Getaround Connect – our super-cool technology that unlocks your car without a key – can be every Getaround car owner’s secret weapon.
Once installed, the Getaround Connect device lets you share your car without you needing to be physically present. The rental process becomes entirely self-service, which means your car can be available even when you’re not.
Want to get started with Getaround Connect? First, check if your vehicle is compatible with our hardware. Next, make sure your car is available for Getaround bookings for at least 7 days per month. Ready? Read on!
“Drivers who book your car are completely autonomous, and are guided via the Getaround app during the entire duration of their trip.”
Installing Getaround Connect
In order to accept Getaround Connect bookings, your car needs to be installed with our Getaround Connect device, which allows locating and unlocking your car with the driver’s smartphone. Make an appointment with our team for the installation, which takes from 1 to 2 hours and comes free with your Getaround Connect subscription.
Once the Getaround Connect device is installed, you’ll receive instructions via email to activate your car, and a member of our team will also get in touch with you to ensure everything is working as it should. With Getaround Connect installed, your car remains 100% safe: only vetted drivers can book it, and your car also benefits from an immobiliser to protect it against theft.
The Getaround Connect rental process
When your car is activated with Getaround Connect, the booking process for you couldn’t be simpler. Drivers who book your car are completely autonomous, and are guided via the Getaround app during the entire duration of their trip.
Here’s how it works:
Leave a set of keys inside your car in the car, then lock your car with your smartphone.
Once a driver books your car, you’ll be instantly notified. The driver’s profile – including their licence and identity documents – will be verified by Getaround.
The vetted driver geolocates your car on their smartphone up to 1 hour before the trip starts.
Once they’ve reached the car, the driver performs the walkaround inspection via the Getaround app. (If there’s any damage to the vehicle that wasn’t previously indicated in the pictures, the driver will report it.)
The driver unlocks your vehicle with their smartphone and, if necessary, inputs the current fuel level (mileage is automatically recorded by our device). You’ll be notified as soon as the trip starts. During the trip, the driver uses your car normally with the keys.
When it’s time for check-out, the driver takes pictures of your vehicle from 8 angles, indicates the fuel level if necessary, and finally, puts the keys back inside your car before locking it with their smartphone. You’ll then be notified via email that the trip has ended.
Getaround Connect price updates
For fully compatible vehicles, the mileage and fuel level at the end of the rental are read by the Getaround Connect device, so any price updates for distance or fuel are calculated and updated automatically. Unfortunately, not all models of vehicles are able to automatically detect fuel levels yet. For cars that aren’t compatible, the driver has to input the fuel level manually.
If the driver travelled further than expected, the driver is automatically charged for the additional distance (whereas unused miles are not refunded). If the driver returned your car with a different level of fuel than at check-in, we’ll calculate the difference and the driver will be charged or refunded accordingly.
Still need convincing that Getaround Connect is right for your car? Read our article on why you should install Getaround Connect.