Always wanted to know what car sharing in Singapore is like? Here's how this family gets around Singapore conveniently on four wheels, without burning a hole in their pocket.
Fact: owning a car in Singapore is expensive. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’ll never own one, and that’s totally OK. My reasons? While I understand the undeniable convenience of owning a car, there’s the exorbitant cost of the COE (Certificate of Entitlement) to consider, along with the cost of the car, insurance, road tax, ERP (Electronic Road Pricing), petrol, parking, maintenance… My head’s already spinning just thinking about it.
As efficient as our public transport system is, it can be tough traveling with young kids who find it hard to sit still for long periods, may be cranky, or just can’t handle the commute that can take anywhere between 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. So with two young kids in tow, how does one get around in Singapore conveniently without raking up taxi or private hire transport fees? I’m here to talk about one of my favourite ways of zipping around town in a jiffy without breaking the bank: car sharing. Plus, it’s more eco-friendly! Here are three car sharing services I often use and love!
Review: Three tried-and-tested car sharing services in Singapore
GetGo
Best for: quick errands in the neighbourhood or half-day outings
GetGo is a car sharing app that has no subscription fees and charges as little as $3 per hour and $0.39/km of mileage depending on the car category and whether you’re booking during a peak or off-peak period. It’s easy to sign up, get verified, find a car near you and unlock your first ride – just do it all through the app. My kids go to school about 10 minutes from home, and while it’s usually an easy walkable distance, we’re in a pickle when it rains cats and dogs. So I find it especially convenient to book a GetGo for an hour, do the quick school pickup in under 20 minutes and still have lots of time to spare for nearby errands like popping to the grocery store or picking up a cheeky bubble tea.
What I love about GetGo is how well maintained the cars usually are. My top pick is the Ssangyong Tivoli, which is available at my nearest carpark and is often kept very clean (even has the ‘new car’ smell!). Depending on your location, the cars available will vary. You can even rent luxury cars (think BMW 528i, Lexus RX300 and Mercedes Benz C180) but they’re not widely available and will depend on location. Do note that when renting from GetGo, you will have to return the car to the parking lot you rented the car from. Plus, as they charge a mileage fee, the cost adds up the further you drive. If petrol runs low, just head to the nearest petrol station and get a top up with the fuel card that’s included.
BlueSG
Best for: Getting from point to point
BlueSG is my top pick for getting from point-to-point, or running errands within a two or three-hour window. A 30-minute drive in one of their electric cars costs just $10.80, thanks to their competitive pricing of $0.36/min. They also sometimes offer weekday promotions which allow you to book the car for two hours, for just $16.80! Longer rental packages are available too. The best part? No petrol needed!
How it works: sign up through the app, wait to get verified in under 48 hours, find a BlueSG car near you and start renting from the app. To end your rental, just look for a carpark you’d like to park at (doesn’t have to be the same carpark you started from) and reserve a parking lot – parking reservations last 45 minutes, just long enough for you to get to the carpark and end your rental. BlueSG does charge a monthly subscription fee: $8 for the Basic plan, and $18 for the Premium plan, which entitles you to 40 minutes of free driving time every month.
Tribecar
Best for: All-day drives
Need the car all day at an affordable rate? That’s what Tribecar is for. You could rent a Tribecar by the hour for as little as $0.55/h depending on the car type and timing, or spring for a full-day rental from $65.40 for 24 hours. Tribecar also offers multiple vehicle types (even motorbikes and vans!), which are not often readily available by other car sharing services. I remember booking a van via Tribecar during those early newlywed days and taking matters into our own hands for our first big house move… But I digress.
While Tribecar is very affordable as far as full-day car rentals go, the cars available are usually much older. So don’t expect any fancy new models. Plus, some cars include fuel in your booking, while other cars will require the driver to bear the cost of petrol. Tribecar also requires you to put down a $100 deposit before your first rental. The deposit will be refunded to you if you close your account.
Top tips for car sharing in Singapore
- Bring your own cashcard and remember to remove it from the IU before you end your rental.
- Bring car seats for the kids. To ensure we adhere to proper car safety, we always have the Urban Kanga car seat and Mifold booster seat with us so the kids not only sit still, but are also sufficiently protected while we get around.
- Keep the interior clean and take any rubbish along with you. It helps make the car sharing experience pleasant for everyone!
- Get clued up on insurance. Each car sharing service has their own set of terms and conditions, so make sure you’re aware of what it would entail if you (touch wood!) get into an accident.
- Be prepared for glitches. Recently, BlueSG was in the spotlight for errant charges to users related to the glitches their app was facing. There have also been past anecdotal cases of users booking GetGo cars in advance only to find them cancelled at the last minute due to faulty vehicles or overbooking. So do keep these in mind when you’re planning to book a car sharing service and always have a Plan B.
In short, there’s no ‘best’ or ‘cheapest’ car sharing app out there, as each service has its pros and cons. My family and I are so grateful that we have these various options at our disposal, and hope they continue to be around so those of us who aren’t ready to commit to owning our own cars can book a car on demand with ease. Plus who can argue with contributing lesser carbon emissions to the environment?
Have you tried other car sharing services like Drive lah, Shariot or Car Lite? Drop me an email if you’d like to share your experience!
