RelayRides

Hi all. I am going on two trips this summer, so I started to look for rental cars the other day, and the rates were so high. Bit then I found this new, “peer-to-peer” rental service, RelayRides. Anyone can rent out their car. I guess it’s kind of like Uber but longer-term, and just the car, no driver. The company screens drivers and provides insurance (you can buy at different levels, just like other re tal companies, or waive coverage). The car owners will often meet you at the airport, sometimes for free or for a small charge.

I ended up renting a Prius for our week in Denver, and a little Fiat for my conference in San Diego. Both much cheaper than the companies. Even Firefly doesn’t seem to have the great rates they had when starting out.

I love this! You can browse the cars, and pick what you like, and the price you like. You don’t pick a category and get what they have (or likely a switch to something you don’t even want, like a bigger gas-guzzler, as some of the companies tend to do). There were a few cars for under $20/day, even, in noth San Diego and Denver. I could’ve rented a Tesla model S in San Diego for $145/day. There are electric vehicles, hybrids, older cars, even vans and pickups. (I have no financial interest in this, I know this sounds like a commercial post but I just really like the service and wanted to share.)

Anyone else try this service yet?

I’ve never heard of it but would be interested in trying it. I can usually get good rental prices thru Costco, but rentals in Denver are always high. Thanks for the tip.

My son and his girlfriend used Relayrides on vacation in Seattle last year and loved it! Being under 25, it was way more cost effective than using a traditional car rental service.

So if the car meets you at the airport, are you still avoiding those airport taxes?