Carsharing: the 6 best apps for Android and iOS
Carsharing is becoming more and more popular, and so are carsharing apps booming. In this practical tip, we present five of the best apps that are available free of charge for both Android and iOS.
Car sharing via Flinkster app and the Deutsche Bahn
With the Flinkster app of the Deutsche Bahn you can rent a car, which is usually parked near the train station. If you travel often by train, the cars have a small "location advantage".
- After downloading the app, a customer and card number is requested. The app is therefore only accessible to existing customers. This is not a problem at first, because the app can still be tested using the "Try it out" function. You can use this to perform a small search and get a feel for the Flinkster app. If you have found the right car, the app will navigate you to the desired vehicle thanks to a route. This is convenient because you can find the car quickly in this way.
- Since the app is mainly aimed at registered users, you should register first. However, this cannot be done with the app alone, you have to do this on the homepage. You must also have your driver's license legitimized on site. After that, you have a variety of cars available that can be booked quickly and easily. Once you have clicked, the bookings can also be changed or even canceled via the app.
- Conclusion: The Flinkster app is ideal for anyone looking for a car near the train station. Spontaneously, however, nothing can be booked here, since registration turns out to be a complex undertaking.
Rent cars with the car2go app
The car2go app offers access to all car rental locations worldwide.
- You can use the app without registration and find a map with the nearest locations. You will be guided to the next vehicle by route and can choose a car. Click on the vehicle to see how far away it is and how full the tank is. If you tap on the respective car, you can reserve it directly in the app.
- The app can be used without registration, but anyone who registers with car2go can benefit from a lot of additional information. For example, logged-in users can see which travel costs you incur with your trip and which reservations are still pending, can be canceled or changed. Incidentally, registration also works via the app.
- Conclusion: car2go is quite clear with its app and combines many practical functions that you already know from the homepage. Another special feature is that you can already use some functions of the app without registering.
DriveNow for BMWs and Minis
With the DriveNow app you can rent a BMW or Mini and drive through a selected city. There are no fixed stations here.
- You do not have to register to use the app. You can already see where the vehicles are without logging in. Various settings can also be defined with a filter. For example, you can determine the vehicle selection in advance and only search for selected cars.
- The cars can be reserved directly in the app and the app also provides plenty of information for the journey. For example, you can see how full the tank is and where the nearest petrol stations or charging stations for electric cars are located. Use the app to reserve a car and then have 15 minutes to find the next vehicle. A route description will help you.
- Conclusion: The DriveNow app is ideal for anyone who needs a car quickly and spontaneously. Since there are no fixed stations, the cars can also be found somewhat outside the city.
Rent and rate cars via cambio carsharing
The Cambio Carsharing app allows you to book a vehicle in your area around the clock. The following functions are possible with the app:
- The app is available in different languages, so you first choose the target language and the respective country. In order to refine the search, the area can be narrowed down using car license plates. If the right region is found, a login is required to use the app. Registration is only possible on the homepage.
- If you are registered as a customer and have logged in, the app offers you various extras. For example, you can determine the cost of travel by car. It is also practical that you can assess the condition of a vehicle. But you can also see from other reviews in what condition your rental car is. If you have any problems, you can reach the telephone booking service at the push of a button.
- Conclusion: The app from cambio Carsharing is practical and can also be used abroad. However, the offer is apparently aimed primarily at existing customers - registration must be made on the homepage. This is only free in the "Young People Tariff" for under 30 year olds. However, the evaluation function and the telephone service were particularly positive.
App Book-n-Drive with practical area search
The Book-n-Drive app provides an overview of the possible bookings.
- You can use the Book-n-Drive app without logging in and you will first see a map that shows you the available cars. Practical is the radius with which you can search for rental cars in your area. Here you can, for example, vary the start and end time and determine a car class.
- Once the right car has been found, a route description leads you to the next station. In addition, the app provides you with detailed information about the booked station and the vehicle.
- Conclusion: The Book-n-Drive app lives up to your name, because the car can be booked quickly and easily, so that nothing stands in the way of driving pleasure. Various parameters allow you to search for your desired model in close proximity via the app.
Urbi combines all the offers of car sharing
If you don't know which offer is best for your area, you can use Urbi. The app shows you which car sharing offers are in your area.
- With the app you can see numerous car sharing offers at a glance. You do not have to register with the individual platforms and can easily check where the next car or scooter is. The following providers are included in Germany: car2go, Drivenow and Emio, Multicity, Scoome and Jaano (exclusively in Hamburg) and bike sharing for the cities of Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich and Cologne as well as Stuttgart, Hamburg and Düsseldorf.
- Once the right vehicle has been found, process the offer as usual via the respective provider. The app is therefore particularly suitable for all those who use multiple platforms or would like to look ahead where registration is worthwhile. You can also set an alarm for certain providers or have the next possible vehicle displayed on a map.
- Conclusion: The app combines a variety of providers, so that you have a quick overview of the vehicles that are in your area. This is not only practical, it also saves time - especially when you are in a hurry.
