There’s no denying that COVID-19 has affected how people view carsharing. In order to better understand how our drivers were feeling about renting cars and what they were using them for amidst the pandemic, we conducted a survey for drivers who rented a car after May 11, the day the strict lockdown regulations began to ease in France.
Here are 3 of the key results, what they mean for you as an owner, and the opportunities for you to make the most out of your car.
1. Drivers feel safer in a Getaround car
Most drivers (9 out of 10) said they felt sufficiently protected against COVID-19 when using a Getaround car, with many citing they preferred to rent a private car instead of using public transportation.
The future post-COVID also looks bright: almost 1 out of 4 drivers said they would use Getaround even more often than before.
There are additional precautions you can take to make drivers feel more comfortable and reassured. Of those who didn’t feel adequately protected, 77% said that having disinfecting supplies in the car would make them feel safer, while 66% said they’d like to know when the car was last cleaned.
“Almost 1 out of 4 drivers said they would use Getaround even more often than before.”
How you can benefit:
Drivers appreciate it if you provide disinfectant wipes and other cleaning supplies in your car, and will likely use those supplies to clean your car themselves. They may also be more likely to reciprocate your goodwill with a positive review.
Stay in communication with your drivers. If your car was recently cleaned before their trip, or if there was no other rental in the past 2 days, it’s worth letting the driver know to give them extra peace of mind.
2. Drivers are booking at the last minute
With confinement restrictions changing on a weekly if not daily basis, it was much harder for people to anticipate their plans for the future.
As a result, booking lead times decreased significantly, and it appears that they’ll continue to do so even after confinement measures are fully lifted.
Last year during the same period, people booked their trips on average almost 2 days in advance.
Now, drivers want to “book and go”. With immediate access to cars, they’re booking less than 24 hours—and sometimes less than 12 hours—in advance.
How you can benefit:
Install Getaround Connect if you haven’t already done so. This service gives drivers the freedom to unlock your car from the app, without needing to arrange a meeting with you for the keys.
You should also consider lowering your preparation time in your rental conditions to accept last-minute requests.
3. Drivers are taking shorter trips
“The average distance driven on trips is 36% shorter than in 2019.”
A large portion of the Getaround trips taken in the weeks following May 11 were to visit family and friends (44%), understandably so after two months of strict confinement. 31% of trips were also taken for leisure activities, such as sightseeing and scenic day trips.
But the biggest increase in rentals (and highest consideration for future rentals) was for more practical purposes, such as running errands around town, furniture shopping, and moving.
In recent months, we’ve also seen a decrease in the average distance driven on trips (36% shorter than the same period in 2019).
That means drivers are more frequently taking advantage of cars for short trips, rather than simply using them for the occasional weekend getaway.
How you can benefit:
Consider lowering your minimum trip duration if it’s still at least 1 day or more. With more drivers looking for shorter trips, you don’t want to miss out on these potential bookings.
To avoid having to coordinate key exchanges for drivers taking short trips, sign up for Getaround Connect to free up your time (and your car’s) for even more bookings.