Auto Subscription Services: A complete guide to leasing and its alternatives (2023)

This does not mean that subscriptions are completely dead. Only Porsche and Volvo still offer factory subscriptions. Porsche has the charm of a desirable and high-value sports car, while Volvo maintains prices and conditions comparable to leasing prices. Several startups and large rental companies are still operating on competitive terms.

Car Subscription vs. Leasing: What's the Difference?

Leasing has become popular in the last few decades for several reasons. While a down payment is usually required, the monthly rate is usually lower than traditional financing for the same vehicle. Leasing is also an attractive option for drivers who are not interested in a long-term credit agreement. Transit times tend to be shorter, allowing drivers to shift to onenew vehicleEvery few years you avoid the hassle of selling or replacing your current vehicle. The downside is that the tenant has to pay for insurance, maintenance and repairs throughout the rental period.

A car subscription service is similar to leasing only in the sense that there is no personal ownership, but the terms are generally much shorter and more flexible. Insurance and maintenance costs are also included in the price. For those who hate bindings and are willing to pay more for the benefits that come with them, it is worth considering buying a car.

Which car manufacturers offer car subscription services?

• Porsche
• Volvo

Porsche drive

From the Macan SUV to the mighty 911Sports carThis is a great way to experience one or more of Stuttgart's best cars. not surprisingly,PorscheHis program is very expensive. But the loans are flexible from one day to a full month, and subscribers can keep the car for up to three months at a time. electricTaycan(basic and 4S) is available, but charging costs extra, even at Volkswagen-funded Electrify America stations.

Locations:Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, Irvine, Los Angeles, Louisville, Monterey, Nashville, Paramus, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose

Car:911, Boxster, Cayenne, Cayman, Macan, Panamera, Taycan

Prize:Monthly or three-month vehicle subscription from $2,000 to $3,200 per month; Multi-Vehicle Plan from $3,600/month (plus tax); Daily rent from $245 to $395 per day ($2,500 security deposit required)

Activation:$595 (exemption applies to 3-month single vehicle subscription only)

Limitations:Age 21+, 1,500 to 2,000 miles per month (subscriptions); Age 27+, license for five years, 200 miles/day (day rental)

Serviced at Volvo

Volvo Subscription is technically a 24-month lease that includes collision damage waiver, maintenance and other additional insurance benefits such as tire and rim protection.VolvoReturning the vehicle also waives the additional $1,000 wear fee. However, a swap for another car is possible after five months (or 12 months in Illinois). Volvo demands months in exchange for signing a new 24-month contract. At the end of the contract, subscribers can buy the vehicle at a predetermined price, similar to leasing. However, unlike other services, monthly prices only reflect the starting point - they vary by vehicle and do not include taxes.

Locations:Everywhere except CA and NY

Car:XC40, S60, XC90, XC60

Prize:$600 to $675 per month (XC40); $650/month (S60); $700 per month (60XC); $775 to $875 per month (XC90)

Limitations:15,000 miles a year

Which rental or leasing companies offer car subscription services?

• Autonomy
• Realize
• Fin
• six

Autonomy

Autonomyis Tesla's third leasing company based in Santa Monica. Customers set their own payments and monthly installments, which then apply for 18, 24, 30 or 36 months. Unlike leasing, Autonomy does not charge an early termination fee and does not force the tenant to buy a lease. Prices listed here do not include insurance, which is calculated and included at the time of purchase.

Locations:Californian, Florida, Texas, Washington

Car:Model Tesla 3

Prize:Differs. The minimum monthly payment is $390 per month for 18 months and the maximum down payment is $6,100. The maximum monthly payment is $1,000 per month for 36 months with a minimum deposit of $1,000.

Activation:Margin of $500 plus variation margin (minimum $1,000)

Limitations:No trade-in, 1,000 miles per car per month, at least one month (31 days) and two weeks' notice, credit check

Subscribe with Enterprise

With this program you can comb through most of itcorporate fleet. As a traditional rental company, in most cases you cannot reserve the exact model in a specific segment.

Locations:Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada

Car:

• Compact, Mid and Standard SUV (PrideEcoSport, Hyundai Kona, Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, Ford Explorer,JeepGrand Cherokee, Nissan Pathfinder lub podobny)
• Full-size sedans and Premium (NissanAltima, Chevy Impala, Toyota Camry,Chryslera300 or similar);
• Standard and full-size trucks (Chevy Colorado, Nissan Frontier,to avoid working memory1500,Ford F150o.ä)
• Only in Georgia: luxury sedans and SUVs (BMW 3 Series, Infiniti Q50, Audi Q3, Mercedes-Benz GLA 250, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC 300, Audi Q5) and luxury luxury SUVs (Land Rover Discovery, Jaguar F-Pace) ). , Audi Q7, Infiniti QX80, Cadillac Escalade)

Prize:$1499 per month

Activation:$250

Limitations:3,000 miles/month, 4 changes per month in same condition, 2 months minimum, fuel surcharge, pick up/return to store only, age over 25, exact vehicle not guaranteed

Fin

Finstarted offering subscriptions in Germany and now serves the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast countries. The prices are very competitive compared to traditional leasing, and in some cases result in significant savings, including all fees, especially for expensive pickups and SUVs. There is no deposit, margin or activation fee. The mileage limit is lower than other services, although Finn offers up to 1,500 miles at an additional cost. Subscriptions range from six months to one year. Substitutions are not allowed.

Locations:Connecticut, Washington, DC, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia

Car:Cadillac XT6, Chevrolet Blazer, Chevrolet Traverse, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Nissan Pathfinder, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wagoneer L, Ram 1500, Tesla Model 3, Volkswagen ID.4

Prize:$579/mo up to $1,159/mo (depending on location and available cars)

Activation:None ($200 collection fee at end of contract)

Limitations:850 miles per month, minimum six months, over 25 years old, credit check and 640 points, clean vehicle, Finn logo not removable from rear window

six+

six+, part of the German rental company specializing in luxury cars, offers the highest quality and most desirable cars of all subscription services except Porsche Drive. This is especially valuable if you are in a large metropolitan area and need a new car model for a month or more.

Locations:Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and various cities in California, Miami and other cities in Florida, Honolulu, Newark, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle

Car:

• Sedan (Nissan Sentra, Mini Countryman, Kia Forte, Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Jetta, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Passat, Nissan Altima or similar)
• Premium-Coupé (BMW 4er)
• Limuzyna premium (BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Infiniti Q50, Volvo S60, Volvo S90, Tesla Model 3)
• Multi-seat (Chrysler Pacifica, Toyota Sienna or similar)
• SUV (Chevrolet Blazer, Chevrolet Traverse, Volkswagen Atlas, GMC Acadia, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Toyota 4Runner); SUV klasy premium (BMW X1, BMW X2, BMW X3, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi Q5, Audi Q8, Cadillac XT6, Ford Bronco Sport, Mazda CX-5, Volvo XC60, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon , GMC Yukon XL, Toyota Sequoia, Toyota RAV4 lub inne)

Prize:649 USD/mies. do 1269 USD/mies

Activation:$99, $199 or $259 (depending on vehicle class)

Limitations:Age 21+ (18+ in NYC; additional charge for some vehicles and drivers under 25), one replacement per month, one month minimum, no delivery, mileage limit varies by car, deposit required, exact car not guaranteed.

This article,Auto Subscription Services: A complete guide to leasing and its alternatives, originally published onForbes advisor.