-win solution,” he says.
Before joining, each driver is screened to ensure they have a valid driver licence, and a five-star review system that works both ways for renters and car owners.
