The key to urban mobility is flexibility. For quick errands, doctor’s appointments, or short meetings, paying for a full day of rental makes no financial sense. Consequently, the demand for Hourly Car Sharing Keyless options has surged. These services allow users to reserve, unlock, and drive a car for just an hour or two using only their smartphone. The best platforms offering true hourly rates are generally those built around the high-density usage model, where the car is constantly in use for short periods.

Top Platforms Offering Hourly Rental Rates

The dominant players in the US market offer clear hourly rental options, differentiating themselves based on the underlying model:

  • Zipcar:
    Zipcar is the classic hourly car sharing option. It uses a station-based model, meaning you pick up and return the car to the same designated spot.

    • Keyless Access: Access is completely keyless, requiring an app or a membership card to unlock the vehicle.

    • Pricing: Hourly Rates. Significantly, the price includes fuel, basic insurance, and maintenance.

    • Best For: Short, predictable round-trip errands and commitments.

  • Getaround:
    This is a peer-to-peer (P2P) service that specializes in instant, flexible bookings, including hourly rates.

    • Keyless Access: Getaround is known for its “Connect” system, which allows the renter to unlock the car directly via their smartphone app. This eliminates the need for face-to-face key handovers.

    • Pricing: Hosts of the individual car host set rates. However, the core offering is built on flexible hourly and daily rates.

    • Best For: Fast, flexible local access, often near urban centers.

  • Turo (Select Hosts):
    While Turo is primarily known for daily rentals, some hosts offer rentals as short as one hour.

    • Keyless Access: You must filter for cars enabled with the “Turo Go” feature for fully keyless, app-based access.

    • Pricing: Rates are highly variable, set by the individual host.

The Technology: Why Hourly Works with Keyless

Hourly rentals rely heavily on seamless vehicle turnover. Crucially, keyless technology makes this possible by eliminating the biggest source of delay: key handovers.

The underlying technology, provided by solutions like MoboKey, enables hourly efficiency through:

  • Instant Access Revocation: Access is works with the booking time. Consequently, digital access is automatically revoked the moment the hourly rental period ends. This encourages on-time returns.

  • Remote Management: Hosts and fleet managers can monitor the vehicle’s status and location remotely. This oversight ensures the car is ready for the next hourly booking.

  • API/SDK Integration: Platforms like Getaround and fleet managers use technology APIs to integrate digital key commands directly into their booking systems. This makes the Hourly Car Sharing Keyless experience instant and automated.

The MoboKey Advantage for Fleet Hosts

For entrepreneurs running fleets on platforms like Getaround, MoboKey provides the essential technology to capitalize on the profitable hourly rental market. MoboKey enables seamless, secure digital key sharing that ensures rapid turnover and lower operational costs.

Ready to offer flexible, secure, and profitable hourly car sharing options?

Choose MoboKey: Digital Key Technology and take control of your fleet—remotely, securely, and effortlessly.

Download the MoboKey application on the App Store or Play Store.