Startups

Getaround, an ‘Airbnb for cars,’ expands to DC

It's the San Francisco company's first East Coast market.

Getaround allows users to rent out their privately owned cars by the hour. (Photo by Flickr user David Ingram, used under a Creative Commons license)

It may be our unreliable metro system, or it may be our monster traffic jams.
After the recent District launches of “real ridesharing app” Tripda and valet app Zirx, another alternative car solution is opening up here.
Getaround is a peer-to-peer car-sharing service that allows users to rent out their unused vehicle by the hour. Renters open the door by using a hardware system designed by the company. Once inside, they can pick up the key hidden inside a pouch.
Founder Jessica Scorpio said in a press release that the D.C. market, the company’s first 0n the East Coast, has already shown an interest. “We received thousands of pre-launch sign ups in the D.C. area,” she said in a press release Monday. “This community told us they were ready for a new way to get around and we listened.”
At this stage, the company has 30 privately owned cars available for rental and 40,000 users signed up in the D.C. area. After a May 2011 launch, Getaround raised a $24 million Series B round late last year.

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