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CarShare Cost Comparisons

How does carsharing stack up against other modes of transportation, including owning your own personal vehicle? Check out the cost comparisons below to see how joining Community CarShare can save you money.

Compare CarShare to: your personal vehicle
How much does your car really cost?

The Canadian Automobile Association estimates it costs around $10,000 per year to keep an average car on the road. If you drive less than about 12,000 kms per year, you can save money by joining CarShare and giving up your car.

To determine the full cost of owning your car you need to consider:
  • purchase cost
  • depreciation
  • financing charges
  • insurance
  • vehicle registration
  • regular maintenance
  • tires & major repairs
  • roadside assistance plans
  • fuel
  • parking

When you add it all up, using a CarShare vehicle for your occasional car needs can save you thousands of dollars per year, particularly if you have a second vehicle that get used less than your primary car. Many families use Community CarShare when they need access to a second vehicle, and then don’t have to pay for a car that spends most of its time parked. When you join Community CarShare, your car costs are significantly reduced.

Compare CarShare to: taxi

Whether you’re doing short trips around town, or going longer distances, using CarShare instead of a taxi means spending less money to get where you need to go, and you have the convenience of being able to go where you want, when you want.

Sample Weekend Trip

  • Destination: the hardware store
  • Trip time: 3 hours
  • Trip distance: 15 kms round trip
CarShare Taxi
3 weekend hours $5 x 3 hours = $15 -
Initial meter fare - $3.40 x 2 trips = $6.80
15 kms $0.30 x 15 kms = $4.50 $1.80 x 15 kms = $27
Total $19.50 $33.40
Cost Savings $13.90 -

Sample Weekday Trip

  • Destination: day-long off-site work appointment
  • Trip time: 10 hours
  • Trip distance: 40 kms round trip
CarShare Taxi
10 weekday hours $20 workday rate -
Initial meter fare - $3.40 x 2 trips = $6.80
40 kms $0.30 x 40 kms = $12.00 $1.80 x 40 kms = $72
Total $32 $78.40
Cost Savings $46.40 -

Compare CarShare to: renting

Even when you’re making longer trips, CarShare is the way to go. Gas and insurance are already included in your CarShare rates, and there’s no extra hassle of having to go to the rental office and fill out paperwork. Reserve your CarShare vehicle online or by phone, and pick it up when it’s convenient for you, not when it’s convenient for the rental agency.

Sample Weekend Trip

  • Destination: Toronto
  • Trip time: 1 day
  • Trip distance: 200 kms round trip
CarShare Rental Agency
1 day $40 $29
200 kms $0.30 x 200 kms = $60 200 free
License Fee - $4
Insurance Included $30
Gas Included 30L x $1.30 = $39
Total $100 $102
Savings $2, and less hassle! -

Sample Weekday Trip

  • Destination: Pittsburgh
  • Trip time: 3 days
  • Trip distance: 1000 kms round trip
CarShare Rental Agency
3 days $30 x 3 days = $90 $32 x 3 days = $96
1100 kms $0.30 x 1000 kms = $300 600 free, 400 x $0.20 = $80
License Fee - $4
Insurance Included $30 x 3 days = $90
Gas Included 100L x $1.30 = $130
Total $390 $400
Savings $10, and less hassle! -