Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ithaca Carshare? Will Ithaca Carshare work for me? Answers to the most common questions.
What Is Ithaca Carshare?
Ithaca Carshare is a nonprofit, membership-based service providing 24/7 access to vehicles on an hourly basis. As a member, you book a car on our website, through an App, or by calling. You unlock the car with a personal access card, drive where you need, and return it to the same location, then lock it with your card. Members pay an annual or monthly membership fee, and an hourly and mileage rate to use the cars. Included with your costs are gas, insurance, maintenance, cleaning, and permanent parking!
How is carsharing different from car rental?
We refer to it as transit-oriented carsharing — an extension of public transit that is more flexible than a scheduled bus route, but still a wise and efficient use of resources. Ithaca Carshare gives you 24/7 self-serve access to a network of cars in neighborhoods where people live. Bookings are made for a 30-minute minimum, with 15-minute increments available after that. Members have convenient, direct access to vehicles, and your gas, maintenance, cleaning, and insurance is included in the rates. You can book cars at any time. You don’t need to visit an office to sign a contract or pick up keys when you need a car — it’s easy, self-service access any time day or night.
Is carsharing cheaper than owning a car?
Yes. The average cost to own a new car was $9,666/ year in 2021, which is about $26 per day, while the average private car is used less than 1.5 hours/day. A typical member spends less than $1000 a year on carsharing (many spend much less!). Carsharing offers the same convenience and flexibility of owning a car for a much lower cost.
How Much Money Can I Save With Carsharing?
The savings from carsharing can be anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars per year, depending on your current situation. Those who rely on a car for most of their trips can see a significant savings over a longer period when the cost of loan payments, depreciation, gas, insurance, maintenance, repairs, and registration are taken into account.
AAA estimates the average annual cost of owning a car is at least $5,900 and more likely over $9,000! If you’re considering buying a truck to haul loads around just once in a while, carsharing is a much more affordable choice, with hourly rates the same for our pickup as for our cars. Most carshare members combine their trips to make the most of their bookings, and therefore drive less, saving them even more!
Is Ithaca Carshare Right For Me?
Our service can work for anyone with a valid driver’s license and eligible driving history, and especially those who:
- Drive less than 10,000 miles per year
- Walk, bike, take public transit, or use other ways to get around
- Do not often rely on vehicles for long distance or multi-day trips
- Do not rely on a car for a daily commute
- Are interested in owning fewer cars, but still need to use a car occasionally
Check out Way2Go of Tompkins County for more transportation information and resources.
How Does The Application Process Work?
Fill out the application here. Once you’ve done this, we will charge your payment card for the application fee and process your membership, which takes 1-3 business days. Approved members will be notified by email about when to expect their member materials and keycard in the mail.
What Are The Membership Qualifications?
Drivers aged 18 and up who have a valid driver’s license and who meet minimum eligibility requirements, including 2 years of reasonable driving history. Please read the requirements before applying
Do I Need to Have A Credit Card?
In order for automatic payment, you can use a Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card, but you can also pay by cash or check, though we require a $200 deposit if you don’t have a payment card on file. We also have a special account at Alternatives Credit Union where you can make a payment directly to your Ithaca Carshare account with cash/check using a special deposit slip. Ask us how if this is what you prefer.
How Do I Find The Car I Booked?
Each Ithaca Carshare vehicle is parked at a designated “home” space. No other vehicles are allowed in these special tow-away zones, just like taxi stands and bus stops. To get a sense of where vehicles are located, see this map, though as a member you’ll find the most up-to-date and accurate locations of each vehicle in the reservation system. All of our vehicles have the Ithaca Carshare logo on them to help you identify them.
How Do I Get The Keys?
Your keycard will unlock the car you’ve booked. The ignition key is in the vehicle. All of these details are outlined in our Member Handbook.
Who Keeps The Gas Tank Filled Or The EVs Charged?
We all do. One of the responsibilities of members is to help keep the car fueled. If the gas gauge goes below one-quarter tank, just stop at a gas station and fill the tank using the Ithaca Carshare fuel card in the car. You’re not charged for using this card, as gas costs are included in your mileage rate. Electric Vehicles (EVs) are plugged in at the end of your booking at the home spot charging station, and instructions for using those stations are provided in the vehicles.
How Far Can I Drive An Ithaca Carshare Car?
There are no limits to how far you drive, but all usage must be round-trip, not one-way. You pay per mile and per hour that you drive. Most members use the cars for trips of a few hours, as that is what our pricing accommodates best, though we do have full day rates on some of our vehicles.
How Long Can I Keep An Ithaca Carshare Car?
If the car is available, you may book it for as long as you need it. Most cars also have a day rate where your charges are capped at 10 hours for each 24-hour period. Please keep in mind that Ithaca Carshare vehicles are best used for short trips and regular errands. If you need a car for a few days or more, we recommend renting one from a car rental agency.
What Are Other Rules For Carsharing?
As part of the application process, you view a short slide show and receive our Member Handbook, outlining the requirements of membership. Ithaca Carshare members are expected to use the vehicles responsibly and have consideration for the members. For instance, we expect you to return the car on time, keep the car clean, and gas it up if the tank is low. If an infraction occurs you may be charged a penalty, and if problems continue, membership may be terminated.
What Kind Of Vehicles Are Available?
We are committed to cars with high fuel efficiency and low emissions! Ithaca Carshare’s fleet is composed of mostly newer fuel-efficient hatchbacks (Toyota Prius C, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris), with some Electric Vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV). We also have 2 Dodge Grand Caravan minivans, and a Toyota Tacoma pickup. The minivans and Toyota Tacoma have a Tompkins County Solid Waste permit sticker for hauling waste and recycling.
Where Are Your Cars Located?
We have a growing fleet (30 as of spring 2023) located throughout Ithaca in the following locations: Downtown, Northside, Southside, Fall Creek, Collegetown, the West End, and in and around Cornell University. As usage grows, we expand our network in locations convenient to members, most often in densely populated areas and/or employment centers.
What If I’m Late Bringing The Car Back?
If you know you’re going to be late, log on to our mobile site to see if you can extend your booking. If someone has the car immediately after you, your extension won’t go through, and you should call us on the 24-hour line. We will help make arrangements to accommodate your late return for the next member, and by calling us your late fees could be reduced.
What If The Car I Booked Isn’t There?
This is unusual, but does happen occasionally. Call us immediately at 607.277.3210 x2 and we will help you locate the car, move to another car, or do our best to get you to your destination another way.
What If There's A Collision?
Call 911 or the police for any crash, even minor ones. Make sure everyone involved is safe or being cared for. Then call us immediately at 607.277.3210 x2 and we will help you. In ALL cases you must contact us before continuing your trip, and in the majority of cases we will require you to wait and obtain a police report.
Are you affiliated with any other carsharing organizations?
Ithaca Carshare is a founding member of the Carsharing Association, an international association of carsharing organizations committed to a code of ethics of providing sustainable, transit-oriented urban mobility for the benefit of the communities that they serve. These carsharing organizations have over 4,000 vehicles and 125,000 members in over 25 cities, including Toronto, Vancouver, Boulder, Burlington, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Southern Ontario, Montreal, and Ottawa.
How Is Carsharing Good For The Environment?
A 2016 study found that for each US carsharing vehicle, 9-13 personally owned vehicles come off the road. The same study found that carshare members reduce their overall vehicle miles traveled by about ten percent. Carshare members tend to choose walking, biking, or bus riding more often, and when they do drive, they tend to consolidate more errands into one trip.
Are There Discounts For Students, Faculty, Or Staff?
Cornell University helps subsidize annual memberships for students and staff and faculty commuters. We are also trying to figure out how we can offer discounts to all college students in our region. Please let us know if this is something you would use!
How Does Insurance Work?
In the event of damage or claims arising from member use of Ithaca Carshare’s vehicles or equipment, the member is responsible to pay for damages up to the first $1,000. Failure to report any collision immediately and obtain a police accident report removes the $1,000 limit on damage responsibility, and members may be held liable for full cost of repair. Installment plans for damage fees may be arranged.
Please note that Ithaca Carshare self-insures for first party physical damage coverage. Ithaca Carshare’s insurance provides coverage for third party liability claims arising from use of a covered auto by an Ithaca Carshare member, up to Minimum Financial Responsibility Limits in New York State. Members are responsible for damages beyond this level of coverage or that are not covered by Ithaca Carshare’s insurance.
This insurance covers all approved members of Ithaca Carshare, age 21+, who are in good standing, and provides secondary coverage for drivers 18-20. This coverage does not transfer to any vehicle not owned by Ithaca Carshare. Ithaca Carshare assumes no liability for personal property in or on the vehicle.
Members may seek to increase their liability coverage with a personal non-owned automobile policy. They may seek to increase their damage coverage by paying for Ithaca Carshare bookings with a credit card that comes with CLDI (Collision Loss Damage Insurance) benefits.
Ithaca Carshare reserves the right to change these policies without notice to members. Head to our member handbook for the details.
I have a question not listed here.
Give us a call at 607-277-3210 and we’d be happy to help.