Car subscription in comparison: These are the most important providers

As part of a car subscription, drivers subscribe to a vehicle. The difference to other financing models such as car leasing is the significantly shorter term.

The monthly installments for the car subscription are somewhat higher than for leasing. But they include almost all ancillary costs. Only operating costs such as refueling are added.

There are now numerous providers of car subscriptions. These include, for example, Finn*, Care by Volvo* or Sixt Plus*. We have compared seven of the most important providers here. You can find other providers in our car subscription calculator at the end of this article.

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There are now many alternatives to buying a car. People who rarely drive a car can, for example, use car sharing offers. If you depend on a car every day, you might find car leasing interesting. The car subscriptions, which are becoming increasingly popular, are also new. What is it all about, which providers are there and is it worth it? We answer the most important questions.

What is a car subscription?

A car subscription is exactly what it sounds like: a subscription for cars. Customers subscribe to a vehicle for a predetermined period of time and pay a monthly rate for it. The exciting thing about car subscriptions is that the term is usually much shorter than with traditional leasing. In addition, these are all-inclusive offers. This means that all costs are included in the monthly rate. These include insurance, taxes and fees, registration, general inspection as well as maintenance and wear and tear. The only costs that subscribers incur are fuel costs or other liquids such as windscreen washer fluid, engine oil and coolants.

How do car subscriptions work?

Car subscriptions are easy. With most providers, the ordering process takes place online. You simply choose a suitable model, set the term (there are both subscription models with flexible and fixed terms) and, if necessary, decide on one of the available free kilometer packages.

During runtime

You can then pick up your car from the dealer or have it delivered to your home. This may incur additional costs. During the term, you can then use your car as if it were yours. However, since these are rental vehicles, you have to follow certain rules. For example, it is generally not permitted to smoke in the cars. There are also some countries where you are not allowed to drive the car you have subscribed to. Because your car subscription includes services such as maintenance and the like, the providers will handle any service appointments or repairs for you. You don't have to worry about anything and many services are free of charge for you.

After expiry of the term

Your car subscription ends when the term expires. Early terminations are usually not possible, but due to the short term this is often not necessary. You can often subscribe to a follow-up vehicle immediately after your subscription. You can either bring the car back yourself or have it picked up. An appraiser will then check the vehicle for any damage.

What are the requirements for a car subscription?

The requirements for a car subscription vary depending on the provider. Criteria can be things like age and residency. In principle, a PWK driving license must always be available. In addition, the providers check the creditworthiness of their prospective subscribers.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a car subscription?

Car subscriptions have many advantages. On the one hand, this includes the short term. Most subscriptions end after a maximum of one year. Therefore, you do not commit yourself for too long and you also have planning security when it comes to costs. In addition, the delivery time is often much shorter than when buying or leasing a car. As part of a car subscription, vehicles are often available within a few days or weeks. Finally, car subscriptions are also perfect for anyone who values ​​convenience. You don't have to worry about anything, as almost everything apart from refueling is included in the monthly rate. That means: no hidden costs. You really only pay the operating costs for your car.

The big disadvantage of car subscriptions, however, is that they are also significantly more expensive than leasing rates. However, if you factored in the ancillary costs for insurance, maintenance and the like in a conventional leasing rate, you would certainly arrive at comparable rates. In this respect, you should not be put off by the supposedly high costs.

How much does it cost to subscribe to a car?

The prices for car subscriptions range from cheap to very expensive - depending on the vehicle, duration and free kilometers. Cheap offers start at around 200.00 euros per month. There is no upper limit for expensive subscriptions. Depending on the provider, there are sometimes additional payments. This is an entry fee, which is usually no more than 200.00 euros. However, many providers do without it.

Car subscription: 7 providers in comparison

Are you interested in a car subscription, but don't know which provider to choose? We introduce you to seven of the most important car subscription providers:

1. VIEW FinnAUTO SUBSCRIPTIONAuto subscription at Finn – from around 250.00 euros per month* Special feature : low rates and flexible terms, high number of free kilometers

Finn's car subscription at a glance

2. Care by VolvoVIEW CAR SUBSCRIPTIONThe Volvo car subscription – from around EUR 499.00 per month* Special feature : book online, no minimum term, including VAT

The Volvo car subscription at a glance

3. SEE Sixt PlusCAR SUBSCRIPTIONCar subscription with Sixt Plus – from around EUR 500.00 per month* Special feature : large selection of vehicles, short terms possible, flexible choice of free kilometers

The Sixt Plus car subscription at a glance

4. VIEW My EuropcarAUTO SUBSCRIPTIONCar subscription at My Europcar – from around EUR 350.00 per month* Special feature : short terms, high number of free kilometers, subscription can be flexibly extended

The My Europcar car subscription at a glance

5. VIEW Like2DriveAUTO-SUBSCRIPTIONAuto subscription at Like2Drive – from around 200.00 euros per month* Special feature : low rates, flexible choice of free kilometers

The Like2Drive car subscription at a glance

6. SEE Shell RechargeAUTO SUBSCRIPTIONAuto subscription at Shell Recharge - from around 200.00 euros per month* Special feature : low rates and flexible term, exclusively e-cars

The Shell Recharge car subscription at a glance

7. Subscription Your car VIEW AUTO SUBSCRIPTION Auto subscription with subscription your car – from around 200.00 euros per month* Special feature : low rates, flexible choice of free kilometers, used cars

The car subscription from Abo Your car at a glance

Which car subscription providers do we recommend?

Which provider is the right one for you depends on various factors. The cheapest subscriptions are available from Abo Dein Auto, Shell Recharge and Like2Drive. However, the transit times are more flexible with Finn, Care by Volvo, Sixt and My Europcar. You should also take into account special payments such as the entry fee, which are incurred with Sixt Plus and Abo dein Auto. Finally, the included free kilometers also play a role. Frequent drivers are then best off choosing a provider that offers a particularly large number of free kilometers. However, it should be noted that the monthly rate usually increases with the free kilometers. One provider that particularly caught our eye in the comparison is Finn. Here you have a good mix of everything: affordable cars, flexible terms and a large number of free kilometers. In addition to Finn, we also liked Shell Recharge, as this provider only offers e-cars. This can be exciting if you first want to test whether switching to an electric car suits your needs.

Conclusion: Are car subscriptions worth it?

Despite their high monthly rates, car subscriptions can definitely be worthwhile. The service speaks for itself. In addition, there are the advantages already mentioned, such as the short running and delivery times. For example, a car subscription can also be used to bridge the gap while you are waiting for your new car. Due to delivery bottlenecks and a lack of chips, there are long waiting times for new cars. So if you want a car quickly without committing yourself to it, you have found the right option with a car subscription.

Car subscription: Calculator with the best offers

Acquired a taste? You can find current offers for car subscriptions in our calculator. The results are sorted in such a way that you are automatically shown the best offer. You can also adjust the filter and have the subscriptions sorted by rate (ascending or descending), by relevance or by topicality. Do you already know exactly which brand or model you want? This can also be set in advance on the computer. Click through the car subscription calculator to find the best provider with the right offer for you!

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