Car-sharing between private individuals is an increasingly popular practice that offers many economic, environmental and social benefits. However, encouraging those around you to take the plunge with you can sometimes prove difficult. Here are a few arguments and tips to convince your friends, neighbors and colleagues!
1. Highlight financial savings of car sharing
This is undoubtedly the most convincing argument, as the substantial financial savings that this practice can generate are real. Owning a car involves high costs: purchase, maintenance, insurance, fuel and parking. To quote TCS figures (a Swiss based associ tion)a new car costing CHF 41,000 and driving around 15,000km a year costs CHF 6,488 a year (Source: TCS). By sharing a car with other people, these costs can be spread out, reducing the financial burden for each user.
2. Talk about environmental, social and town-planning benefits
Beyond the financial savings, carsharing also offers significant environmental benefits, particularly in urban areas. By sharing vehicles, we reduce the total number of cars on the road, which in turn reduces traffic jams and, consequently, CO2 emissions. In Switzerland, there will be 4.8 million passenger vehicles on the road in 2023, and this figure is constantly rising (Source: Swiss Federal Statistical Office).
Fewer vehicles also means less pressure on infrastructure. Fewer cars on the road means less need for new roads and parking lots, freeing up space for other more beneficial urban uses, such as green spaces or bicycle paths. In city centers, where parking is often a major problem, car-sharing can help to relieve congestion on streets and in parking lots, making life more pleasant for all residents.
3. Demonstrate ease of use
It’s not always easy to set up a car-sharing scheme. However, with mobile applications like Co-oto, the process is simplified. Here’s how:
- Reservation management: The app makes booking rides quick and easy. Users can view car availability in real time, and book in just a few clicks.
- Tracking expenses: The application makes it easy to track expenses related to vehicle use, from fuel to insurance and maintenance. Costs are automatically apportioned between users, avoiding potentially unpleasant discussions about who owes what.
- Trip history: Co-oto keeps a logbook recording all trips made and associated costs. This transparency helps maintain mutual trust between users.
- Simple registration: Registering with Co-oto is quick and easy. Simply download the application, create an account and invite your friends, neighbors or colleagues to join your sharing circle!
We’ve put a lot of energy into offering a platform designed to be accessible to everyone, even those unfamiliar with new technologies. By making it easy to manage car-sharing via Co-oto, you can remove one of the main barriers to adoption.
4. Propose a trial period
To convince your friends and family, you can also offer a trial period. During this period, you can familiarize yourselves with the carsharing system.
Here are a few tips for setting up a trial period:
- Offer 2-3 free rides: if you’re a car owner and it makes sense, offer a few free rides to encourage your acquaintances to try carsharing and familiarize themselves with your vehicle.
- Personalized assistance, stay tuned: offer your help with initial bookings, using the application and managing journeys (the Co-oto team is at your disposal too, and see our FAQ and features page). Your support can reassure them and facilitate their adoption of the system.
- Feedback and adjustments : At the end of the trial period, ask for feedback to understand the positive points and any improvements to be made.
A trial period not only demonstrates the practical benefits of carsharing, but also builds a relationship of trust with your new borrower or owner.
5. Reassurance on safety and insurance issues
Concerns about safety and insurance are often an obstacle to the adoption of carsharing. To convince those around you to take the plunge, it’s crucial to reassure them about these aspects by drawing on available solutions and best practices. Here are a few key points to help you convince them:
Adapted insurance (in Switzerland)
Explain that, although Co-oto doesn’t offer insurance directly, there are many insurance options available for car-sharing in Switzerland. Some insurance companies offer specific cover for shared vehicles, protecting both the owner and users in the event of damage or accidents. For maximum peace of mind, it’s important to choose insurance that covers carsharing-related claims.
Model contracts
Use standard contracts to clarify the duties, responsibilities and expectations of each party before you start carsharing. These contracts can include clauses on vehicle maintenance, cost allocation, claims procedures and other practical details. This ensures that clear agreements are put down on paper, so that misunderstandings are avoided and you don’t have to think about them every time you use the car.