Car2go, a car sharing service that has grown in urban areas will launch service in West and South Seattle starting April 1. After paying a registration fee, users can book a vehicle and pay by the minute, hour or day for the use of the vehicle, dropping it off in pre-established areas.
Car2go, a car sharing mobility program that is gaining traction in urban areas will expand into West and South Seattle April 1, 2013.
Launched by Daimler in Germany in March 2009 and in Austin, Texas, in November 2009, car2go provides a fleet of free-floating, low-emission, self-service smart fortwo cars distributed all over the city. Car2go vehicles can be accessed "on-demand." Unlike traditional carsharing programs, car2go allows its members to use the vehicle for as long as they like, without committing to a specific return time or location. They can finish the trip in any authorized parking space within the car2go Home Area. The service offers "by-the-minute" rates include costs for fuel, insurance, parking and maintenance.
The service costs 38 cents a minute, (after a $35 registration fee) which pays for parking, fuel, insurance, maintenance, cleaning, GPS navigation, 24/7 customer support and roadside assistance. You only pay for the minutes you spend in the car. Charges are billed directly to your credit card.
One hour costs a maximum of $13.99, and a full 24 hours will not exceed $72.99. You pay .45 cents per mile after a 150 mile per trip. All trips are subject to a 17.2% tax rate comprised of State sales tax, Seattle sales tax, State rental car tax, and local rental car tax.
You can learn more on their Frequently Asked Questions page here.
The service will cover parts of South Seattle (including Beacon Hill, Hillman City, Mt Baker, Georgetown, SODO and Columbia City) and West Seattle (including the Junction, Alki, Seaview, North Admiral, Delridge, Seaview, High Point and Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal).
The program is adding an additional 100 car2go edition smart fortwo vehicles to their Seattle fleet, making them available to customers as the expansion begins.
On April 5, car2go will be at West Seattle High School at the Westside Taste of the Arts fundraising event to support the West Seattle High School Art Programs.
You can follow Car2go Seattle on Facebook and Twitter
