Montreal car-sharing expanding with more cars and Communauto competitor coming

More and more Montrealers are using car-sharing programs as fleets are expanding and a new competitor is on the way.

As the cost of living takes its toll on working families, some Montreal residents are turning to car-sharing services to get around.

Those services are profiting from the demand.

Montrealer Andrea Cochrane doesn’t own a car and uses Communauto to get around.

“If you’re an occasional driver like me who just drives three or four times a week, it’s absolutely worth it,” she said.

Communauto is cheaper than owning a car and it’s practical, according to Cochrane.

“If you don’t have a car, you don’t have to worry about maintenance,” she said. “This is a huge plus as well, right? You don’t have to worry about insurance payments and so on.”

According to the ride-sharing company, 30 per cent of its users sold their car when they joined the service.

“A car sharing member spends in average less than $2,000 per year in using the car,” said vice president Marco Viviani.

Economics professor Moshe Lander says drivers are really only behind the wheel 16 hours a week, which makes sharing a ride a solid option.

“That means 90 per cent of the week at least, your car is sitting parked, idle and off, yet you still have to pay parking, maintenance, gas, insurance, licensing,” said Lander.

Communauto is the only car-sharing service available in Montreal, but starting next month, there will be competition when the new company Leo hits the streets.

“Competition is a great thing,” said Lander. “Wider variety, lower prices, better quality. That’s usually what comes from competition.”

The demand for cars is growing, and Communauto will add 700 cars this year.