How to Make Money with “Getaround” – Turn Your Car into Cash!

Welcome and thanks for reading…

So, you'd like to know how to make money with Getaround car sharing. Whether it's the higher cost of living, debts piling up, or you're just trying to get ahead and save some money, there are countless new and unique ways to make money. 

And since you're here, it's probably fair to assume you'd like more money, right? I get it…

You're not alone. 

The most unique thing about Getaround is that the money you make is passive. Your car works for you while you enjoy time to yourself and your family. 

I know, it sounds pretty good… but of course, renting your car to strangers is not without it's challenges as I'm sure you can imagine. So, I’m going to review Getaround and discuss how it works, what some of those challenges are and hopefully help you decide if it's for right for you.  

Here are the topics I’m going to discuss…

• What is Getaround?
• Does Getaround Work?
• How Does Getaround Car Sharing Work?
• Getaround Reviews and Complaints
• What I Like About Getaround
• What I Don’t Like
• Where Do You Go From Here?

Disclaimer:
Please note, I am not a member or an affiliate for Getaround. This review has been researched with information and/or testimonials that are available online in the public domain. Any recommendations and/or conclusions are strictly opinions and may not apply to, or agree with, all persons or situations. See full disclaimer for more info

What Is Getaround?

Getaround is an online peer-to-peer car sharing platform that was founded in 2009 by Sam Zaid, Jessica Scorpio, and Elliot Kroo. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

According to Wikipedia, Getaround already has 5 million users and 20,000 registered vehicles as of 2019.

If you’re familiar with the European peer-to-peer car-sharing company Drivy, Getaround is similar. In fact, Drivy was acquired by Getaround for $300 million in April of 2019. 

Getaround is powered by Connect technology which allows you to use their app on iOS and Android phones. It’s also their Connect device that empowers vehicles to connect to their system.

By registering your car with Getaround, you’re listing your vehicle for rent to people near your area. Finding your car (by the renter), tracking its whereabouts, and getting inside (without breaking in) are all made through Getaround’s Connect technology (I’ll explain more about this in the next sections).

Does Getaround Work?

With over 10 years of service, and with Drivy’s own system combined to theirs, there’s no doubt that Getaround works as a carsharing platform.

In fact, the sharing economy in general is one of the fastest growing trends with over $23 billion being invested into the share-based model since 2010.

And it only makes sense. As successful as our current economy is, despite it's flaws, we are going to face some serious challenges in the coming decades. 

In addition to providing you a way to make some extra money with your car, Getaround is also playing an important role in this new economy.

The Sharing Economy

Without getting to deep into this subject, a quick thought experiment is this… 

How many lawnmowers does a neighborhood need? 

I know, it might sound like a silly question and it may be. It might not matter “today” how many lawnmowers there are, but as our population grows and we exhaust our natural resources, it's an important question to ask. 

To be fair, I don't know how many lawnmowers a neighborhood has, but it's save to say, if you have a yard that needs mowing, you also need a lawnmower. 

I also don't know how many lawnmowers a neighborhood needs…  but I do know the answer is not every house.

In fact it seems ridiculous when you think about. 

A neighborhood of 500 homes (just as an example) will potentially have 500 lawnmowers, and at any given time, 99 percent of them will be doing nothing. Just sitting in someone's shed or garage.

At an average cost of $200 each, that's $100,000 and thousands of pounds of valuable metals just lying around in this one average sized neighborhood when all they really need are probably 10 or 20 lawnmowers to share. 

Now, let's talk more about Getaround and the role they play in the sharing economy.

Getaround and the Sharing Economy

I used the example of lawnmowers because it's easy to scale up and imagine we're talking about cars… which we are. 

For reference, the state of California has roughly 14.5 million registered automobiles and it's estimated that the average car is parked 95% of the time. 

That means at any given time, there are 13,775,000 cars in California just sitting there… doing nothing. 

At an average cost of $10,000 per car (it's probably higher than that), we're talking about $138 “billion” dollars and an untold amount of valuable materials the world needs. 

We know the world needs it because we continue to mine it. 

Now, I'm not going get into the pros and cons of these numbers and their positive and/or negative effect on the environment, economies, communities and so on…

From a simple resource management perspective, it's ridiculous when you think about it. I'm a serious car lover and one of the least likely to give my car up… and yet, I can still see how ridiculous it is. 

Getaround has the potential of playing an important role in reversing this trend of more and more consumption, while also giving the opportunity of turning your liability (your car) into an asset that makes you money.  

Of course, it's not a perfect system and I've read a lot of complaints… but the idea of turning things you own into assets is extremely powerful. Getaround (and the sharing economy in general) have the potential of not only making you money…

… but making money while you do something else. 

You could be at work all day making money, while your car is also making you money. 

You can be spending time with friends and family while your car is out there earning you money. And, if it's more money you're really after, you can also be doing things online like simple surveys and small tasks online while…

For something more serious (and a significant income), an online business is another option. 

You may be at home because of difficulties with your health for example, or young ones to look after. 

If that’s the case and a full-time income online is what you want, knowing how and where to get started is what you need in order to get what you want.

Now, I'm going to give you a free step by step beginner's guide to making money online and you can get it by Clicking Here

How Does Getaround Car Sharing Work?

Registered vehicles on Getaround are composed of cars, trucks, vans, and even specialty vehicles like convertibles.

You can rent out your vehicle per hour or per day depending on your car’s availability and the renter’s needs. Don’t worry, you’ll be the one to set your terms which you can do on the description page of your car listing.

What impressed me the most about Getaround’s Connect technology is that car owners and renters don’t even need to meet up to exchange keys. The renter can access your car (unlock it) through their smartphone, and all you need to do is leave your key inside the vehicle.

Of course, this does raise some security questions and I'll come back to those in a moment…

How Getaround Car Sharing Works for Car Owners

Here are the steps to join and make money with Getaround:

1. First, register and enroll your car to Getaround.You can use your Google account or Facebook account for this (it’s one of their identity verifications). You’ll also need to input your name, car details, and other information.

2. Install Connect Device in Your VehicleIf approved, they’ll send a mechanic to your place to attach a Connect device in your vehicle (this costs $99). You can then activate the app through your smartphone (it works for both iOS and Android).

3. Fee PaymentYou’ll need to pay $20 per month for your car listing on Getaround.

4. Choose When to Rent Your VehicleYou can choose to rent out your vehicle through the Getaround app at any time.

5. Get Paid When Someone Rents Your Car.Getaround releases payments to car owners every month (the middle of the month, for the previous month’s earnings). Note that Getaround will take 40% of your earnings.

Of course, there are many more details within each step but that provides a brief overview of the process. 

How Getaround Car Sharing Works for Renters

To give you a better idea as to how Getaround works, here’s the process you'll go through if you're renting someone else's vehicle (rather than renting out your own vehicle)…

1. Get the Getaround app and sign up to their platform. You can download the app via Google Play (for Android) or the App Store (for iPhones). There are no membership fees for renters, but you’ll need to upload your Driver’s License to their system for verification purposes.
2. You can start finding/booking for a vehicle once you get approved. You can then rent on a daily or hourly basis (you’ll see each car’s availability in the app listing).
3. Pick up the car at the designated location.
4. Use the Getaround app to get inside the car (keyless entry). The key will be hidden somewhere inside the car (the owner will give you instructions on where to find it, plus other rules for using the car).
5. You’re obligated to be responsible for the car you rented. It should be refueled and cleaned after using it (it should be in the same condition as you found it when you return it).

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Insurance (comprehensive, collision, liability coverage through Broadspire) is included in your membership.
• You’ll get 24/7 roadside assistance (for breakdown, flat tires, accidents, etc.).

Getaround Requirements

For 2019, Getaround has these requirements for car owners:

• 2008 model of vehicle (or newer).
• Your car’s mileage must be under 125,000 miles.
• You’ll have to pass their verification.
• Once accepted, it’s your responsibility to maintain your car and make it road-ready for renters. Your vehicle will also be inspected by Getaround people for safety.

Note that your application will be rejected if your car is older than 2008. You also won’t get accepted if your car’s mileage is over 125,000 miles. But keep in mind, these conditions will change year by year and simply because this is a relatively new business model, Getaround is likely to update their policy at any time.

How to Make Money with Getaround

Of course, you’ll make money with Getaround when people pay you rental fees for your vehicle.

It’s really up to you how much you’ll charge (per hour or per day), but Getaround has a built-in predictive pricing. Based on your vehicle (make, model, etc.), they’ll make suggestions as to the ideal price to charge a renter. You can use their predictive pricing as a guide, but the final amount will be up to you.

There’s also a 200-mile per day limit for standard cars and a 100-mile limit for specialty cars. Any excess mileage will be charged an additional fee.

In most cases, the newer your vehicle has the potential to earn more money. For example… your wear and tear maintenance costs are likely to be less expensive for a new low-mileage vehicle. You can also charge a little more for a newer vehicle. 

On the other hand, your payments for that new vehicle may be a lot higher. 

There are many factors from price to population and competition that determine how much you earn. 

And as I mentioned earlier, the money you do make with Getaround is passive.

You earn while doing something else…

… something else that can also earn money, like a part-time gig, side hustle or freelancing online. 

You can make a little extra money with online survey sites as well.

Market research companies like Survey Junkie are a simple way to get paid for your opinion. Swag Bucks is another site that pays for doing things you may be doing online anyway, like searching the web, watching videos and visiting websites. 

Of course, you won't be able to retire on survey sites alone, but if you've never made money online before, they can be a good place to start.

For something more significant, an online business may be what you're looking for.

Making money from home might be something you need because of medical issues, children to look after, or maybe you're just tired of working for a boss. 

If that’s the case, knowing how (and where) to get started is what you need in order to get what you want.

Now, I'm going to give you a free step by step beginner's guide to making money online and you can get it by Clicking Here

Getaround Car Sharing Security Features

I know it can feel weird to rent out your vehicle to strangers, that’s why Getaround has security features for their members. Here are some of them:

• $1M insurance
• 24/7 roadside assistance
• Drivers/Renters are screened and verified
• They provide earnings reports
• Their Connect device comes with GPS locator/tracker and engine lock features 

Getaround Reviews and Complaints

If you’re like me, you don't want to rely on a single review to gauge whether a product or service is good. So we can look to others for further insight to help you decide what to do and if you should consider something like Getaround. 

Reviews on Better Business Bureau (BBB)

Upon checking, I saw that Getaround has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau since December of 2018. And before I go any further I want to be clear, I fully support what Getaround is doing. I talked about the sharing economy earlier and it's importance, particularly in today's world.

I want them to succeed, and I hope this business model becomes more mainstream.

With that said, so far the reviews written at the Better Business Bureau haven't been so kind. Currently, there are 118 total Getaround complaints filed with the BBB and 81 of those have been closed in the last 12 months. 

So, with a platform like Getaround and the business model they are in many ways pioneering, you can probably foresee a few potential challenges.

Getaround cannot be an easy business to build and manage. 

Here are few of the complaints you'll find at the BBB website which highlight some of the challenges Getaround and it's vehicle owners have and I'll say again… I admire what they are doing and I believe carsharing in this way is a worthy (if not necessary) venture. But I'm also glad I'm not in the position of solving many of these challenges because they're probably not easy to solve. 

In defense of Getaround, it seems they are working hard to resolve these complaints and that says a lot for their commitment not only to the company's success… but to their contribution to the sharing economy in general.

Most of the complaints listed, if not all complaints (unless I missed some) have been responded to and many have been resolved. 

Reviews on SiteJabber

Many Getaround users have also left reviews and complaints on SiteJabber.

The positive reviews I found on SiteJabber said that they had good experiences with Getaround, and only encountered problems when their car got into an accident.

The negative reviews said that Getaround’s customer service was not very helpful. There’s also the issue of renters not reporting damages made on the vehicles.

Unlike most of the BBB complaints which were from people with vehicles, the complaints I found on SiteJabber came from both car owners and renters. I'll also say, at this time the reviews at SiteJabber are not good and you may have already read some of them. Unfortunately it doesn't look like anyone from Getaround has responded to those complaints. 

Reviews on Trustpilot

Trustpilot also has some Getaround reviews from car owners and renters, and unfortunately they are similar to the others I've read. Some have even called them a scam, which is of course not true. They are a legitimate business but it's possible the logistics of this business model is simply too overwhelming. 

As I mentioned earlier, I wouldn't want to try and solve them. I believe in what they're trying to do but cars are expensive and the potential for problems here is significant. 

Having said that… the pros I found on Trustpilot included earning money through car sharing and having security features that are amazing.

The common complaint though seems to be Getaround’s customer service.

In my opinion, it seems as though Getaround’s overall design has some flaws. They’re getting a lot of bad reviews (from both car owners and renters) and while I'd usually say there's two sides to a story and every company has some complaints about it, there's a lot to unpack here when you start digging into what others are saying. 

What I Like About Getaround

• I like Getaround’s concept of car sharing and I believe we're just at the cusp of a shift towards a sharing economy (also referred to as the third industrial revolution). I think younger generations will recognize not only the benefits but the necessity.
• Getaround is a money-making opportunity and not just any money making opportunity. For the most part this is passive income. You can earn extra money during the day while you're at work or on a weekend while you're hanging out at home with your family.
• They have great security features (I like their GPS locator and engine-lock features the most).
• They’re using high-end technology such as keyless entry. 

What I Don't Like

• I don’t like that Getaround seems to have a significant number of customer service complaints.
• It’s disappointing that they have lots of complaints in general (from both car owners and renters alike).
• I think it’s still risky to rent out cars to strangers even with Getaround’s security measures (I read reports of damages to vehicles and complaints about irresponsible renters).

Where Do You Go From Here?

I'll say it again. I love what Getaround is doing. It's good for individuals to make extra money and it's important to the environment and management of our global resources. 

I wonder though if it's still a little ahead of it's time. As the sharing economy grows and quite possibly becomes the norm, a culture of respect for things we share may develop. At this time, we not be there… but that's just my opinion. I'd like us to get there. 

So anyway, now that you know what Getaround is and how it works, you can hopefully make a more informed decision whether to turn your car into an asset and make money with them. 

It’s good to know that Getaround is a legit car sharing platform, but you should also know the risks involved. I hope this review helped you weigh the pros and cons of joining Getaround to rent out your vehicle(s).

I’m particularly concerned about the reviews of car owners having their vehicles damaged (and not getting any help from Getaround’s customer service). These likely isolated incidents but the potential for it to happen exists. 

Having said that, a HUGE positive here is that the money you make with Getaround is pretty much passive income. Unlike Uber where you're committing your time as well (being a driver), with Getaround you can earn that money while you're working your day job or doing your hobby. 

You can also be making money with Getaround while doing other side hustles. 

You might be a student in school or a single parent at home with a vehicle that sits most of the day. You may have health challenges that make regular work difficult, or maybe you just hate your job (you're not alone).

If that's the case, an online business is what you want. 

With all the scams and schemes out there though, knowing how and where to get started the right way is what you need in order to get what you want. 

Now, I'm going to give you a free step by step beginner's guide to making money online and you can get it by Clicking Here

You can also earn a few extra bucks while you're car is being rented with things like online survey and get-paid-to sites. 

Sites like these won't make you rich but Survey Junkie for example will pay you for your opinion and Swag Bucks offers rewards for doing things like watching videos, visiting websites and searching the web.  

It's NOT a lot of money, but a little here and there (in addition to your Getaround money) can add up and possibly help you pay off some debts and open up other opportunities. 

I hope my Getaround review has been helpful and if you have any comments, questions, or experience with Getaround, please share in the comments section below.