In co-operation with Drive Now
We had the opportunity to test the car-sharing service Drive Now, which means that the company offered us a certain number of minutes of driving to test the service. We're now writing about our experience, and of course, as always, we're completely honest. So what do we think? How does using Drive Now work? What's good? Is there anything that's not so good?
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Here's how it works
Drive Now is a concept based on picking up a car in the city just when you need it. The company has 300 new BMWs and MINIs scattered on the streets of Stockholm, and with the help of their app you can easily see where the nearest car is.
To use the service, you must first register on the Drive Now website and link your payment card to the service. Then, when you come across a car in town, you unlock it with the app. To drive, you need to enter your personalised code, and then the rent will start ticking.
The cars cost between SEK 3.60 and 4.50 per minute to rent, and as soon as you park and turn off the car, the rent stops ticking. We drove to Arlanda for SEK 180, and then we were four people in the car. What you have to keep in mind is that you can only park within certain geographical limits, and that at Arlanda it costs 100 SEK to park (the only place where parking costs).
This is easy
Stockholm is growing and it is estimated that by 2050 the population will have increased to 3.4 million people. It will be unrealistic for everyone to have their own car, so car sharing is the way of the future! You just pay when you rent the car, but there are no costs in between.
If you don't have a car at all, you don't have to worry about parking fees, maintenance and insurance. The cars are easy to drive, and if you're in the centre of Stockholm, there really are cars everywhere. So it's easy to find a car!
This can be improved
The first time we got into a Drive Now car, we had some difficulty understanding how everything works. For example, we didn't understand how to enter the personalised code and couldn't find any instructions. When we finally called for help, support was only available in English. This could definitely be easier and clearer!
You can't park and leave your car anywhere, but only within certain geographical boundaries. We have had some difficulty finding the boundaries of these parking areas, and it is impractical when you drive too far out and then have to drive back again ...
Summing up
We think Drive Now is a great car-sharing service and we would definitely consider using it again. In the future, if the service develops and gets even better (e.g. parking further away from the city centre), we would consider not having our own car and only using this type of car sharing service when we need a car.
In fact, it's already happening - a press release has just been issued for free off-site breaks from 9pm to 6am Sunday to Thursday.
Want to know more?
If you want to know even more about our test and how it went, check out Peter's film. He also shows how the app works, how to start the car and so on.
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Nils-Åke Hansson says:
An acquaintance who already in the 70s gave up having a car himself. And since then has not had a car of his own... Rented a car e.g. Statoil when there was a need and often a larger van because of that need.
06 June 2017 - 8:07
Helena says:
Renting can be convenient if you don't use a car very often.
06 June 2017 - 10:08
Ama de casa says:
Doesn't sound like something that would suit me. How can I be sure to find a car when I need it? We don't use the car often, but when we do, we have something to fit. Or we're on a driving holiday...
06 June 2017 - 9:22
Helena says:
This doesn't suit everyone, of course. However, if you are in the centre of Stockholm, it is very easy to find a car. They are pretty much everywhere and you can see exactly where on the app.
06 June 2017 - 10:10
Husisblogg says:
Owners don't often need their own car, but when they do, they want to make sure it's there.
They often drive longer distances with their car when it is used, so this service would probably not suit my owners. But it's like Motorhome Life, it's good that there are different options for different needs.
The male owner also thinks this will be big in the future as not everyone can afford or has no interest in having their own car. How convenient to rent a car in this or similar ways.
06 June 2017 - 9:48
Helena says:
I agree, if you want to travel long distances from Stockholm and stay there (without driving back) then the service is not very suitable. However, it is very convenient if you want to drive in or around Stockholm or to Arlanda. I also believe that this type of service will be important in the future. It will become too crowded in the city if everyone has to have their own car 😉.
06 June 2017 - 10:14
Ditte says:
The idea seems really good and I have seen some of their cars in town. We haven't had our own car for a couple of years now because we live in the city and we prefer not to drive there, we have excellent public transport and it works very well.
If you're going outside the tolls, there may be a benefit to "Drive Now" as the tolls are quite high (compared to car hire.) But as I understand it, tolls and benisin are included in the per-minute cost, as is parking - which is good.
06 June 2017 - 10:07
Helena says:
Yes, exactly. Petrol, tolls and parking are included in the price per minute (except that parking at Arlanda costs 100 kr).
06 June 2017 - 10:20
Annika Majak says:
The idea is great!!! But I agree that there are some improvements that can be made!
06 June 2017 - 10:29
Helena says:
We also like the concept! It will be really good if the parking areas are larger. Guess such things can be developed over time ...
06 June 2017 - 17:01
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
I think it sounds like a perfect idea. Lived alone for a few years and chose not to own a car. Managed perfectly well with bike, public transport and train. Then I rented a car for longer trips or if I needed a weekend. Of course, all concepts can be improved.
06 June 2017 - 11:53
Helena says:
We use our car quite rarely and would love to get rid of it completely. So far we think that the areas where you can park are a bit too limited to be completely without your own car, but we look forward to it developing! We actually like the idea very much.
06 June 2017 - 17:04
Steve says:
A new service in time.
Regarding my many comments yesterday, I see as you mentioned that for some reason it is ill in my name line. I have changed it now and will be more attentive in the future.
06 June 2017 - 15:51
Helena says:
Don't worry Steve, sometimes things happen on the computer that you don't understand. No major damage done 😉
06 June 2017 - 17:05
Dessan says:
You showed us this when we were passing by er☺️Är I'm sure it's great in big cities. ?
06 June 2017 - 16:29
Helena says:
Well, I guess it works in big cities. At least so far. But it can be used by those who come to visit big cities 🙂.
06 June 2017 - 17:08
Matts Torebring says:
We think it's nice to live in the countryside. We take the car 50 metres to each stop.
06 June 2017 - 18:35
Helena says:
Of course I can understand that you enjoy the countryside! (Even if I myself want to live near the city ;))
07 June 2017 - 12:08
BP says:
I think it's a really smart service for travelling within the customs area. As long as you find a parking space in the city centre, because otherwise the parking costs 30 SEK/hour if I don't remember wrong. Does Drive Now pay for parking or how does it work?
06 June 2017 - 21:46
Helena says:
You can park and leave your car anywhere without paying for parking. If you "pause" it, you have to pay a certain price per minute (I think it was about 2.50).
07 June 2017 - 12:10
ullie says:
yes but a good idea it might work
exciting then I am waiting for tomorrow too
07 June 2017 - 1:49
Helena says:
I think this will come more and more! It does not work that everyone has their own car in Stockholm, when the population is increasing and increasing ... 😉.
07 June 2017 - 12:10