Are car subscriptions cheaper?

Car subscriptions can be cheaper than renting a car. A car subscription ranges from $200 to $3,500 or more per month. Plus, many services ask for a down payment, activation fee, or deposit. Rental cars, on the other hand, often charge per day which can get expensive depending on how long you need the vehicle. Additionally, while car subscriptions may be less expensive for a short time, buying a car is likely cheaper if you need a vehicle long term.

Which car manufacturers offer car subscriptions?

Several automobile manufacturers offer car subscriptions. This includes Tesla, Porsche, BMW, Cadillac, and Audi.

Does a car subscription include fuel?

No, car subscriptions do not cover the cost of fuel. Instead, they include things like maintenance and roadside assistance. In addition to being individually responsible for fuel, drivers are sometimes required to fill the gas tank before returning the vehicle.

Does it make sense to go for a car subscription rather than buying?

A car subscription is worth it if you need a quick or temporary solution. Or if you want to splurge a bit on a vehicle before committing to a longer-term loan or lease. However, in many cases, the hefty price tag isn’t feasible for an extended period. In short, you sacrifice value to get a convenient, no-hassle new or like-new vehicle for a limited time.

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Personal Finance

Best Car Subscription Services

Hertz My Car is our top pick due to its generous monthly mileage allowance

By Jessica Elliott

Updated August 22, 2023

Reviewed by Pamela Rodriguez

Fact checked by

Matthew M Klammer

A car subscription service provides consumers with a vehicle in exchange for a monthly fee. Vehicle subscriptions often include registration, maintenance, 24/7 roadside assistance, and liability insurance. Unlike a lease, which requires a two- to four-year commitment, you can subscribe to a car service for one month, six months, or a year. Plus, you can swap out your car for a new one every month.

To find the best car subscription services, we combed through the details of 20 companies. We evaluated them based on monthly pricing, types of fees and add-on costs, and the benefits included with each plan. Furthermore, we looked at the availability of mobile apps, ease of swapping cars, the selection of car brands, and areas served.

The Best Car Subscription Services of 2024

Best Overall: Hertz My Car
Best for High Monthly Miles: Subscribe With Enterprise
Best Sports Car Subscription: Porsche Drive
Best for Getting a Car Fast: Sixt+

Best Overall : Hertz My Car

Enrollment Fee: $250
Availability: Nationwide
Key Features: Exchange your car up to twice a month

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Why We Chose It

Hertz My Car is our top pick as the best overall car subscription service because it provides a generous monthly mileage allotment, an excellent selection of cars, and plenty of locations throughout the U.S.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Can exchange cars up to twice a month for free
An additional driver is free
Includes insurance

Cons

Two-month minimum contract
$250 enrollment fee

Overview

For more than 100 years, Hertz has supplied drivers with rental cars. Now, with Hertz My Car, you can avoid the hassle of renting and enjoy a different ride every couple of weeks nationwide. Hertz My Car offers nearly every brand, make, and model of vehicle. The company stands out by allowing an additional driver at no extra charge, and some locations will pick you up to get your new car. With every subscription you get:

2,000 monthly miles
Liability insurance coverage
24/7/365 roadside assistance
Full maintenance
Loss damage waiver
Gold Plus Rewards of one point per $1 spent

The process is pretty simple. First, join the free rewards program, then click on your preferred vehicle category, such as SUVs, trucks, or sedans. Within 48 hours, Hertz will call to confirm your subscription and schedule your first pickup. The following plans don’t include tax or a one-time, non-refundable enrollment fee of $250. There may be an additional monthly surcharge fee in New York, California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Hawaii. Plus, there is a two-month minimum monthly contract required. The subscription packages consist of:

Tier 1: $599 per month for economy, compact, and mid-size cars, such as Chevy Spark, Mazda3, and Ford Focus
Tier 1 with loss damage waiver: $699 per month for Tier 1 with a loss damage waiver to protect drivers from unexpected costs
Tier 2: $999 per month for small trucks and SUVs and full-size sedans, like Volkswagen Tiguan, Toyota Tacoma, and Nissan Altima
Tier 3: $1,399 per month for regular-sized SUVs, large trucks, and luxury sedans, including Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ford F-150, and Cadillac CTS

Additional fees may include:

$0.35 per excess mile over the 2,000-mile monthly limit
$5 per gallon charge if you don’t return the vehicle with a full tank of gas
If you exchange your car more than twice a month, it’s $75 each time
When you pick up your vehicle, you can add car seats for an extra fee determined by location

Best for High Monthly Miles : Subscribe With Enterprise

Enrollment Fee: $250
Availability: 3 states
Key Features: Get 3,000 miles per month or roll over miles to the next month

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Why We Chose It

Subscribe With Enterprise is the only provider offering an incredible 3,000 miles per month, and you can roll them over to take a big trip without paying extra fees. This makes it our pick as the best car subscription service for high monthly miles.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Swap your car up to four times per month
Unused miles roll over
If you cancel, they prorate your bill

Cons

Two-month minimum contract
Only available in Minnesota, Nevada, and Missouri
A $250 enrollment fee

Overview

Since 1957, Enterprise has rented cars to consumers and business owners. You can now pay a flat rate and drive a new car every week with Enterprise’s car subscription service. Enterprise also offers an excellent selection of vehicles and high-mileage coverage.

Subscribe With Enterprise is the only car subscription service that lets you swap out vehicles up to four times per month. Every subscription includes:

3,000 rollover miles per month
Physical damage protection
Liability insurance coverage
Vehicle maintenance
Sirius XM radio available

Your subscription allows you and your spouse or domestic partner to drive the vehicle. Enrolling is simple, just fill out the online application, and within three days, you’ll get a customer subscriber number to call to make a vehicle reservation. You can choose from a wide variety of cars, such as:

Full-Size and Premium Sedans: Nissan Altima, Chevy Impala, Toyota Camry, Chrysler 300, or similar
Compact, Intermediate, and Standard SUVs: Ford EcoSport, Hyundai Kona, Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Pathfinder, or similar
Standard and Full-Size Pickup Trucks: Chevy Colorado, Nissan Frontier, Dodge Ram 1500, Ford F150, or similar

Enterprise uses a flat-rate subscription plan with a minimum two-month commitment. It costs $250 to enroll, then $1,499 per month plus taxes and fees. If you go over your mileage allotment, you’ll pay $0.40 per mile over 3,000.

Best Sports Car Subscription : Porsche Drive

Enrollment Fee: $595
Availability: 10 states
Key Features: Drive a new Porsche every day with unlimited exchanges

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Why We Chose It

With the Porsche Drive car subscription program, you can drive an unlimited number of luxurious Porsche models every month. Its stellar service and reputation make Porsche Drive the best sports car subscription.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Mobile app tracks your miles automatically
An unlimited vehicle exchanges plan
Miles roll over for a max of two consecutive months

Cons

Expensive
Porsche monitors your car usage
Steep price if you go over mileage allotment

Overview

Porsche is well-known for its gorgeous sports cars, impeccable service, and personalized approach to car ownership. The Porsche Drive program gives you access to models, some of which cost over $100,000, for a 30-day or 90-day period.

The Porsche Drive service is available in Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Nevada, California, and Arizona. Simply download the mobile app to start your application. All subscriptions come with insurance, roadside assistance, vehicle maintenance, and white-glove concierge services, such as car home delivery.

Single-Vehicle programs give you one Porsche for a one-month or three-month subscription. The activation fee required for all new program members is $595, but it’s waived if you opt for a three-month Single-Vehicle subscription. Plan pricing is based on the model and doesn’t include taxes. The available models and prices are:

718: From $2,000 per month
Cayenne: From $2,300 per month
Macan: From $2,700 per month
Taycan: From $2,750 per month
Panamera: From $2,800 per month
911: From $3,200 per month

The Multi-Vehicle programs feature unlimited vehicle exchanges. There is a $595 activation fee for each Multi-Vehicle plan, and pricing is before tax. The program runs $3,600 per month. Similar to other subscription services, Porsche will add extra fees such as:

$1 per extra mile over 2,000 miles
Market rate refueling charge if you return the car without a full tank
$25 electronic toll payment processing fee
$250 if additional cleaning is required
$25 electronic toll payment convenience fee

Best for Getting a Car Fast : Sixt+

Enrollment Fee: $199
Availability: 10 states
Key Features: Slide behind the wheel of a new car in 24 hours

Learn More

Why We Chose It

Sixt+ is the best car subscription service for getting a car fast because you can sign up online, pick up your car the next day or have it delivered, and even open your car doors using the top-rated Sixt mobile app.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Over 2,000 locations worldwide
Some sites will deliver the car to you
Simple three-step subscription process

Cons

Many complaints about hidden fees
An enrollment fee of $199

Overview

In 1912, Sixt started with three rental car vehicles. Now, Sixt operates in over 105 countries and has more than 2,000 locations worldwide. Sixt+ is the company's much-lauded car subscription service, a completely digital offering that prioritizes convenience every step of the way.

You can access Sixt+ online or through an iOS or Android application. It only takes a few minutes to set up your subscription online, and you can usually pick up your car the next day. When you’re ready to cancel your subscription, simply return your vehicle to a Sixt branch.

All subscriptions include:

Car registration
1500 miles per month
All routine maintenance
Wear and tear costs
Choice of new or as-new models
Insurance
24/7 customer service
Sixt+ offers various economy and premium models, including top brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, and Cadillac. In the U.S., you can access a Sixt+ car subscription in most major cities; check the Sixt website for availability.

Sixt+ offers corporate rates, and plan prices vary by the model category you select. You’ll pay a separate one-time fee of $199 to $339 or more based on your pickup location. Examples of plan prices are as follows:

Sedan: $649 to $689 per month for Nissan Centra, Volkswagen Jetta, or a Toyota Camry
SUV: $699 to $2,369 per month for Toyota Rav4, VW Atlas, Chevrolet Tahoe, Jeep Grand Cherokee, or a Chevrolet Suburban
Premium sedan: $769 to $1,099 for BMW 3 Series, Tesla Model 3, BMW 2 Series, or a BMW 5 Series
Multi-seater (7): $899 per month for a Chrysler Pacifica
Premium SUV: $829 to $1,219 for BMW X1, BMW X3, or a BMW X5

Before getting a Sixt+ subscription, it’s important to check all potential fees and hidden charges. The following are some examples of extra costs or add-on items:

Per-mile overage charges
Extra mile packages
All-wheel drive
Extra insurance/protection
Express toll unlimited
General toll service
Baby, child, or booster seats
Extra drivers

Final Verdict

If you don’t want a long-term loan or lease terms or can’t decide which model you love, then a car subscription service is a good alternative. However, companies offer very different terms. Mileage allotments vary from 500 to 3,000 miles per month, not all services include insurance, and there are plenty of extra fees. Hertz My Car is a trusted brand offering the best overall car subscription service. Unlike other companies, Hertz is available nationwide, and the plans include insurance and a comfortable 2,000 miles per month. Plus, with prices starting at $599 per month, Hertz My Car is an affordable solution.

Compare the Best Car Subscription Services

Company	Enrollment Fee	Availability	Key Features
Best Overall	$250	Nationwide	Exchange your car up to twice a month
Best for High Monthly Miles	$250	4 states	Get 3,000 miles per month or roll over miles to the next month
Best Sports Car Subscription	$595	9 states	Drive a new Porsche every day with unlimited exchanges
Best for Getting a Car Fast	$199	10 states	Slide behind the wheel of a new car in 24 hours

Frequently Asked Questions

Are car subscriptions cheaper?

Car subscriptions can be cheaper than renting a car. A car subscription ranges from $200 to $3,500 or more per month. Plus, many services ask for a down payment, activation fee, or deposit. Rental cars, on the other hand, often charge per day which can get expensive depending on how long you need the vehicle.
Additionally, while car subscriptions may be less expensive for a short time, buying a car is likely cheaper if you need a vehicle long term.
Which car manufacturers offer car subscriptions?

Several automobile manufacturers offer car subscriptions. This includes Tesla, Porsche, BMW, Cadillac, and Audi.
Does a car subscription include fuel?

No, car subscriptions do not cover the cost of fuel. Instead, they include things like maintenance and roadside assistance. In addition to being individually responsible for fuel, drivers are sometimes required to fill the gas tank before returning the vehicle.
Does it make sense to go for a car subscription rather than buying?

A car subscription is worth it if you need a quick or temporary solution. Or if you want to splurge a bit on a vehicle before committing to a longer-term loan or lease. However, in many cases, the hefty price tag isn’t feasible for an extended period. In short, you sacrifice value to get a convenient, no-hassle new or like-new vehicle for a limited time.

Methodology

To find the best car subscription services, we evaluated 20 companies. We looked at term lengths and plan costs, including extra one-time, monthly, or problem-specific fees. Then we considered the service areas, car types and variety, along with subscriber perks. Additionally, we read consumer reviews and tried out mobile apps. Lastly, we assessed the processes of applying, picking out a car, swapping, and returning a vehicle.

Article Sources

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