Station-Based Carsharing
What station-based carsharing is: you collect a car from a fixed location and return it there. How it differs from classic car rental.
Station-based carsharing is a shared mobility model in which cars are collected from and returned to fixed locations, such as stations, residential developments or car parks. Because each car has its own bay, there is a space waiting when you return.
Key Characteristics
Station-based models suit planned, predictable trips:
- Return parking: You never need to hunt for a space at the end of the rental, because the car has its own bay.
- Advance planning: Cars can be reserved days or weeks ahead for a specific time slot, which works well for business trips and weekends away.
- Round trips: Cars start and end at the same location, so the fleet does not need to be rebalanced.
Station-Based vs. Traditional Car Rental
Traditional rental agencies work from branch counters with fixed opening hours and paper contracts. Digital station-based carsharing uses app-based keyless access instead:
- Access by smartphone: Unlock the car late in the evening or on a public holiday, with no counter and no key handover.
- Shorter rentals: Many providers rent by the hour as well as by the day.
- Clear pricing: Maintenance and damage protection are often included, although what exactly is included varies by provider.
Strategic Fit in Urban Infrastructure
In Swiss cities, station-based locations near train stations complement public transport and ease parking pressure in residential areas. At DRAIV, cars in Zurich are parked near Zurich HB, in Oerlikon and in Altstetten, for example.
Related Terms
Fixed locations in Zurich
Our cars are parked near Zurich HB, in Oerlikon and in Altstetten, for example. After your trip you park the car back in the same spot.
More Mobility Definitions
Car Rental Security Deposit (Kaution)
What a car rental security deposit is: why rental companies hold an amount on your card, what that means for your card limit and debit cards, and how renting without a card hold works.
Car subscription: what it is and how it differs from renting
A car subscription is a car you use for a fixed monthly fee. Unlike a rental, you commit for months, not for hours or days.
Deductible in Damage Protection (Selbstbehalt)
What a car rental deductible (excess) is: the most you pay if the car is damaged. How deductible tiers work and which three DRAIV offers.
Digital Handover & Damage Inspection Protocol
What a digital handover protocol is: timestamped photos record a rental car's condition at pickup and return, together with mileage and fuel level. How the walk-around works in an app.
Keyless Handover
What a keyless handover is: you unlock, drive and lock a rental or shared car with an app, with no key and no desk. How digital access works technically.