I used Getaround for six months in 2023 to run Uber on weekends. Hourly rental, app-based, no key handoff. Sounded perfect for a side hustler. Then I switched to RideshareRenter for monthly rentals and never went back. This isn't a hit piece on Getaround — it's a real driver comparison so you can pick the platform that actually fits how you drive.
Getaround is a peer-to-peer car-sharing app where owners list cars by the hour or day, and you book through the app. The car has Getaround's Connect device installed, so no key handoff — you unlock it from your phone. Most rentals are 2 to 24 hours. They do allow longer rentals but the pricing model isn't built for it.
RideshareRenter is also peer-to-peer, but the business is built around rideshare drivers. Listings are weekly and monthly, the platform's insurance is structured around Uber and Lyft commercial use, and owners list cars knowing the renter is going to put 1,000+ miles a week on it.
That difference — built for hourly travelers vs. built for rideshare drivers — drives almost every other difference between the two.
I'll use the same car for both — a 2021 Toyota Camry, which is the bread-and-butter Uber rental in most cities. Pulling rates I've actually paid or quoted in the last 90 days in Atlanta and DC.
| Cost Item | Getaround (Camry) | RideshareRenter (Camry) |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rate | $72/day | N/A (weekly+ only) |
| Weekly rate equivalent | $504 (7 x $72) | $325 |
| Monthly rate | $2,160 (7-day blocks x 4) | $1,150 |
| Mileage | 200 miles/day included, $0.45/mi over | Unlimited (most listings) |
| Rideshare commercial coverage | Not included on standard plan | Included with TNC endorsement |
| Insurance deductible (collision) | $1,000 - $3,000 | $500 - $2,500 |
| Booking minimum | 1 hour | 7 days |
The headline jumps out: Getaround is roughly 55% more expensive per week if you're driving rideshare full-time. That's before the mileage problem.
Getaround caps you at 200 miles per day. UberX drivers in any decent market easily hit 250-350 miles in a 10-hour shift. That's $22.50 to $67.50/day in overage charges, every single day. Over a week of driving, that's $150-$470 in pure mileage overage on top of the daily rate.
I learned this the hard way in month two on Getaround. Pulled a 380-mile Saturday, opened my receipt, and saw a $81 overage charge on top of my $72 rental. My net for that day cratered.
RideshareRenter listings are almost all unlimited mileage. The few that aren't are usually capped at 1,500/week or higher, which is enough for a 6-day driving schedule. Owners on RideshareRenter know what rideshare driving looks like and price the listing accordingly.
This is the single biggest reason I left Getaround. Their standard protection plans are designed for someone renting a car to go to a wedding, not someone running 35 trips a day on Uber. Rideshare use isn't explicitly forbidden on most Getaround listings, but the commercial coverage gap is real.
When you drive Uber or Lyft, Uber's policy provides limited liability while the app is on but no ride is accepted. Period 2 (en route to passenger) and Period 3 (passenger on board) have full commercial coverage from Uber, but the deductible is $2,500 — and they're paying the rental's owner, not you. If you damage the Getaround car off-shift or in Period 1, the personal-rental policy is in play, and any commercial use gets messy fast in a claim.
RideshareRenter has a TNC-specific insurance product built into the platform. Period 1 is covered, the deductible is laid out in your rental agreement (usually $500-$2,500), and the company knows the car is being used for Uber and Lyft. No surprise claim denials because you "weren't supposed to be driving commercially."
I'm not saying Getaround drivers can't make it work. Some do, with their own commercial endorsement on a separate policy. But if you don't have that already, you're exposed.
I want to be fair here. There are cases where Getaround beats RideshareRenter clean:
Hourly testing. If you want to try one Uber shift to see if you'd even like the work, Getaround at $14/hour for 6 hours is $84 — way cheaper than committing to a full week on RideshareRenter.
Single-day specialty events. If you only drive for the Super Bowl, F1 weekend, or a one-off festival, hourly makes more sense than weekly.
Dense urban cities. SF and NYC Getaround inventory is dense and same-day pickups work. RideshareRenter requires a little more lead time in most markets.
Owner-side flexibility. If you own a car and only want to rent it out occasionally on weekends, Getaround's hourly model fits that better than RideshareRenter's weekly minimum.
Anyone driving 4+ days a week. The math is brutal — Getaround at $72/day x 5 days = $360 for a partial week. RideshareRenter Camry at $325/week unlimited. You'd have to be doing very short days to make Getaround competitive.
Drivers without their own commercial insurance. RideshareRenter's built-in TNC coverage closes the Period 1 gap that catches most Getaround drivers off-guard.
Owners who want stable monthly income. A weekly RideshareRenter listing at $400 generates $1,600/month with one renter. The same car on Getaround, booked maybe 15 days/month at $72, grosses $1,080 — and you're handling 8 different drivers instead of one.
Full-time drivers, period. If this is your job, not your side hustle, RideshareRenter is built for it.
I'm going to put real numbers down because that's what I would've wanted before I switched.
Getaround (Atlanta, weekends only, 6 months in 2023): 26 weekends, avg 22 hours driving per weekend, gross Uber pay $1,440/week. Rental: avg $375/weekend. Mileage overages: avg $95/weekend. Gas: $140/weekend. Net: $830/weekend x 26 = $21,580. Hours worked: 572. Effective hourly: $37.73/hr.
RideshareRenter (DC, full-time, 6 months in 2024): Weekly Camry at $355, drove avg 52 hours/week, gross Uber pay $2,150/week. Gas: $215/week. Net: $1,580/week x 26 = $41,080. Hours worked: 1,352. Effective hourly: $30.38/hr.
The Getaround effective hourly looks better — and that's real. Weekend driving in a top metro pays well per hour because surge does most of the work. But the cap is your hours. You can't scale to a full-time income on Getaround without the rental costs strangling you.
Is Getaround allowed for rideshare driving? Some listings on Getaround explicitly forbid commercial use; others don't address it. Read each listing carefully and message the owner before you book. RideshareRenter listings are all explicitly approved for Uber and Lyft.
Can I switch from Getaround to RideshareRenter mid-week? Yes. Most RideshareRenter listings can be booked with 24-48 hours notice. Return the Getaround car at the end of your booking and pick up the RideshareRenter car the same or next day.
What if I get in an accident on Getaround while doing Uber? Your claim gets evaluated against the protection plan you selected. If the owner's listing didn't approve commercial use, you can be on the hook for the full repair cost minus what Uber's commercial policy covers during an active trip.
Is RideshareRenter cheaper for everyone or just rideshare drivers? If you're using a car for personal travel, Getaround's hourly pricing is usually cheaper than RideshareRenter's weekly minimum. The break-even point is roughly 4 days/week of use.
Can owners list on both platforms? Technically yes, but it's a calendar nightmare and the use cases are different. Most owners I know who tried both eventually picked one based on whether they wanted hourly travelers or weekly rideshare drivers.
Getaround is a great tool for occasional drivers and weekend warriors. RideshareRenter is built for people who drive 4+ days a week and need unlimited mileage, commercial coverage, and a predictable weekly cost. If you're still treating rideshare like a side gig, Getaround can work. If it's your job, you're leaving money on the table every week you stay on hourly pricing.
Driving: Browse weekly and monthly rentals on RideshareRenter built for Uber and Lyft drivers. Unlimited miles, commercial insurance included, and rates that make full-time driving actually profitable.
Owners: List your car on RideshareRenter for steady monthly income. One reliable rideshare driver beats a dozen one-day hourly bookings, and the platform handles the insurance and verification work for you.
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