Cities interested in Orlando's car sharing biz

In just a few weeks the city of Orlando will roll out its new car-sharing program, providing on-demand vehicles for rent by the hour at multiple locations downtown.

The no-cost contract for the program was awarded to the Hertz 24/7, a division of the Hertz rental car company. To start, a total of 12 vehicles will be available for a minimum rental time of one hour.

Prices for the hourly rentals will start at $8 per hour for economy vehicles and will go up depending on the class of vehicle rented. Unlike traditional rentals that require the renter to be age 25 or older, these cars will be available to anyone older than 18, with a valid driver’s license.

“It’s about providing options for commuters, visitors, and residents,” said Florida Department of Transportation representative Steve Olson. “The city is excited to offer such a program to tie in with the arrival of SunRail.”

According to Florida Department of Transportation representative Jessica Keane, there will be a variety of vehicles offered including economy cars, mid-size SUVs, full size sedans and possibly even pickup trucks, perfect for an afternoon run to Ikea.

The rental fee would include gas, insurance and parking in the designated spots where cars are checked out and returned. Taxes are not included.

In order to rent a car for the first time, users will need to create a profile online at Hertz247.com and have their driver’s license validated at a staffed rental location. Once this one-time step is complete, renters will be issued a key fob, which they will use to access their rental. Whenever a car is needed, users simply book one through the website or through the Hertz app using a credit or debit card.

After confirmation of the rental is complete, the driver can head to the garage or lot where the car is located and, using the electronic key fob, they can unlock their designated vehicle and drive off; no other check in is required.

Another difference from traditional car rental is that gas is included. If refueling is necessary during the rental period, drivers use the fuel card located in the car’s glove box to refuel.

Inside each car will also be an electronic screen that can be used to extend the rental and to end the rental upon return, so there is no need to worry. If more time is needed, simply use the panel to extend the rental time.

The cars are available for daily rental, but at a higher rate than traditional rentals. “This is to encourage the car sharing aspect by having users limit their time to a couple of hours instead of using the vehicle for the entire day,” said Keane.

For now, drivers must return the vehicles to the location where they were picked up, but eventually this may change allowing drivers to pick up a car at one location and return it to another as the program grows.

Downtown Orlando will serve as the pilot area for the program and, depending on its success and popularity, other cities will consider whether such a program could work in their community.

Winter Park city leaders are already considering the car-sharing program to add to their growing list of sustainability projects.

“Providing multi-modal forms of transportation is important to our city and we are continuing to talk to partners already involved in this type of program to determine if it is a good fit for our community,” said Winter Park spokeswoman Clarissa Howard.

With the upcoming completion of the SunRail line, adding on-demand vehicles could be a vital link for residents who aren’t quite ready to completely give up on cars.

“This is a win, win for everyone,” said Olson. “…at no cost to the city or commuters and residents will now have greater flexibility in their transportation options.”