Getaround Review: Is It the Best App for Renting Out Your Car?

Getaround is an app that allows you to rent out your vehicle to drivers. It’s one of the growing number of apps on the market that allow you to start your own car rental side business without all the complicated paperwork.

Here’s a quick look at how Getaround works for car owners:

• Car pick-up and drop-off: You can do in-person key exchanges, or you can opt into contactless vehicle pick-up and drop-off using Getaround Connect, which allows renters to find and unlock your car in the app.
• Instant bookings: You can choose to rent your car by request only or make it available for instant bookings.
• Rental durations: You can set the minimum duration anywhere from 1 hour to 6 days, and you can set the maximum anywhere from 1 to 30 days.
• Scheduling: You can personalize your Getaround rental conditions so that your car is only available on select dates, and you can even require drivers to submit requests a certain number of days in advance.
• Pricing: You don’t set rental prices yourself. Instead, Getaround uses their Smart Pricing algorithm to automatically adjust the rental price for your car based on a list of factors.
• Extra services: You can charge up to $120 for car delivery on Getaround.
• Insurance coverage: Getaround provides automatic insurance that covers third-party liability and damage to your car caused by a driver during a rental period.
• Cancellations: If you cancel a booking and your cancellation rate is above 4%, you’ll need to pay a fee of either $15 (more than 24 hours notice) or $35 (less than 24 hours notice). If a driver cancels on you, you’ll receive either half pay (less than 48 hours notice) or the full amount owed (no-show), except in special force majeure situations where the driver will get a full refund.
• Renting to gig workers: Getaround has a Drive with Uber feature in certain locations, which allows you to make your vehicle available to rent by Uber and Uber Eats drivers or make your car available exclusively to these rideshare drivers.
• Starting a car rental business: You have the freedom to start your own car rental fleet on Getaround, and you can list cars you don’t own.

Costs and fees

It’s free to list your car on Getaround, but the platform takes a 40% cut, meaning you’ll only get to keep 60% of what drivers pay on each booking.

It may seem like a high price to pay, but these commission fees cover the platform’s operating costs as well as the cost of insuring your vehicle and vetting drivers.

Getaround Connect

You will have to pay additional fees if you choose to sign up for Getaround Connect. This is an optional service that enables you to take advantage of contactless vehicle hand-offs so you don’t need to be around when a driver rents your car.

Getaround Connect has two fees:

• Installation fee: One-time fee of $99 for Getaround to install a device that allows renters to unlock your car in the Getaround app.
• Subscription fee: $20 monthly fee that you’ll need to pay to continue using Getaround Connect.

As a new host, you’ll automatically get a free 3-month subscription to Getaround Connect when you first sign up. However, you’ll need to start paying monthly fees after that time.

Getaround’s contactless renting option is convenient for hosts and renters alike, but it does pose some additional risk. Thankfully, the technology incorporates GPS tracking technology and enables Getaround to prevent your car from starting in the event that an unapproved driver gets behind the wheel.

Host requirements

Getaround doesn’t provide any details on requirements you need to meet to sign up as a host on the platform. As long as you have an eligible vehicle and you’re renting your car in a supported location, you should be good to go.

The company’s website doesn’t even seem to mention a minimum age requirement for listing a car on Getaround. However, it’s safe to assume you need to be at least 18 years old since this is generally the minimum age for registering a car.

Getaround car requirements

You can’t just rent out any old car on this platform. Getaround cars must meet these specific eligibility criteria:

• Be a private passenger vehicle with at least four wheels
• Be a 2007 model or newer
• Have fewer than 200,000 miles
• Seat no more than 10 passengers
• Feature power door locks on both front doors
• Be valued at $150,000 or less
• Be in “good” physical and mechanical condition
• Meet state safety recall regulations
• Not be an “exotic” or performance vehicle
• Never been previously declared a total loss or issued a salvage or repair title

Note that these eligibility requirements apply to cars rented out in the United States. Eligibility requirements differ by country.

Vehicle inspections

If your car is less than 10 years old and has under 125,000 miles on it, you don’t need a car inspection. You’ll be able to immediately list your vehicle on Getaround.

If, on the other hand, your Getaround car doesn’t meet these preliminary requirements, it’ll need to undergo a yearly inspection. You can get your vehicle inspected by any certified mechanic of your choice.

How to tell if your car is in “good” condition

To show that your car is actually in “good condition,” Getaround will ask you to upload photos of all sides of the vehicle when you submit your listing for approval. Minor cosmetic issues are fine, but there should be no engine compartment leaks or mismatching tires.

Tires must also be in good condition, all lights must work, and there should be no illuminated warning lights on the dash (such as a check engine light). Any window or windshield cracks must be smaller than 2 inches and out of the driver’s line of sight.

Locations

Getaround is not available in all US cities. However, the app’s reach is still quite large, with service in more than a thousand cities across both the United States and Europe. International service is available in France, Germany, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

To see if Getaround is active in your city, visit the sign-up page for vehicle owners and choose your vehicle type and location. You’ll automatically be told whether or not Getaround is active in your city.

Getaround is a legit peer-to-peer car sharing platform. What’s more, Getaround takes measures to keep car owners safe by offering insurance protection on all bookings, imposing rules for what drivers are allowed to do with your car, and restricting who can sign up as a driver.

Driver screening

Getaround vets every driver who signs up for the platform. They do this by performing identity verification and motor vehicle record (MVR) checks. Getaround uses third-party services to confirm each driver’s identity and detect potential fraud in any bookings.

Any driver who rents your vehicle must meet the following Getaround driver eligibility requirements:

• Meet local minimum age requirements for car rental (at least 19, 22, or 25 years old)
• Have a valid driver’s license in the rental location
• Have a credit card in their name
• No record of major traffic violations in the last 3 years
• No more than two recorded violations or accidents in the last 3 years
• No record of alcohol or drug-related incidents from the last 7 years

Violation-related eligibility requirements are even stricter for those under the age of 21, and all drivers under the age of 26 pay a young driver surcharge.

Rules for drivers

In addition to strict driver screening, Getaround imposes several rules for what drivers are allowed to do:

• Mileage allowance: Drivers cannot exceed the Getaround mileage limit specified for their booking, which ranges from 20 miles (1 hour) to 200 miles (1 day), although they can purchase extra miles packages. If they exceed the specified limit, you’ll get $0.30 per extra mile driven.
• Keeping the car clean: If a driver leaves a mess in your car or signs of smoking, you can request compensation of $10–$75 in cleaning fees, as long as you submit the request within 48 hours and have sufficient photo evidence.
• Traffic tickets: If a driver gets a parking ticket or traffic fine, they’ll have to pay it.
• Late returns: Drivers have a 30-minute grace period for returning your car. After that, you’ll get $30 per hour plus the standard rental rate for each hour that the driver has your car past its return time.
• Wrong location: If a driver returns your car more than 1/4 mile away from the agreed location (without your consent), you’ll be entitled to compensation of $20–$350. If the car is 50 miles away or more, you can also claim travel and food expenses.

These penalties should ideally be enough to incentivize drivers to treat your car with care. In cases where you have a careless renter who violates one of Getaround’s rental rules, you should receive compensation from the company to cover any relevant costs you incur.

Getaround insurance coverage

When it comes to keeping your car safe, Getaround automatically protects your vehicle with its own insurance any time the vehicle is rented. They also provide 24/7 roadside assistance and customer support for your renters.

Getaround’s insurance offers the following coverage:

• Damage to the vehicle via accident, fire, theft, or vandalism, either committed by the driver or by a third-party, up to the actual cash value of the vehicle
• Liability coverage to owners up to $1 million
• Liability coverage to drivers up to the minimum financial requirements of the state in which the accident occurred
• Personal injury and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, where mandatory

Getaround’s insurance only applies to bookings paid through the platform. It will not protect you or your vehicle if a renter pays you outside of the app.

To rent out your car on Getaround, you’ll need to create a profile and make some decisions about how you’ll handle pick-ups and drop-offs. Here’s an overview of what to expect.

Create a Getaround profile

Signing up to rent out your car on Getaround is very straightforward. Just follow these steps:

1. Go to Getaround’s sign-up page for vehicle owners.
2. Specify your location and provide details about your car (make, model, year, and mileage).
3. Connect your account to a Facebook, Google, or Apple account, and then activate your account via an email link.
4. Wait for account verification and approval.

Where to download the Getaround app

App Store Google Play

Choose a car collection method

After your profile and listing are approved, you’ll have to decide whether to rent out your car with a key exchange or through the platform’s contactless option, Getaround Connect.

If you choose to use Getaround Connect, drivers will book your car and then check in via the app once the rental period starts. They’ll be able to unlock your car remotely from the app, so there’s no need for you to do anything.

Getaround Connect is only available in certain locations, and you’ll need first have Getaround install a device in your car to enable remote locking and unlocking. It’s also only an option if you make your car available for instant bookings.

If you choose to rent your car via a face-to-face key exchange, you can either make your car available for instant bookings or only accept bookings via request. For in-person key exchanges, you’ll meet the driver to hand over the keys and then meet them again when the rental period ends.

Review the Getaround car rental terms

To avoid any surprises, carefully read Getaround’s insurance terms and conditions before renting out your car. In particular, familiarize yourself with the claims process and any exclusion criteria. That way, if an accident occurs, you’ll be able to activate Getaround’s complimentary insurance coverage.

To give a general idea of potential earnings, Getaround advertises that you can make about $1,000 per month if you’re renting a “well-priced, well-maintained, newer model car.” However, actual users who rent out their vehicles on a consistent basis report earning, on average, somewhere in the range of $300–$800 per month.

Getaround allows you to set a base price for renting your car and opt out of their variable pricing strategy if you so choose, but many car owners on the app claim that you have no control over your rental rates. The platform largely takes the wheel in setting your prices and determining how much money you’ll make.

Other factors that may impact your earning potential include your location, seasonal demand, and the features of your car. Just bear in mind that whatever your rates are, you’ll only be getting 60% of what the driver is paying for the rental.

Getaround’s Smart Pricing

Here’s a rundown of how Smart Pricing works on Getaround. First, you set a base rate for your car, which can be different for each day of the week.

Next, Getaround will take your base rate and subject it to their Smart Pricing algorithm, which modifies the prices according to factors like search demand and the number of other cars available in your area. The company claims that this pricing strategy allows vehicle owners to earn 20% more money on Getaround.

Guaranteed earnings

As part of their strategy to increase their user base in select markets, Getaround sometimes offers guaranteed earning promotions, where you’re promised certain monthly earnings just for listing your car on the platform, regardless of how often it’s actually rented.

These incentives can reach as high as $1,800 per month for one car. As an example of how this works, imagine you got this $1,800 earnings guarantee but you only earned $1,000 in a given month. Getaround would pay out the extra $800 as a bonus.

However, it’s unclear whether you’d need to commit to using Getaround exclusively or if there are any other catches. If you do get offered this promotion, read the full terms and conditions and get the promise in writing.

How you’ll get paid

Getaround pays car owners on the 15th of each month via direct deposit. They used to pay via PayPal, but now they process all payments through Stripe. 1

In order to begin receiving payments, you will have to provide the following personal details:

• Name
• Birth date
• Street address (not PO box)
• Social Security number or tax ID number
• Bank account information

The bank account information must match the above information. Beware that once you’ve created your account on Getaround, it’ll be difficult to change your payment details.

Many happy Getaround hosts emphasize the way the app has allowed them to earn enough to offset the costs associated with car ownership, such as financing payments, insurance, and city parking.

Most negative Getaround reviews concern issues with renters, such as cars being returned damaged, dirty, or without enough gas. Complaints about the platform itself often reflect unsatisfactory experiences with Getaround Connect, especially the device installation process, which can take multiple days. Others mention poor customer support.

Below, we’ll summarize the highlights from user stories and Getaround reviews to help you get an idea of what it’s really like renting out your car on Getaround—both the good and the bad.

They’ll delay paying out insurance claims

There’s a consistent trend of car owners reporting that Getaround can take months to process insurance claims in the event that a renter damages the car. While Getaround does seem to generally hold up their end of the deal and offer the promised coverage, you may lose months of potential earnings if you’re dealing with repairs that you can’t afford on your own.

If you do eventually need to file a claim, check the laws in your state for how long the company has to give you payment after they’ve approved your claim. In many cases, Getaround needs to send you the money within 1 month. If you assert your rights, it could speed up the process.

User reviews:

“Getaround will pay for tows and repairs but it’s a big hassle you have to bring the car in and take care of everything. Getaround will also fight your claims to save money. For example one renter did a lot of body damage to one side of my car. I get it repaired and Getaround only reimbursed me for part of it as they claimed some of the damage was already there (it was not).” (Reddit, May 2024)

“Their claims is a burning dumpster fire, took 5 months to get a claim to be paid out due to funding issues.” (Reddit, April 2024)

“Waited for months while they told me there was a ‘backlog of payments’. Finally learned that in CA they have to pay within 30 days of an approved claim. Let them know I knew the law and they paid me same day.” (Reddit, January 2024)

“Soon it will be 4 months of no payment from Getaround. On 21 June I accepted their insurance’s settlement offer (basically cash replacement value), but since then no check cut ‘pending funding from Getaround’ per their third-party adjuster. I have been getting nothing but ‘thanks for my extended patience and understanding’ from Getaround since, with no actual information.” (Reddit, July 2023)

It’s not 100% passive, but it’s more passive than Turo

Peer-to-peer car renting may seem like the ideal passive side hustle, but it’s important to remember that you will have certain duties and obligations as a Getaround host. You’ll need to clean the car and sort out necessary touch-ups and repairs.

With that said, one of Getaround’s major advantages over competitors like Turo is its low-maintenance business model. They automate just about every aspect of the car rental process that can be automated—from vetting drivers to adjusting your rental prices for maximum earning potential.

Best of all, their remote car-unlocking technology, Getaround Connect, allows you to rent out your car without having to go meet the driver. This means you can have your car parked all the way across town, and a renter will be able to reserve your car, pick it up, and drop it back off without you needing to lift a finger. This is a rare and valuable feature if you’re a full-time worker or live in a remote area.

User reviews:

“The way I approach it, it’s not fully passive if that’s what one is aiming for. But what I can say is that it’s way way way less effort than a full time job (I do Getaround on top of a 40+ hrs/week FT job – which I assume many hosts do). With 4 cars, I probably put 2 hrs/week into Getaround.” (Reddit, July 2023)

“The getaround connect device is handy to make your operation more passive than Turo.” (Reddit, June 2023)

Getaround Connect has some serious security issues

One of Getaround’s biggest appeals—their convenient Getaround Connect technology for renters to remotely unlock your car themselves—is also the source of one of its biggest shortcomings.

The Getaround Connect device only works when it’s properly installed in your vehicle. If a car thief comes along and rips it out of your car, they’ll have full access to your unlocked car, with your car key inside. Worst of all, because Getaround doesn’t consider these incidents a “covered trip,” you’ll be left on your own to deal with the aftermath and associated costs.

Numerous Getaround hosts have taken to online forums to warn others about the security risks involved with Getaround Connect and the company’s lack of coverage or support for these types of incidents.

User reviews:

“Thieves go car shopping with this app. It’s a map of where cars with keys in them are. The getaround device offers some security in that you can’t start the car til you unlock it with the app first. UNLESS the thief just tears the device out of the car. Which is what happened to me. Someone smashed the tiny back window in the car, got in, removed the getaround device (which is also a gps tracker), and stole my car. It was eventually recovered by the cops but since it wasn’t during a rental, Getaround was no help.” (Reddit, May 2024)

“Getaround is where I got 3 cars stolen (bc key is inside the car, duh!), and they would not help bc it wasn’t on a trip, so theives know this and go car shopping/stealing with the getaround site to get the car’s appx location. Getaround would just say, ‘contact your insurance company.’” (Reddit, March 2024)

“Just had my car stolen last week. Getaround has been no help as the tracking device was ripped out of the car.” (Reddit, June 2023)

Renters may use your car to commit crimes

Unfortunately, peer-to-peer car sharing platforms like Getaround are notorious for attracting criminal activity. It’s not just Getaround—the internet is full of horror stories of crimes committed with app-rented cars with every major car sharing platform.

In fairness, Getaround does implement several driver screening measures to lower the risk of criminals using the app to rent cars. Nevertheless, even if the risk is small, it’ll never fully go away.

When renting your car out on an app like Getaround, you need to be prepared to deal with the aftermath if your car is involved in a crime. In less serious cases, this may just involve filing a police report. In worst case scenarios, you could indefinitely lose access to your car while the crime is being investigated.

User reviews:

“One of my cars was stolen and we found it through GPS abandoned under a bridge with hundreds of credit cards and a credit card machine in the car.” (Reddit, March 2024)

“My car got used in a string of shoplifting, then was impounded for 4 days.” (Reddit, February 2024)

“My car’s first rental on Getaround was this past weekend, Jan 6 – Jan 8. I was excited about the experience. The renter had rented 3 times before on Getaround. Picked up and dropped off on time. […] Then yesterday, I get a call from a detective from the Grapevine, TX Police Dept (I’m in DFW market) saying that the car was used to cut and steal catalytic converters in their jurisdiction.” (Reddit, January 2023)

Security upgrades are hurting profitability

In an effort to combat some of their security issues (and presumably lower the cost of paying out claims for damages), Getaround has recently adopted new driver screening measures. These have included an AI risk assessment program and increased security deposits.

While this may seem like a good thing on the surface, the reality is that it’s knocking drivers off the platform and making it harder for Getaround hosts to earn money. Reports indicate that renters are often asked to pay thousands of dollars in security deposits, which is turning many potential users away from the platform.

User reviews:

“They started requiring big credit card holds to recoup losses from repeated credit card declines (e.g. to charge cleaning or citations) as the company needs to show profitability since they’re now Publix. They’ve eliminated a substantial portion of their user base due to this change (at least in the short term).” (Reddit, July 2023)

“They did tell me they are doing a lot of vetting and background checks on renters to eliminate theft etc.” (Reddit, July 2023)

“They implemented an AI risk Assessment program that prices poor people out of being able to rent from them to reduce the amount of claims they had to pay out on. Security deposits from $100 to $1500 and then they hold it for 7 days after the rental.” (Reddit, July 2023)

“Getaround Launches AI Based TrustScore v2.0 to Enhance Profitability and Carsharing Marketplace Safety. Meanwhile, Power Hosts across the country see utilization dropping below 20%. No rentals = no damages = enhanced profitability?” (Reddit, June 2023)

“Due to high security deposits, I’m unable to book a rental for no more than 8 hours.” (Reddit, February 2023)

Customer support is going downhill

Some online reviews from Getaround hosts indicate that user support could be improved. Notably, there’s been a rise in complaints since the start of 2024, which is around the time when Getaround laid off around one-third of their US staff.

User reviews:

“Their customer service is also terrible […] they removed phone support completely.” (Reddit, May 2024)

“It’s impossible to reach anyone with authority in the company. Unlike with other companies, where you can escalate a ticket, there is no way to do so with Getaround.” (Reddit, February 2024)

Whether or not Getaround is worth it for you will depend on where you live, how much you currently use your car, and your financial goals. Getaround is an app that’s best for car owners who want a casual side hustle that might earn them a small, passive income.

If you have a car you’re not really using that’s racking up more costs than it’s worth, then renting out your car on Getaround can be a great way to cover these expenses and even earn a little extra cash with minimal effort. It can even help you afford to upgrade to a newer car, and there’s potential to grow your own car rental company.

On the flip side, you shouldn’t rent out your car on a peer-to-peer car sharing app like Getaround if you rely on your car or you’re particularly attached to it. One accident with a renter could leave you carless and even strain your finances if you need to cover the expenses upfront, considering Getaround sometimes takes months to issue insurance payouts.

Pros and cons

The pros and cons of a Getaround car share side gig are pretty consistent among most car owners who choose to list their vehicles on the platform.

How Getaround compares to other car rental apps

As an alternative to Getaround, you could choose to rent out your car on Turo, another peer-to-peer car sharing platform that’s arguably Getaround’s lead competitor.

These two apps have a lot in common, but their differences are well worth considering before you choose which one you want to use to rent out your car.

Here’s a comparison of Getaround vs. Turo:

• Fee structure: Getaround takes a fixed commission fee of 40% on all car rentals. Turo offers a choice of five pricing plans; you can choose a commission fee in the range of 10%–40%, but a lower commission fee means you’ll pay a higher deductible if you need to file a claim.
• Flexibility: Turo offers more flexibility in terms of deciding your own rental rates and who rents your car. Getaround makes all these decisions for you, which means less work but also less control.
• Popularity: Getaround is gaining popularity, but Turo still seems to be more widespread and more widely used.
• Key exchange: Getaround offers a contactless key exchange option, where renters can unlock your car from the app. Turo has in-person key exchanges only.
• Exclusivity policy: Turo has an exclusivity policy that prohibits you from listing your car on other platforms, meaning if you choose them, you can’t use any competing apps. Getaround doesn’t stop you from renting your car out on as many other platforms as you like.

Each platform has its pros and cons, and the question of which car sharing app is best depends on who you ask. Researching and comparing the main features of these apps will help you make an informed decision and maximize your earning potential from your car rental side hustle.