By Shop ManagerGetaround by the Numbers: A Look Back at the Carsharing Company
Carsharing was once hailed as the future of urban mobility, offering car owners a way to earn extra income while providing renters with flexible, on-demand transportation. Among the key players in this space, Getaround stood out as a major force, boasting a diverse fleet of vehicles across multiple cities. By analyzing data on vehicle models, geographic distribution, and mileage, we can gain insight into Getaround’s impact and why it resonated with users—before ultimately fading from the landscape.
The Most Popular Cars on Getaround
Certain models formed the backbone of Getaround’s fleet, particularly fuel-efficient, affordable, and widely available vehicles. The most commonly listed models included the:
- Toyota Camry
- Ford Fusion
- Toyota Prius
- Hyundai Elantra
- Toyota Corolla
- Honda Accord
- Ford Focus
- Honda Civic
- Hyundai Sonata
These vehicles were a natural fit for carsharing. They offered reliability, good fuel economy, and relatively low maintenance costs—making them attractive to both owners looking to earn extra income and renters seeking an affordable ride.
The Age of Getaround Vehicles
Getaround maintained strict policies on vehicle eligibility, requiring cars to be under 10 years old and below 125,000 miles at the time of onboarding. Older vehicles (up to model year 2007) were sometimes allowed if they passed additional inspections.
A breakdown of vehicle model years on Getaround showed a clear pattern: most listed vehicles fell within the 5-12 year range at the time of their last inspection. Few brand-new vehicles were available, as carsharing was more popular among owners looking to generate income from slightly older—but still reliable—cars.
Mileage Trends: The Wear and Tear of Shared Vehicles
A car’s mileage is one of the best indicators of its lifespan, and Getaround’s fleet covered a broad spectrum. Most vehicles on the platform had accumulated between 50,000 and 100,000 miles, with a smaller percentage exceeding 150,000 miles. This was in line with the platform’s policies, which allowed well-maintained higher-mileage vehicles to continue operating.
This trend reflected a key advantage of carsharing: it allowed vehicle owners to generate revenue from older cars that might otherwise depreciate in value without use. Renters, in turn, benefited from affordable, well-maintained options at a lower price point than traditional rental agencies.
Getaround’s Biggest Markets
The company’s footprint was strongest in urban environments, where car ownership was expensive or unnecessary for daily life. The top cities for Getaround rentals included major metropolitan areas with strong public transit and high demand for flexible transportation. Although it looks like Getaround failed to penetrate deeply into the major American cities with some strange outliers making it into the top 20 of our data set.
Cities with high vehicle counts included:
Some of these locations were natural fits for Getaround’s model. Many users in these areas didn’t own cars full-time but still needed one occasionally for weekend trips, errands, or special occasions. Getaround filled that gap by providing short-term rentals at competitive rates.
Looking Back at Getaround’s Legacy
Getaround’s business model thrived on accessibility, offering a diverse range of vehicles in high-demand urban areas. Its most common vehicles reflected a preference for affordability, reliability, and efficiency, while mileage and vehicle age trends aligned with platform policies.
Yet, despite its strong presence, Getaround eventually struggled to sustain its momentum. While we’ll explore the reasons behind its downfall in a separate article, its rise and operations provided a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of carsharing. By looking at the numbers, we can better understand how it carved out its place in the market—and why, ultimately, it wasn’t enough to survive.
Stay tuned for our next deep dive: “Why Didn’t Getaround Make It?”
