To help you choose the best option for your next getaway, we’ve rounded up the top keyless car-sharing apps suited for road trips. While these apps are great for quick, hourly errands, a longer journey — like a coastal drive in California or a Croatia road trip — requires more planning. For multi-day trips, you’ll need to consider factors like mileage caps, rental duration, and the reliability of a digital key over an extended period. The best keyless car-sharing app for your long-distance adventure will depend on your specific needs.
Turo: Best for specific vehicles and long durations
Turo operates as the largest peer-to-peer (P2P) car rental marketplace, functioning much like an Airbnb but for vehicles:
- Keyless feature: A significant number of cars on the platform are equipped with “Turo Go,” a feature that allows renters to unlock the vehicle directly through the app. Additionally, hosts who use third-party digital access tools, such as MoboKey, can provide a completely seamless and contactless rental experience from start to finish.
- Road trip advantage: Turo rentals are generally structured on a daily basis, and hosts often provide discounts for week- or month-long bookings, making it cost-effective for extended trips. A major benefit is the ability to choose the exact make and model of the car you want, ensuring you have a comfortable and suitable vehicle for a long drive.
- The mileage factor: It’s important to note that most Turo rentals come with a mileage cap. If you’re planning a particularly long trip, you will likely need to purchase an “unlimited mileage” add-on to avoid potentially significant overage fees at the end of your rental.
Zipcar: Best for all-inclusive, fixed costs
Zipcar is a subscription-based service that is ideal for round-trip rentals originating from a fixed station:
- Keyless feature: The Zipcar experience is entirely keyless by design. Members use either their membership card or a mobile app to unlock and access the car, eliminating the need for physical key handoffs.
- Road trip advantage: One of Zipcar’s most appealing features for road trippers is its all-inclusive pricing model, which covers fuel, insurance, and maintenance. This provides peace of mind and simplifies budgeting, as there are fewer variable costs to worry about.
- The Mileage Factor: Zipcar trips typically include a generous 200 miles per day. However, any mileage beyond that is billed at $0.67 per mile. This structure makes Zipcar a better choice for shorter weekend getaways rather than for extensive cross-country journeys where mileage can add up quickly.
Ultimately, the best rental choice depends on your specific travel plans. Whether you’re planning a Croatia road trip driving along the coast or exploring local hideaways, comparing services and others will ensure you find the perfect vehicle for your adventure.
Getaround: Best for quick, multi-day local trips
Getaround is another P2P service, particularly well-known for its instant, app-based, and fully contactless booking process:
- Keyless feature: Getaround utilizes its proprietary “Connect” hardware, which is installed in the vehicles. This technology allows renters to locate and unlock the car directly from their phones without any interaction with the owner.
- Road trip advantage: The streamlined and quick booking process is a major plus if you need a vehicle immediately for a trip spanning several days. However, because the platform’s primary focus is on short-term hourly rentals, you must carefully review its long-distance policies and be mindful of any mileage caps before committing to a long journey.
The MoboKey advantage for hosts
For hosts participating on P2P platforms like Turo, MoboKey delivers the essential technology required to securely and efficiently manage multi-day road trips:
- Remote engine kill: MoboKey enhances security with powerful features like a remote engine kill switch. This allows hosts to disable the vehicle from afar in the event of unauthorized use or a major policy violation, providing an extra layer of protection.
- Superior contactless handoff: By integrating with MoboKey, hosts can offer a seamless and professional contactless experience, which is a crucial factor for maintaining high ratings and attracting more renters.
- No recurring fees: Unlike many other keyless systems that come with ongoing subscription fees, MoboKey is a one-time hardware purchase. This eliminates monthly costs and helps hosts maximize their earnings over the long term.