Why Carshare?

Carsharing can benefit you, our environment, and our community.

Save money while reducing harmful emissions and traffic.

Every year, AAA publishes a report on the costs of car ownership. In 2025, if you’re buying a new car, you can expect to pay more than $14,000 annually on monthly payments, insurance, gas, repairs, and maintenance.

Ithaca Carshare members, on the other hand, typically spend only $1,500 annually for 24/7 access to a fleet of fuel efficient vehicles. 

By joining Ithaca Carshare, you can save several hundred dollars per month on gas, maintenance, parking, and insurance costs, plus avoid the stress of dealing with it all.

You may rediscover the pleasures of walking or riding a bike instead of using a car as your default mode of transportation. Carshare members typically put more thought into planning trips, and spend less time on errands.

You’ll contribute to a healthier planet without giving up the freedom of a car.

Carshare members walk, bike, and bus more. An active transportation lifestyle is good for you and the planet.

Our members reduce their car usage by as much as fifty percent by combining multiple trips, and tend to think more carefully about whether they really need to drive when they pay per trip. Combining trips reduces fossil fuel usage, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Carshare vehicles are fuel-efficient. We’ve been increasing the number of Electric Vehicles (EVs), Plug-in Electric Hybrid Vehicles (PEHVs), and hybrids in our fleet, with a goal of purchasing only these types of vehicles in the future.

In 2024, Ithaca Carshare members prevented 166 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering our atmosphere.  

A 2013 study shows that for each carshare vehicle, around 15.3 privately owned vehicles come off the road. That means 459 fewer cars in our community!

Fewer cars and less driving relieves parking pressure, traffic congestion, and wear and tear on roads.

Carshare vehicles increase neighborhood residents’ quality of life and freedom of mobility.

Carsharing means less space and money devoted to parking (for you and for your tax-funded government).

Carsharing saves money for small businesses and nonprofit organizations. See the business and nonprofit plans we offer!