PUBLISHED April 29th, 2021 06:00 am | UPDATED May 8th, 2021 05:02 pm
As sea levels rise together with the cost of owning a car in Singapore, car pooling and car sharing have become the in-thing. Though more widely utilised in the US during World War Two as oil had to be reserved for war operations, carpooling has been dated as far back as 1914 when enterprising car owners started loaning out seats in their cars. Offering the convenience of personal transport, without high costs and accountability, here are some of the car pooling and car sharing services in Singapore.
Carpooling
Ryde
Before GrabHitch, there Singapore-based startup Ryde. RydePOOL is its flagship carpooling service for single riders, while RydeFLASH allows up to four riders to use its carpooling services. Ryde also offers a pet-friendly service through RydePET, which allows for two riders and a maximum of two medium-sized pets or one large one. RydeX is its private-hire service, while RydeLUXE offers premium six-seaters like the Alphard or Vellfire for extra comfort travel.
Ryde has also accepted Bitcoin as payment! Since June 22, Ryde users can convert their Bitcoin into RydeCoins at no additional transaction cost.
More details available through Ryde’s website. Download for iOS and Android.
GrabHitch
Probably the biggest carpooling service in Singapore, Grab‘s GrabHitch service allows ordinary commuters to share their ride and cover their fuel costs. This social, non-commercial option normally comes at prices 40% lower than their standard JustGrab. GrabShare, on the other hand, is a commercial ridesharing service that users can book on-demand. Either way, both offer rides at lower costs and a chance to turn your daily commute into something social!
More details on Grab’s website. Download their app.
TADA
The youngest entrant into the carpooling market, TADA seems promising. With a zero commission policy for drivers and no dynamic pricing for riders, TADA seems pretty set on getting a slice of the carpooling pie in Singapore. Say goodbye to ridiculous skyrocketing prices at high-demand times, as TADA offers transparent prices through a fixed surcharge during peak hours. It also offers an incentive of MVL points when you constantly provide feedback on your rides that can be redeemed for future rides.
More details on TADA’s website. Available for download on iOS and Android.
Carsharing
BlueSG
Boasting a fleet of over 660 electric Bluecars, and more than 1500 charging stations spread across 380 points islandwide, BlueSG is the most ubiquitous carsharing service in Singapore. Choose from their Basic or Premium membership, and the only additional cost is the flat rate of $0.36 per minute of usage. The best perk is its A-to-B service, meaning that it can be returned at your destination as long as there is a charging point.
More details on BlueSG’s website. Available for download on iOS and Android.
Shariot
Shariot is the new kid on the carsharing market, and its rentals start from as low as S$1 per hour. Without any membership fees, its carsharing services have no hidden costs and is darn easy to use. It currently boasts a fast-growing fleet of 250 cars over 85 heartland locations, typically at HDB carparks near MRT stations, with models ranging from Vezels to Vellfires. It operates on an A-to-A service, making it perfect for to-and-fro trips like running errands or grocery shopping.
More details on Shariot’s website. Available for download on iOS and Android.
CarClub
CarClub was the pioneer of carsharing in Singapore, and stands strong till this day with its fleet boasting labels from a humble Nissan to an Audi A4. Its plans cater to the casual user, to those with heavy-duty needs, and even one for the ladies. In fact, you can even request to rent their vehicles for up to a month. Newly-weds-to-be have also been renting their Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet in pristine white (S$228 per day) for weddings.
More details on CarClub‘s website. Available for download on iOS and Android.
Tribecar
Tribecar‘s range of personal transport options range from two-wheelers to four, and from sedans, to lorries, and even vans. A unique feature of Tribecar is its “P-Plate Fleet” of over 100 cars that allow newly-minted drivers to have access to their carsharing services, something most carsharing names do not offer. Tribecar’s cars are equipped with Z10 insurance, meaning that you can rent your own car for private hire usage.
More details and booking on Tribecar’s website.
Top image: Shariot carsharing service