1. What Is car2go?
car2go is a groundbreaking mobility program redefining transportation in rapidly growing urban areas. Launched by Daimler in the southern German city of Ulm in March 2009 and in Austin, Texas, in November 2009, it provides a fleet of free-floating, low-emission, self-service smart fortwo cars distributed all over the city. car2go vehicles can be accessed “on-demand,” or reserved for up to 24 hours in advance. For “on-demand” access, members simply swipe their membership card against the vehicle’s windshield.

Unlike traditional carsharing programs, car2go allows its members to use the vehicle for as long as they like, without committing to a specific return time or location. They can have one-way rentals and finish the trip in any authorized parking space within the car2go operating area. Attractive “by-the-minute” rates include costs for fuel, insurance, parking and maintenance.

2. How do I use a car2go?
To use car2go, simply swipe your membership card against the windshield. In a matter of seconds your membership will be verified and the doors to the vehicle will unlock. You then answer a few questions about the condition of the vehicle, turn the car on and drive away. Once you are finished with your rental, you can terminate the rental on the screen or reserve it as a stop-over by selecting the appropriate choice on the touchscreen. Then swipe your membership card against the windshield, listen for the doors to lock and be on your way.

You can keep the vehicle as long as you want. Use it for short trips in the city, drive to the lake or a concert at the Cedar Park Center. Of course, you can make intermediate stops whenever you want and leave the car2go – for example, to go shopping. In this case, select stop-over to block the vehicle in your absence so no one uses it before you return. This will be indicated by a red blinking signal on the reader.

3. What kind of vehicles does car2go use?
car2go uses the smart fortwo vehicle. This is the most fuel-efficient, low-emission non-hybrid vehicle in the U.S. All smart fortwos come packed with standard safety features more likely to be found in luxury vehicles. These include the protective tridion safety cell, developed especially for the smart fortwo to help ensure crash compatibility with larger passenger cars, electronic stability program, anti-lock braking system and four airbags.

4. What features are available in a car2go?
Insurance, gas, roadside assistance, free parking in designated areas, GPS navigation, maintenance and 24/7 customer support are all included in the standard rental price.

Inside the car, the onboard touchscreen computer makes operating the vehicle even easier. PIN entry, evaluation, call center team contact, radio and navigation system can be intuitively controlled using the touchscreen. The PIN you set during registration needs to be typed in before you can drive the car; this ensures that should your membership card be misplaced, no one can use your card to access a car2go. The customer support function enables customers to have immediate, live, in-car support, should they need it.

5. How affordable is car2go?
Very! At just $0.35 per minute you can have a car when you need it.  For one hour the cost is $12.99 and a day is $65.99 plus tax. With free parking around Austin, you only have to pay for a car when you drive it.

6. Do I need to reserve a car2go?
Not at all! Our free-floating fleet is positioned around the city for any spur of the moment decision to get in and drive. Should you want to reserve a car, you can on a car2go mobile phone application, by logging in to MY CAR2GO on the car2go.com website, or by contacting the car2go customer call center at 1.877.488.4224 up to 24 hours in advance. Normally, within the urban area of Austin, the nearest car2go is never further away than a few minutes walk. Only during periods of extreme utilization could the distance sometimes be somewhat greater.

7. Do I need to refuel, clean or bring back the car2go?
No! We have a full service team to handle all of this. If you do refuel a car2go when it is at 25% or less fuel level, then your account will be credited with 10 minutes of driving time as a thank you. The fuel card is located above the touchscreen and your refueling PIN is written on the screen when you park the car and select “Refuel.”

If cleaning above the normal scope of duties is required, a cleaning charge may apply.

Lastly, you never have to reserve or return a car2go — you can use it for as long as you like and leave it anywhere you like, provided you are legally parked in an authorized spot within the operating area.

8. Can I go outside of the operating area with the car?
Yes! You can drive as far and as long as you like within Central Texas. An alert will sound to inform you of when you are leaving the operating area. Once outside of the operating area, you will not be able to end your rental. This means you will be billed normally for the time you are outside of the operating area until you return the vehicle to the area. For a map of the operating area click here.

9. What about parking?
Free curbside and venue parking is conveniently located around Austin. In residential areas, members can park and end their rentals in any permit only residential spot. All City of Austin metered parking spots may be used for free. Members can also park and end their rentals in specially marked car2go parkspots.

A parkspot is a parking space identified and marked as a car2go parking space in heavily trafficked and congested areas of Austin. Our available vehicles are located in these dedicated areas, and they can also be parked there indefinitely. For a map of available parkspots click here.

Private parking (such as near shopping malls, restaurants, grocery stores, apartment complexes, etc.) is only allowed when using the vehicle’s stop-over function; a stop-over is when you exit the vehicle without ending the rental and take the keys with you. You will be charged for the time you keep your rental open. Ensure that the area where you park has no parking, stopping or time restrictions that affect you.

When completing your rental, restricted spaces such as handicapped, commercial, loading, valet, taxi, and bus zones should not be used for parking a car2go. Any location with pay parking, time restrictions, or signs reading “no stopping” or “no parking” should not be used to end a rental. car2go rentals should not be completed in other off-street parking locations like residential driveways or garages; shopping center, apartment or office building parking lots and garages; or paid public parking lots or garages.

10. Can my chocolate lab “Chips” ride with me?
Sadly no, your beloved pets cannot join you on your trip. This is for your safety as well as your pets’.

11. Can I smoke in the car?
No. As a shared vehicle, car2go cannot facilitate smokers. Better to have that last puff before you get in.

12. What is the insurance coverage?
car2go has $5 million in insurance coverage for third party liability, collision coverage and comprehensive coverage. The deductible for an accident is a maximum of $1,000.

13. What do I do if I need roadside assistance or get in an accident?
Call the customer service center at 1.877.488.4224 or press SOS on the touchscreen to report the incident. A representative will then immediately help you. An Accident Instructional Kit is located in the glove compartment with further directions.

14. How can I register?
Just sign up on this site. Once registered and approved as a car2go member, you will receive a member card within days, which allows you to unlock and drive a car2go.

15. How can I tell if a car2go is available?
Each car2go has a special card reader installed on its windshield. A light signal on the device indicates whether the vehicle is currently available or reserved. Green is the color that identifies the car2go as available for use.

16. How do I unlock the car2go?
When you register with car2go, you will be sent the car2go member card. In order to unlock the vehicle, simply hold up your member card close to the reader on the windshield. The reader will quickly indicate the doors are unlocked so that you can get in and go.

17. How do I activate the car2go and where is the key?
After you have entered the car2go, you will need to enter your personal code (PIN) into the touchscreen and also assess the cleanliness of the vehicle and confirm that it is not damaged. Once you complete those questions, you will be prompted to accept car2go’s terms and conditions and access the ignition key located to the right of the touchscreen. The ignition is where the park brake and gear shift are located.

18. Where do I park the car2go when the trip is complete?
Within the operating area, the car2go can basically be parked in any public parking space in Austin. The only requirement is that you do not park in a no-parking zone and that you park legally. If you violate these rules, we will have to charge you not only for the parking ticket from the city of Austin but also for any processing fees and towing costs.

There are many designated areas where you can park the car2go in specially marked car2go parking spaces.

19. How do I pay after using car2go?
Payments for your rental will be applied to the credit or debit card you used in registration. All of your trips for the last month will be logged with attendant invoices; these are accessible in “My CAR2GO” when logging in to the website.