Car sharing options in Singapore

Singaporeans would unanimously agree that buying a car is one of the most expensive financial endeavours.
With cars priced at six-figure digits, owning one easily sets you back by a few years (sometimes, a decade) in your pursuit for financial freedom.
Luckily, the recent rise of car sharing platforms in Singapore has given us a viable option to enjoy the advantage of car ownership without the financial obligation that almost always comes attached.
Company | Fleet size/Car sharing stations | Rental fee | Subscription fee + commitment period | Petrol | Driver Age |
Tribe Car |
Fleet size: 350 Number of car sharing stations: 350+ |
Super off-peak: $4.28 per hour |
NA |
Pay per use Note: You will have to top up fuel and return fuel at any level so long as the fuel light does not come up. If the next hirer reports that the fuel light comes up, Tribe Car will deduct $20-$50 from your account |
Between age 23 and 65 Drivers below 23 will be subjected to additional security deposit and 30 per cent surcharge for booking |
Car Club |
Fleet size: 280 Number of car sharing stations: 110+ |
Basic plan
Value plan
|
Membership fee: $10.70 per month Registration fee: $100 Commitment period
|
Fuel included in fees Fuel can be topped up for free using Esso Speedpass attached to the vehicle key Note: User needs to return the vehicle with at least ¼ tank fuel |
At least age 22 onwards |
BlueSG |
Fleet size: 530 Number of car sharing stations: 325 |
$0.33 per minute Premium plan comes with free 45 minutes’ drive per month |
Subscription fee
Commitment period
|
NA BlueSG uses electricity |
At least aged 21 |
WhizzCar | Number of car sharing stations: 50+ |
Extra Value plan:
Whizz-Ezzy plan:
|
Subscription fee
Commitment period
To attain the Extra Value membership, you will need a minimum usage charge of $60 per month |
Fuel included in fees User has to refuel at any Esso petrol station using the Speedpass attached to the key Note: Petrol level needs to be above ½ tank when returned |
Between age 21 and 68 |
Car Lite | NA |
Weekday (12am to 5pm): $1-$2 for every 15 minutes; $60-$83 per day Other timings: $1.60 - $2.80 for every 15 minutes; $80-$110 per day Late charges: $10 for every 15 minutes |
NA |
Pay per use Note: Petrol level must be above ¼ tank when returned |
Above age 22 For drivers less than 22 years of age and/or 2 years of driving experience, additional security deposit is required |
While price is the primary factor that most people consider when using car sharing services, it isn’t the only one. There are other watchouts that need to be considered before making an informed decision.
We’ve listed these out for you to take note of:
The fees for car sharing services are fairly reasonable at a few dollars an hour. However, there’s the ‘hidden cost’ of a safety deposit that you’d need to place with the car sharing company.
While the safety deposit is fully refundable upon cancellation of membership, it is an upfront cost that you need to consider.
Company | Tribe Car | Car Club | BlueSG | WhizzCar | Car Lite |
Safety Deposit |
$100 $200 for drivers below age 23 |
$100 for Singaporean/PR $200 for foreigner |
– |
$100 for Standard, Extra Value membership $200 for drivers below age 23 |
$100 $200 for drivers below age 22 and/or 2 years driving experience |
Another set of hidden costs of car rental could be miscellaneous fees like ERP, parking and petrol. Some (or all) of these fees have to be borne by you, depending on the car sharing platform you are renting from.
And if you happen to be renting quite often, you could rake up a few hundreds of dollars from these miscellaneous fees alone.
So, make sure you do your math before you decide to make your next car reservation on any car sharing platform.
The reason you want to use a car sharing service is because you want the convenience of having a car to drive around in. That’s why location and accessibility of the rental car’s location is important.
It doesn’t make much of an economic sense if you end up having to take public transport or Grab to a faraway car station, just because you want to save on rental fees.
So, before you rent a car, make sure to check where the nearest car station is located from your home.
Nobody sets out to be late. But we’re only human. Therefore, it is prudent to account for the financial penalties that will be charged to you when you are late in returning your rental car to the car station.
Once you’ve done all these important calculations and decided that car sharing is indeed the right option for you, the next step is to go ahead and rent a car (of course).
Now, most car sharing platforms follow a 5-step rental process:
Car sharing is a smart option for those who don’t drive often. It lets you enjoy the flexibility and convenience of a private car while helping you avoid owning a depreciating asset, thereby bringing you one step closer to financial freedom.
This article was first published in SingSaver.com.sg.