Getaround: Choosing a Car, Reading the Protection Options and Avoiding Trip Fees

Getaround is a car-sharing platform: private owners and professional fleets list their cars, and renters book them by the hour or day through the Getaround app. Many Getaround cars are unlocked with the phone, with no key handover. The company has reshaped its markets in recent years and now concentrates on Europe, so check which cities Getaround currently serves in your country before planning a trip around it.

A Getaround booking goes well when you pick the right car, understand what protection covers, and return it exactly as the listing asks.

How a Getaround booking works

You create an account, verify your identity and driving licence, and are approved to drive. Getaround sets minimum age and licence-history requirements, which can vary by country and by car, so check them before counting on a rental.

You search by location and time, choose a car, and book. Some Getaround cars are instant-book; others need the owner to accept. Instant-book listings are more reliable for a trip that matters.

Getaround Connect cars unlock through the app. Others involve meeting the owner for keys. The listing states which, and a keyless car is easier for early starts and late returns.

Choosing the right Getaround car

Read the listing, not just the photo. Each Getaround listing states the pick-up location, the mileage or distance allowance, fuel or charging rules, and any restrictions such as no pets or no smoking.

Check the distance allowance against your route. A cheap Getaround hourly rate with a small daily allowance can cost more than a pricier car once excess distance is charged.

Look at reviews of the specific car and host. Comments about cleanliness, punctuality and how the host handled problems tell you more than the star rating. For an electric Getaround car, confirm the charging arrangements and the charge level expected on return.

Protection and insurance

Getaround bookings include insurance cover set out in the platform's terms, with options to reduce your excess or deductible by paying more per trip. The right choice depends on how much you could afford to pay if something went wrong.

Read what the Getaround protection option covers and excludes. Tyres, windscreens, interior damage and driving on unpaved roads are common exclusions on car-sharing platforms. Your own car insurance or a credit card may or may not extend to Getaround trips; check with them, do not assume.

Take photos of the car before you drive, inside and out, through the app's check-in if it asks for them. Those photos are your evidence if the next Getaround renter reports damage you did not cause.

Fees that catch Getaround renters out

The Getaround price at booking includes the rental and platform fees, but several charges only appear if something goes wrong. Late returns, low fuel or charge, excess distance, cleaning, smoking, and parking or traffic fines all carry charges set by the Getaround terms and the host.

Return early rather than on the minute. If a trip will run over, extend it in the app before it ends; an extension is usually cheaper than a late fee, and the next Getaround renter may be waiting.

Fines incurred during your trip are passed to you, often with an administration fee. Pay parking properly and keep receipts.

Returning the car cleanly

Park where the listing says, fuel or charge to the level required, remove your rubbish, and lock the car through the app. Take photos again, including the fuel gauge or charge level and the dashboard mileage.

Check that the Getaround app confirms the trip has ended. A trip left open because the car did not lock properly can keep running.

If you had a problem during the trip, such as a warning light, a flat tyre or a car that was not where the listing said, report it through Getaround support straight away, with photos. A report made during the trip carries far more weight than a complaint raised after the invoice arrives.

Where the Getaround savings are

The 20% code is the best general discount and suits a longer Getaround booking, where a percentage grows with the trip. Test it first.

The $20 new-user code only applies to a first booking. It beats 20% off on any trip priced under $100, so use it for a short first rental.

Several Getaround codes were issued for particular markets and currencies. If a code is refused, it may not be valid where you are booking; the 10% code is the fallback. Codes normally apply to the rental portion, not to protection or fees.

Common questions

Where does Getaround operate now?

Getaround now focuses on European markets. Check the Getaround app for the cities served in your country.

Is insurance included with Getaround?

Cover is included under the Getaround terms, with paid options to reduce the excess. Read what each option excludes.

What happens if I return a Getaround car late?

A late fee applies. Extend the trip in the app before it ends instead.

Can I use more than one Getaround code on a trip?

Usually only one. Try each and keep the lower total.