Here Is Why Car Sharing Is Not For You!

If your budget doesn’t allow to own a car, but you still have petrol coursing through your veins, then chances are you’ve entertained, or even already have an account with, one of the many car-sharing service providers in Singapore. These firms promise the convenience of having your own car, but without the hefty price tag associated with keeping one on the road. Whilst there are valid arguments for using such services (think the environment, and typically lower charges than a Grab ride of a similar distance), we believe that it may not be for everyone. Here’s why!

Photo: BlueSG

Owning your own ride may be a realistic proposition if you’re a heavy car-share user; it is not unheard of in this use case for one to spend upwards of $800 a month on said services. With a small top-up, especially considering you are already spending close to $1,000 monthly, can net you a cheap COE car, and have enough left over to keep it on the road. The latter also makes more sense in the long run, as you are working towards purchasing a tangible asset, rather than just paying for your daily commute, which would be the case if you relied on car sharing!

A car is for convenience, and convenient car-sharing is not. You cannot return a car willy-nilly and are at the mercy of the operators. Should there not be a pick-up/return station at either your origin or destination, you’ll have to seek other means of transport to access the cars, which can really negate any benefits that the service brings about. Some companies also require you to return cars to the stations in which you picked up the car from, which further exacerbates the issue!

There’s an emotional connection to your ride, even if it may just be an older COE car nearing its lifespan expiry. Sure, in this instance the newer cars offered by car-sharing companies may be better in every measurable way, but you do not have the aforementioned feelings for a car purchased by a rental company for the sole purpose of profit generation.

Put it simply, there’s a sense of satisfaction in keeping your pride and joy on the road, and that is definitely part of the car ownership experience!

Rental cars can get pretty dirty. These cars may not be cleaned all that regularly, resulting in a gradual build-up of dirt and grime that may attract pests. Plus, your skin is in constant contact with the steering wheel and the seats, and that may be a huge no-go if you’re a stickler for hygiene. Couple that, with the aforementioned points, your own car would definitely make more sense!

In summary, there’s a time and a place in society for car sharing. If all the stars in your life align, and you have stations conveniently located where you work and live, and you happen to work in an office 9-5 job, then yes, in that use case car sharing makes a whole load of sense. You still get the benefits of having a car, but without having to fork out huge sums of cash to pay for season parking at your office. If however you aren’t so desk-bound, chances are that these services really do not add that much value to your daily commute. Grab definitely saves the day here, but if you’re spending hundreds of dollars a month on transport, you might as well add a couple hundred more and get a car of your own yes?

Credits: Jek Ray Low