Car Subscription Services: A Comprehensive Guide [2023]
Every company has its own perks and stipulations, so be sure you know what you’re getting into before you sign up. We’ve pulled together a list of companies currently offering subscriptions.
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Brandon Frady
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brandon Frady has been a licensed insurance agent and insurance office manager since 2018. He has experience in ventures from retail to finance, working positions from cashier to management, but it wasn’t until Brandon started working in the insurance industry that he truly felt at home in his career. In his day-to-day interactions, he aims to live out his business philosophy in how he treats hi...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Nov 6, 2023
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Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Nov 6, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Car subscriptions are different from renting or leasing, they’re a month-to-month, all-inclusive alternative to car ownership
- Car subscriptions are a growing trend, but right now, costs are more than the average driver is willing to pay
- In the future, self-driving car subscriptions are expected to transform the way we get around and possibly even dissolve the need for car ownership
These days, we expect everything to be available to us at the swipe of an app, and we love having choices. With how much time most of us spend in the car every day, why wouldn’t we want the same amount of ease and choice when it comes to our vehicles? This is why there are various different types of coverage options. Liability coverage, full coverage – there are plenty of choices.
This is where car subscriptions come in. Although the luxury services are still cost-prohibitive for most Americans, as they grow in popularity, the ability to choose a car on a monthly basis from third-party companies is becoming more accessible to more people.
Though getting a car subscription is somewhat different from getting a car rental, these services are sometimes called long-term rental companies. We’ve put together a list of the best car subscription services currently being offered. If you’re not certain whether one is offered in your location, you can always search, “Car subscription services near me” and discover what might be in your area.
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices. You can get free quotes today by entering your ZIP code into our free comparison tool to get started.
What exactly is a car subscription service?
A car subscription service is unlike buying, renting, or leasing. Generally listed as a monthly car subscription, the price will vary depending on the services offered.
For a single monthly fee, you get access to a selection of vehicles from an automaker or third-party service, and this access usually comes along with car insurance coverage, roadside assistance, and maintenance. Use the service as long as you want with the type of vehicle you want, and cancel when you’re done. It’s that easy.
Of course, every company is going to have its own perks and stipulations, so be sure you know what you’re getting into before you sign up. The best way to get answers on subscription-based car services is to go right to the source. Sometimes, however, you need a lot of information at once, which is where we have you covered.
We’ve pulled together a list of some of the companies currently offering subscriptions, along with what they offer, so you can see what is on the market now, and what we can anticipate is coming in the future.
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What are the top five car subscription services?
If you have the means and enjoy switching things up month-to-month, these five luxury car subscriptions might be right up your alley:
- BMW Access (no longer offered)
- Porsche Passport
- BOOK By Cadillac
- Care by Volvo
- Mercedes-Benz Collection
What is the BMW car subscription, BMW Access?
As an update, as of 2021, BMW has shut down its Access service. We’ve still included it on the list as an example of what it used to include so that you can use it in comparison to other subscriptions.
With BMW Access, you had a choice of several luxury vehicles no matter what tier you paid for, although the perks did increase with increased monthly fees. They had a few different tiers to the subscription that you could choose.
All plans included:
- Insurance
- Maintenance
- Taxes / fees
- Upkeep
- Switch vehicles
- Concierge delivery
- Set price
What were the subscription options plans?
BMW Access came with different tier levels, depending on what you wanted to be included in your plan.
| ICON | LEGEND | BMW M |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price of just $1,099 per month | Lowered to $1,399 per month | $2,699 per month |
| Number of smaller BMW vehicles | Larger vehicles | M4 or M6 convertible |
| 330i sedan | 5 Series sedan | M5 sedan |
| 330e iPerformance plug-in hybrid sedan | X5 xDrive40e plug-in hybrid SUV | X5M and X6M performance SUVs |
| X2 and X3 SUVs | The performance-oriented M2 coupe | |
| M240i convertible | ||
| i3 electric city car |
BMW announced that subscribers at a certain tier will now have access to vehicles in lower tiers. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, as of 2021, BMW Access is no more.
What is the Porsche car subscription, Porsche Passport?
Porsche Passport is the plan to have in the Atlanta area if you want to travel in luxury with access to a full garage of Porsches. However, it is only currently available in Atlanta but is set to expand to other cities if demand increases.
All plan options include:
- Insurance coverage options
- $1 million liability insurance coverage policy
- $1,000 deductible for drivers
- Unlimited flips between vehicles and styling options
- Full detail washes with every flip
- Unlimited mileage
- Concierge delivery
- All maintenance and repairs
- Discounted rate for a multi-vehicle subscription service
What are the plans?
As with most subscriptions, there are various levels of coverage available.
| Launch | Accelerate |
|---|---|
| $2,000 / month with $500 joining fee | $3,000 / month with $500 joining fee |
| Includes base an S models | Includes base and S models |
| Access to 8 cars | Access to 22 cars |
It all boils down to what you would like to pay for when it comes to the coverage offered.
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What is the Cadillac car subscription, BOOK by Cadillac?
The nice thing about BOOK by Cadillac is that it’s an all-inclusive service, giving you access to a full range of luxury vehicles in their subscription programs for one monthly fee. These services are offered in NYC, Dallas, and LA.
The all-inclusive plan includes:
- $1800 all-inclusive fee for CT6, Escalade, XT5, ATS-V, and CTS-V
- Delivered to customer’s home by concierge
- One-time $500 enrollment fee
- Monthly payment includes tax
- Insurance, maintenance, and coverage for up to 2,000 miles per month
- A car can be swapped out up to 18 times a year
What is the Volvo car subscription, Care by Volvo?
Care by Volvo has a different business model than the other luxury vehicle subscription services out there. Offering only one vehicle the XC40 for a set period of time, they are able to keep their monthly subscription fee lower and focus on concierge services some of the other companies don’t offer. This service is offered everywhere.
The all-inclusive plan includes:
- $600 a month
- Maintenance
- Concierge delivery and pickup
- Two-year agreement required
- No price negotiation
- One flat monthly rate with no surprises
- Includes premium insurance no matter where you live
- Maintenance and excess wear coverage
- Upgrade to a new Volvo in as little as 12 months
- Subscribe easily online or via the app
- 15,000-mile allowance per year
What is the Mercedes-Benz Collection?
One of the newer car subscriptions on the market, Mercedes-Benz Collection is working hard to compete with the rest of the field and has a great fleet of cars and options to choose from.
All plan options include:
- No mileage limits
- All flips or vehicle swaps
- Maintenance
- Specialized concierge delivery and within the service area
- Insurance
- App availability
What are the plans offered with the Mercedes-Benz Collection?
Below is a table listing the different plans you can choose.
| The Reserve | The Premier |
|---|---|
| $1,595 per month | $2,995 per month |
| C43 AMG | C63 S sedan |
| E400 wagon | G550 SUV |
| GLE350 SUV | SL550 Roadster |
What type of vehicle you own and how much you want to spend are factors that will determine which plan is right for you.
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What is the Canvas car subscription?
Owned by Ford, Canvas is a basic car subscription that costs a lot less than the luxury car subscriptions mentioned above. Aimed at making life simpler for the average person, you can subscribe to their service for as long as you need to receive Ford or Lincoln vehicles.
How does it work? Here are some details:
- Not available for new cars
- Insurance, maintenance, and warranty are included
- More à la carte, allowing users to select different subscription lengths and mileage packages
- Covers routine oil changes, multi-point inspections, as well as some preventive care and replacement of normal “wear and tear” items
- First, select a subscription length from one to 12 months, and the longer your subscription, the lower your monthly subscription service
- Second, choose a vehicle
- Last, choose your mileage limits
- Ford and Lincoln offered
What is the Fair car subscription by Uber?
Once owned by Uber and now relaunched, it’s no wonder Fair car subscription service prides itself on providing everything to its customers via an app, completely paper-free.
How does it work?
- Everything is done via the Fair app
- No long-term contracts
- Low price guarantee
- Request the car you want via the app, keep it for as long as you want, then return the car
- Limited warranty, routine maintenance, and roadside assistance included
- Optional insurance
- Three-day/100-mile return policy
- No mileage restrictions
- Completely paperless
- All you need is a driver’s license and a bank account to get approved
What is Flexdrive?
It’s right in the name, Flexdrive is all about flexibility. That’s why they allow you to choose what you want to drive via their app with no credit check required. And you can choose a monthly payment schedule that meets your needs.
What are the details?
- Select a car via the app
- Pay a weekly or monthly fee, which differs from car to car
- Pay for mileage
- Week-to-week pricing is available
- Routine maintenance is included, as is insurance
- New cars are not available
- Only available in parts of Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas
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What is the Borrow plan?
Borrow is a unique service on our list because it only offers electric vehicles. So for the environmentally conscious, this might be just the right option for you.
How does it work?
- Electric car-only subscription service
- Three, six, or nine months at a time
- The Los Angeles area only
- Insurance not included
- Three tiers of electric vehicles
| City | Premium | Platinum | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $499/month (30 mos) to $399/month (9 mos) | $624/month (3 mos) to $524/month (9 mos) | Plan details not available | ||
| Fiat 500e | BMW i3 | Tesla Model S | ||
| Nissan Leaf | Volkswagen eGolf | |||
What is the Carma plan?
Carma is a basic, no-hassle, straightforward car subscription. Currently available in limited regions in the United States, you have to have a clean driving record to take advantage of Carma’s services. But from there, you’ll be rewarded with a monthly plan that gives you ease and variety.
How does it work? Here are some details:
- Only available in Detroit, Chicago, and Columbus, OH
- Must be 21 years of age and have a clean driving record
- One monthly fee
- Includes insurance, maintenance, and monthly flexibility
- Change or cancel as needed
- Monthly mile plans are available
Looking for a subscription plan at an affordable price?
The Hertz rental car company now offers subscription programs with three distinct tiers of vehicle options. The first tier offers mid-size, economy, and compact sedans at around $600, the second tier offers full-size sedans and small trucks/SUVs at around $1,000 per month, and the third tier features regular size SUVs, trucks, and luxury sedans.
Hertz Gold members will get discounted rates on this subscription plan.
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How do you get insurance for one of these plans?
Many of the subscription plans come with insurance, though you may decide you want to purchase additional coverage to get more protection. If the plan you choose does not provide insurance, you will have to get a policy on your own.
Some car subscription providers have partnered with insurance companies and will therefore help set you up with coverage when you purchase the plan. Liberty Mutual, for instance, has a partnership with Canvas.
If the subscription provider does not assist you with purchasing insurance, or if you don’t want to buy insurance from the company the provider has partnered with, make sure to shop around for quotes from multiple insurers before choosing one.
Case Studies: Car Subscription Services
Case Study 1: Auto Insurance Coverage Gap
John had comprehensive auto insurance coverage for his car. However, due to financial difficulties, he decided to cancel his policy and rely on public transportation for a few months. During this time, his car was parked in a garage. One day, a severe storm caused a tree to fall on the garage, damaging John’s car extensively.
John didn’t realize that even when his car was not being driven, it was still vulnerable to risks such as storm damage. By canceling his insurance coverage, he had no financial protection for the damage caused to his car.
It’s essential to understand that comprehensive coverage provides protection against non-collision events, and maintaining insurance even when not actively driving is crucial.
Case Study 2: Underinsured Homeowner
Sarah purchased a homeowners insurance policy to protect her house and personal belongings. A few years later, a fire broke out in her home, causing significant damage.
When Sarah filed a claim, she realized that the coverage limits of her policy were not sufficient to cover the full cost of repairing her home and replacing her belongings. Sarah underestimated the value of her possessions and the cost of rebuilding her home.
It’s important for homeowners to accurately assess the value of their property and belongings when choosing insurance coverage. Regularly reviewing and updating coverage limits ensures adequate protection against potential losses.
Case Study 3: Medical Insurance Denial
Alex underwent a medical procedure that was deemed necessary by his doctor. However, when he submitted a claim to his health insurance company, it was denied, stating that the procedure was not covered under his policy. Alex was left with a hefty medical bill that he had not anticipated.
Alex failed to thoroughly review the coverage details of his health insurance policy. It’s crucial to understand the terms and limitations of coverage, including what medical procedures and treatments are covered.
In case of any confusion, contacting the insurance company directly or seeking assistance from a knowledgeable professional can help ensure proper understanding and avoid unexpected expenses.
Case Study 4: Insufficient Life Insurance
Mary, a married individual with two children, had a life insurance policy with a coverage amount that seemed adequate at the time. Unfortunately, Mary unexpectedly passed away.
Her family soon realized that the life insurance payout was insufficient to cover the mortgage, children’s education expenses, and ongoing living costs. Mary didn’t consider the long-term financial needs of her family when determining her life insurance coverage amount.
It’s crucial to assess current and future financial obligations, such as mortgage payments, education expenses, and daily living costs, when deciding on the appropriate coverage amount. Regularly reviewing and updating life insurance policies ensures that loved ones are adequately protected in case of an untimely death.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a car subscription service?
A car subscription service is a flexible alternative to traditional car ownership or leasing. It allows individuals to pay a monthly fee to access a vehicle without the long-term commitment associated with buying or leasing a car. Subscribers can choose from a variety of vehicles and typically enjoy benefits such as insurance coverage, maintenance, and roadside assistance.
How does a car subscription service work?
When you subscribe to a car service, you select a vehicle from the service provider’s fleet. You pay a monthly fee that covers the cost of using the car, insurance, maintenance, and other services. The subscription period can range from a few months to several years, depending on the provider and your needs. Once subscribed, you can drive the vehicle and enjoy the perks associated with the service.
What are the benefits of a car subscription service?
- Flexibility: Car subscriptions offer the flexibility to switch vehicles according to your needs or preferences.
- Convenience: Services often include maintenance, repairs, and insurance, reducing the hassle of car ownership.
- Variety: Subscribers can access a wide range of vehicles, allowing them to experience different models without committing to long-term leases or purchases.
- Cost savings: While subscription fees may appear higher than monthly loan payments, they often include expenses like insurance and maintenance, potentially saving you money in the long run.
- Roadside assistance: Many services provide 24/7 roadside assistance, ensuring you have help when you need it.
Are there any downsides to car subscription services?
- Limited availability: Car subscription services may not be widely available in all areas, limiting your options depending on your location.
- Cost: Subscription fees can be higher than traditional leasing or financing payments, although they often include additional services that offset the cost.
- Mileage restrictions: Some services impose mileage limits, and exceeding them may result in additional fees.
- Dependency on the service provider: If the service provider goes out of business or faces operational issues, it may impact your access to a vehicle.
- Personalization limitations: Subscribers may have limited options for customizing the vehicle to their specific preferences.
Can I cancel my car subscription at any time?
Cancellation policies vary among providers, but most car subscription services offer flexible cancellation options. It’s important to review the terms and conditions of the service before subscribing to understand the cancellation process, any associated fees, and notice periods required.
Are car subscription services suitable for everyone?
Car subscription services can be beneficial for those who prefer flexibility and don’t want to commit to long-term vehicle ownership. They are particularly attractive to individuals who enjoy driving various vehicles or those who want to avoid the responsibilities of maintenance, insurance, and repairs. However, if you prefer long-term ownership or have specific customization preferences, traditional car ownership or leasing may be more suitable.
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Brandon Frady
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brandon Frady has been a licensed insurance agent and insurance office manager since 2018. He has experience in ventures from retail to finance, working positions from cashier to management, but it wasn’t until Brandon started working in the insurance industry that he truly felt at home in his career. In his day-to-day interactions, he aims to live out his business philosophy in how he treats hi...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.