Car subscription services are becoming increasingly common in the market, but are they worth it? Keep reading to find out!

So, are you familiar with the English term "As a service"? Well, it refers to the new trend offered by companies in the business world.

As consumer habits have changed over time, companies have found a new way to offer their products. Thus, the consumer no longer needs to own the item. They can rent it for a period of time, enjoying its benefits.

And as expected, this trend has also reached the automotive market. Therefore, today you can have a car through a subscription service, for periods ranging from 12 to 48 months. This is without having to bear the costs of maintenance, servicing, insurance and taxes, as these expenses are included in the monthly fee. 

Also, with the Coronavirus pandemic, many people are now working from home or need to travel to their workplace very little. Therefore, having a vehicle sitting idle in the garage is no longer a significant advantage.

So, car subscription service is a novelty in the automotive sector that has been gradually gaining market share. As the name suggests, the consumer has the option of owning a car for a specific period, paying a monthly fee.

Furthermore, it eliminates all the disadvantages of owning your own vehicle. Therefore, this trend is gaining increasing popularity among Brazilian consumers, as owning a car is no longer considered a good investment.

That's right, having a vehicle through a subscription is nothing more than a monthly rental, allowing you to use the vehicle whenever you need it. Rental periods can vary between 12 and 48 months, and you don't need to worry about the costs of owning your own car.

First of all, you need to keep a few details in mind to know if it's worth it.

Therefore, you should consider how much you actually need to use the car. If you don't need it all the time, that's a good indication that renting a car is worthwhile instead of buying one. Furthermore, you need to do some calculations before reaching a conclusion.

Therefore, one must consider the cost of owning a vehicle and then compare it to the cost of a monthly subscription for a specific period.

It's also worth considering that you won't have expenses related to paperwork, maintenance, servicing, insurance, and taxes, as these are included in the service. Logically, expenses for fuel, tolls, and parking will still apply, regardless of whether you rent or own a car.

Therefore, it's good to consider all these variables to reach a conclusion about whether having this service is worthwhile.

The possibility of having a car through a subscription service is becoming a trend, especially among younger audiences, but it is also attracting traditional consumers.

Thus, with an eye on this growing market, there are already several companies operating with this service, from traditional rental companies to the car manufacturers themselves. Let's explore some alternatives!

Localiza offers the Localiza Meoo service for car rentals by subscription. On the company's website, you can select from various vehicle categories and submit a quote. Alternatively, you can register on WhatsApp to receive quotes.

Furthermore, it offers plans ranging from 24 to 48 months, with monthly allowances varying from 1,000 to 3,000 km.

For example, consider the Fiat Mobi Like 1.0 with a monthly payment of R$ 1,233.00 for 24 months and a 1,000 km/month allowance. This includes insurance and 24-hour roadside assistance services.

Unidas offers a subscription program called Unidas Livre. On the company's website, you can simulate plans and allowances for the various car models available.

The plans have durations ranging from 12 to 40 months and allowances of up to 3,000 km/month.

For comparison, the Fiat Mobi Like 1.0 is rented for R$949.00 per month, for 48 months with a 1,000 km mileage allowance. Unidas also offers the BMW i3 Full electric car model for R$5,699 per month.

Finally, the service includes maintenance, documentation, and 24-hour coverage.

Well, the car manufacturer Renault has also entered this service segment.

In this way, the automaker offers, through its On Demand program, subscription service options for the Kwid, Stepway, and Duster models.

Then, you can hire the service through the program's portal, with the possibility of running simulations to find the best option.

The plans last from 12 to 24 months, with monthly mileage allowances of 500 to 2,000 km. Furthermore, you can choose to have the car delivered to your home. The Kwid Zen model subscription costs R$989.00 per month for 18 months, with a mileage allowance of 1,000 km/month.

Certainly, Volkswagen wasn't going to miss out on this market. Therefore, it created the Sign&Drive digital subscription program to attract consumers.

However, at the moment, the program is only available for São Paulo and with only 5 models available. Furthermore, it offers plans of 12 or 24 months and a 1,800 km mileage allowance.

Thus, its cheapest model is the Virtus 1.0 200 TSI Highline AT. It costs R$ 2,099.00 per month for 18 months with a mileage allowance of 1,800 km/month.

Therefore, we present here some options where you can rent a car through a subscription service. But there are others on the market, such as the insurance company Porto Seguro. Also, car manufacturers like Fiat, Jeep, Mitsubishi, and Audi offer a line of luxury cars. So, just do your research and find the solution that fits your budget.

Even so, do you still think it's better to buy a car and need financing? Then, learn about an alternative by reading our article on Creditas vehicle financing and find out if it's a good option for you!