Getaround is a peer-to-peer car sharing platform that enables instant, keyless access to nearby vehicles for hourly or daily rentals. Using proprietary hardware installed in listed vehicles, users can unlock cars directly from the app without meeting the owner. The company expanded significantly by acquiring Drivy, Europe's largest P2P car sharing platform, in 2019.
Getaround differentiates from Turo through its instant booking and keyless access technology, targeting shorter-duration urban trips rather than multi-day vacation rentals. The company went public via SPAC in 2022 but has faced financial challenges, pulling back from unprofitable markets to focus on core cities.
Larger vehicle selection and broader geographic coverage. Focused on multi-day rentals. Does not require hardware installation in listed vehicles.
Owns and maintains its fleet for consistent quality. Strong university and corporate programs. Higher fixed costs but more predictable availability.
No driving required — ride-hail serves many of the same short urban trips. Higher per-trip cost but zero parking and responsibility hassle.
Targets enterprise and university accounts with professionally maintained fleet vehicles. Less convenient for spontaneous personal use.
Getaround's proprietary Connect hardware enables instant booking without owner coordination. This is a genuine technical moat — but hardware installation requirements limit supply growth compared to Turo's software-only model.
Getaround has exited multiple markets to reduce losses, shrinking its coverage footprint. Each market exit reduces network effects and makes it harder to compete with Turo's broader availability.
The Drivy acquisition gave Getaround a strong European presence. European car sharing regulation is more favorable than the US, potentially providing a growth runway even as US markets contract.
Getaround competes with Turo (P2P multi-day rentals), Zipcar (fleet-based hourly sharing), and ride-hail services like Uber and Lyft for short urban trips.
Getaround focuses on instant, keyless hourly access — no owner meeting required. Turo has a larger selection and is better for multi-day rentals but usually requires coordinating a key handoff with the owner.
Yes, Getaround's Connect device must be installed in listed vehicles to enable keyless access. This is free for hosts but adds a step to listing that Turo does not require.
Yes, Getaround acquired Drivy in 2019 and operates in multiple European countries including France, Germany, and the UK. European markets represent a significant portion of its total bookings.