Car Sharing Vs. Car Owning: The Choice Is Clear

New York City boasts the one of the largest public transportation systems in the world and one of the few that runs 24 hours. So why would anyone here want to own a car?

Well, there are multiple reasons. Perhaps it’s living in one of the city’s “subway deserts” without easy access to any subway lines. Perhaps it’s the desire to more easily travel (around and outside the city) with young children. Or perhaps it’s the realization that there’s so much to explore in the city’s harder-to-reach areas.

But is car ownership really the answer? Car-sharing service ReachNow provides the advantages of owning a car without the drawbacks. Plus now register for free and get $15 in driving credit.* Download the app (iOS or Android) and enter LETSGOBK17 in the promos section.

Let’s take a closer look:

First, there are the ongoing costs of owning.

Debt. Even if you get a good deal on a car from a trustworthy source, you’re still taking on significant debt through your loan or lease. And there’s always the risk of being drawn in by a predatory lender. If you can stay away from auto loans, so much the better.

With ReachNow, you pay only when you need a car. There isn’t even a membership fee. You just pay for the time you need. Sometimes, as with their current $25 for 3 hours weekday special, you barely pay at all.

Maintenance. Along with the basics of oil changes, annual emission inspections, and tune-ups, you’re looking into the mouth of a lot of uncertainty–especially with a more affordable used car. You could spend a lot of money and time trying to find a mechanic you trust.

No mechanic needed with ReachNow. They maintain the cars and if you have an issue with one, you can just hop over to another. That will save you A LOT of money in the long run.

Insurance. The average cost of insurance in New York State is $1,759/year but the five boroughs have some of the country’s highest rates, including up to $4,440 in zip code 11212.

Compared to all of this, with ReachNow they maintain the cars at no cost to you, and insurance is included with every trip. Not to mention you get to drive a luxury brand like BMW without any added cost.

Probably the biggest difference between owning a car in New York City and anywhere else is parking.

Free alternate side street parking is really helpful BUT you might have to move your car up to four times a week. It’s $45 in Brooklyn if you miss a day and that’s one of many fines you could—and probably will at some point—receive.

The other option is a garage or rental space, which will cost at minimum a few hundred dollars a month – or much more.

With ReachNow, you can utilize any available on-street parking (meters excluded) as long as it’s 12 hours prior to alternate side of street restrictions beginning. Plus, you can do one-way rentals! So no need to worry about leaving the car where it will be convenient for you in the future.

No need to Google gas station locations (which can be few and far between in areas like…all of Manhattan). The ReachNow app tells you how full each car’s gas tank is and how far that will get you, so you won’t have to fill it up unless your trip requires more than what is in the tank. And the first tank is on them!

All that money saved on loans, maintenance, insurance, fuel, and tickets means more money to actually enjoy those hard-to-reach Brooklyn locations you want a car to reach in the first place.

Lastly—and perhaps most compellingly—car sharing is simply the greener choice. It’s often daunting trying to think of a way to combat the climate change crisis on an individual basis. This is an easy one.

By helping to reduce the number of cars on the road and increase available parking spots, you’ll be part of reducing Brooklyn’s greenhouse gas emissions. You can stand with your city, which has set a target of an 80% reduction by 2050.

In case you think the difference in environmental impact between owning a car and using car sharing is negligible, it’s not. According to Susan Sheehan, a leading researcher into the impact of car sharing:

“In a recent [North American] study with close to 7,000 participants, a stunning 50 percent either sold a car or didn’t buy one because car sharing was available.”

By using ReachNow over owning your own car, you are not only saving thousands of dollars a year—you’re becoming part of a movement!

And you won’t give up the convenience of using a car when you need it—just the guilt (and lighter wallet).

*Credit is valid for the first 500 new members only, offer expires 8/4/17.

This post was sponsored by ReachNow. If you would like to reach our readers, please contact us.