Behind the Wheel:

Need a car? Or want to rent out yours?

Check out this new car-sharing platform

Launched in June 2019, Drive lah is a new peer-to-peer car sharing platform that offers affordable rentals and a way for car owners to make the most of their vehicles – a bit like Airbnb for cars. It’s win-win: car owners and renters are happy – plus, it’s environmentally friendly! We take a look at how it works on both sides of the coin.

If you’re a car renter

As someone looking to rent, you can choose from different cars within your surrounding neighbourhood. The vehicles are well-maintained and range across a wide variety of models. (Imagine driving a different one every day!) You have the opportunity to find a car conveniently in your neighbourhood and, best of all, you’ll be able to hire the car at 30 to 40 percent less than you would at a traditional rental company or car sharing platform. This is possible as car owners see it as an option to make money when they’re not using their cars. So, extra costs such as depreciation, maintenance and road tax are taken care of by the owners, rather than being passed on to you.

If you’re a car sharer

By listing your car, you can turn its otherwise idle time into a source of additional income. You’ll just need to submit your car details and wait for bookings to come in. As a car sharer, you are in full control of how much you charge, your car’s availability and the accepting or declining of bookings. Also, your vehicle will be fully covered by Tokio Marine Insurance (personal car insurance and No-Claim Discount will not be affected). Within three to five days of the booking, the payment will be sent directly to your bank account. You also won’t need to worry as the company screens all members’ names, contact details, NRIC and driving license validity. Plus, you can read reviews of the past trips taken by potential renters.