Car Next Door sharing platform launches in Tasmania
The rental car shortage forcing would-be holiday makers to cancel or limit their Tasmanian trips could be over as the government helps push through a car sharing platform over Christmas and New Years.
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- Tassie tourism operators suffer cancellations due to hire car shortage
- Car sharing could help tackle Tassie’s rental car shortage
A NEW car sharing platform now has vehicles available to rent in Tasmanian after the state government changed registration regulations to help get more hire cars on the road.
Rental car stocks had been almost entirely cleared out over the festive season, some going at $600 a day with providers hiking their fees amid high demand.
Car Next Door peer-to-peer car sharing app has operated on the mainland since 2013 and has now launched its online service in Tasmania, with the state government accrediting the platform and temporarily waiving the $447 fee for “hire and drive” vehicle registrations to urgently address the rental car shortage which has deterred some tourists from visiting Tasmania.
The incentive will be available for the first 500 eligible vehicles or until February 1, 2021, whichever comes first.
Since the changes were announced on Wednesday two cars have gone live on Car Next Door from car owners renting their vehicles out to tourists, with 30 cars currently in the listing process.
Blackmans Bay resident Liz Pulo is registering her car for hire, having been a fan of Car Next Door when she visited Sydney.
“We’re a two car family, my partner and I have a car each but don’t need it all the time because I work from home,” she said.
“When I’m not using it to run errands I think ‘why let it sit in the driveway when someone else can use it?’
“It’s great for locals and people visiting, especially given our public transport situation, you really do need a car to get around Tasmania so allowing people to use an available asset makes so much more sense than leaving it to gather dust in the garage or driveway.”
Ms Pulo said she knew locals who couldn’t afford to keep up with the expenses of owning their own cars who would also benefit from Car Next Door.
She said some tourist destinations required long walks or multiple buses to reach.
Car Next Door CEO and co-founder Will Davies said as well as addressing the hire car shortage, the platform kept money in Tasmanians’ pockets.
“I think it’s always better to have a Tasmanian person earning extra money off their car rather than a multinational rental company,” he said.
Mr Davies estimated Tasmanian listings would be somewhere in the hundreds by the end of January and hoped more permanent legislation would be instated beyond the temporary waiver.
He said car owners on the app typically earned $300-500 a month, with some earning up to $1,300 during peak seasons and daily prices of vehicles ranging from $20 to $160 a day.
Transport Minister Michael Ferguson hoped the platform’s launch would ease pressure on the rental car sector.
Since the NSW border restrictions were reintroduced, several cancellations of trips to Tasmania have meant some rental car providers have made more cars available over New Years, going at slightly less than the previous $3,000 per fortnight rate.
To apply or see details for the Hire and Drive premium relief program ending February 1 2021 visit transport.tas.gov.au/registration/hire_and_drive_premium_relief
To register your vehicle on Car Next Door and help solve Tasmania’s hire car shortage visit carnextdoor.com.au/rent-my-car
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