Car sharing isn’t just a niche idea in Europe anymore — it’s becoming part of everyday urban life. In countries like France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Romania, Hungary, and Poland, hopping into a shared car has become as normal as taking the bus or ordering an Uber. Cities are crowded, people are ditching personal cars, and more and more are turning to flexible mobility options that don’t require long-term commitments. Car sharing is filling that gap.
Back in the early 2010s, a few test projects popped up in big cities. Some succeeded, some failed. Fast-forward to 2025, and we’re seeing mature services with thousands of cars, advanced apps, and millions of users across the continent. And this growth is showing no signs of slowing down.
This article takes a look at who’s leading the charge. We’ll break down the biggest car sharing companies in the region, what makes them stand out, the tech they’re using, and what the future of car sharing in Europe looks like. We’re also highlighting Getmancar — an up-and-coming player from Eastern Europe that’s quietly making moves toward the EU market.
Let’s dive into what’s happening on the streets of Europe, one country at a time.
France: From Electric Experiments to Full-Scale City Coverage
France’s car sharing journey has had its ups and downs. One of the first major attempts was Autolib’ — a city-backed electric car sharing project in Paris launched in 2011. It started strong, but ended up shutting down in 2018 due to financial losses and operational headaches. Still, it laid the groundwork for what came next.
Today, Paris and other French cities are home to a whole new wave of car sharing services, most of them backed by big automakers or regional governments. Some of the key names include Free2Move (backed by Stellantis), Zity (a Renault-Ferrovial joint venture), and regional co-ops like Citiz and Communauto.
Free2Move offers floating cars you can pick up and drop off anywhere within the city, mostly electric Peugeots and Citroëns. Zity is all about electric Renault Zoes. It launched in 2020 and quickly gained traction, especially in Paris. Citiz and Communauto are a bit more traditional: you have to pick up and return the cars to specific spots. These work well in smaller towns and suburban areas.
France’s car sharing scene is heavily focused on clean vehicles. A good chunk of the fleets are electric or hybrid. In some regions, up to 95% of new shared vehicles are either electric or low-emission hybrids. Renault’s Mobilize Share is also making moves in smaller towns with low-cost electric options like the Dacia Spring.
What’s really helping these services grow is integration with public transportation. In some cities, you can switch between train, bike, and car all through a single app. There’s also collaboration with national rideshare services like BlaBlaCar, which lets users book long-distance trips and local car shares in one platform.
Car sharing in France is scaling fast. By the end of 2023, there were over 13,000 shared vehicles in use across nearly a thousand towns and cities. And user numbers are climbing too — well into the hundreds of thousands, with millions more expected over the next couple of years. The combination of dense cities, environmental pressure, and tech-savvy consumers is fueling the boom.
Germany: Europe’s Powerhouse for Car Sharing
If any country has fully embraced car sharing, it’s Germany. The scene there is huge — tens of thousands of cars, millions of users, and multiple competing services in nearly every major city.
This isn’t new for Germany. The concept dates back to the 1990s, when early co-ops started letting people reserve and share cars parked at specific stations. Fast forward to now, and the industry has evolved into a tech-heavy, highly competitive space.
The biggest name in the game is Share Now. Originally two separate services — Car2Go (by Daimler) and DriveNow (by BMW) — the two merged, and eventually became part of Stellantis. Share Now operates in most major German cities with a fleet that includes Smart, Mercedes, BMW, and Mini vehicles. A huge portion of the fleet is electric, and that number keeps growing.
Then there’s Miles Mobility — a Berlin-based startup doing things a bit differently. Instead of charging by the minute, they charge per kilometer driven. That’s a hit with users who take longer trips. They also offer vans, which has made them popular for quick moves and weekend trips. Miles even absorbed VW’s WeShare electric fleet a couple of years ago, which helped it expand fast.
Another big player is Sixt Share, spun off from the massive rental company Sixt. They’re taking advantage of their existing rental fleet, giving people access to a wide variety of vehicles — from city cars to high-end sedans — all through a simple app.
Beyond the floating car models, Germany also has strong “station-based” sharing systems. Flinkster, operated by Deutsche Bahn (Germany’s national rail company), offers cars for pickup at train stations. Cambio is another cooperative-style car share that runs in 20+ cities.
One thing that sets Germany apart is the regulatory environment. Cities allow car sharing vehicles to park for free in most public zones, and local governments often support the services through infrastructure and incentives. Plus, public awareness is high — car sharing is part of the transportation mix in many people’s minds.
The numbers are impressive. As of 2024, Germany had over 40,000 shared cars on the road and around 5 million registered users. That number is expected to double by 2025 as more people give up private car ownership in favor of flexible, on-demand options. In big cities like Berlin and Munich, car sharing is already a go-to choice for students, professionals, and families who don’t need a car every day.
Italy: Big Brands, City Growth, and an Electric Shift
Italy got into car sharing a little later than some of its neighbors, but once things took off, they took off fast — especially in cities like Milan and Rome.
One of the earliest success stories was Enjoy, launched back in 2013 by the oil giant ENI together with Fiat. They started with a fleet of red Fiat 500s in Milan, offering free-floating rentals (meaning you could pick up and drop off the car anywhere in the zone). The idea clicked. Italians liked the convenience, the small size of the cars, and the fact that they didn’t have to worry about parking fees or fuel — it was all included.
Enjoy expanded to other major cities like Rome, Turin, and Florence. Their model focuses on compact city cars, and over the years, they’ve updated the fleet to include hybrid versions like the Fiat 500 Hybrid. It’s all about blending affordability, flexibility, and ease of use.
Another key player is Share Now, which has a solid presence in cities like Milan and Rome. They offer high-end options like BMWs, MINIs, and Mercedes models. So, while Enjoy leans into the economy side of things, Share Now caters more to users who want comfort or something stylish for a night out.
Then there’s LeasysGO!, a newer service created by Fiat’s parent company (now part of Stellantis). They’re going all-in on electric. Their whole fleet consists of Fiat 500e — small, fully electric cars that you can pick up and leave pretty much anywhere in cities like Turin, Rome, and Milan. It’s a subscription-based model, so you pay a flat monthly fee and get access to a car when you need it.
And let’s not forget E-Vai, an electric car sharing program in Lombardy that connects with regional train stations. It’s designed to make last-mile trips easier for people using public transport.
The trend in Italy is clear: more electric, more integration with public transit, and more people ditching personal cars. By 2023, 95% of new shared cars were electric or hybrid. A lot of that’s driven by government incentives, urban low-emission zones, and changing consumer habits — especially among younger people who care more about flexibility and less about owning stuff.
Italy’s car sharing market has room to grow, but it’s already well on its way. In 2023 alone, there were over 11 million car share trips in the country, and that number keeps climbing. By 2025, analysts expect more than 5 million Italians will be using car sharing regularly. That’s a big shift for a country that used to be obsessed with personal cars and scooters.
Spain: Electric-Focused and Metro-Centered
Spain’s car sharing scene is mainly focused in two cities: Madrid and Barcelona. But don’t let that fool you — the competition there is fierce, and most of the fleets are electric.
Madrid was one of the first cities in Europe to go hard on electric car sharing. Emov (launched by PSA, now Stellantis) and Zity (backed by Renault and infrastructure giant Ferrovial) rolled out fleets of compact electric cars like the Citroën C-Zero and Renault Zoe. Then came Car2Go, which eventually became part of Share Now, bringing in a ton of electric Smart cars.
Wible joined the scene offering something different — hybrid crossovers (Kia Niro plug-in hybrids), which gave people a little more space and comfort for longer trips. Respiro, later acquired by SEAT (Volkswagen Group), added even more diversity with compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles — cleaner than traditional gas and cheaper to run.
What made Madrid ideal for all this? The city gave electric vehicles a bunch of perks: free or discounted parking, permission to enter low-emission zones, and a lot of visibility. That helped car sharing become a legit alternative to owning a car.
Barcelona’s story is a bit more cautious. The city put some limits on free-floating fleets and focused more on station-based services like Ubeeqo (part of Europcar) and Avancar. Still, Respiro and others are gradually expanding there, and demand is growing — especially among younger, tech-savvy city dwellers.
The numbers tell the story: By 2023, Spain had around 1.7 million registered users of car sharing apps, with roughly half a million people using them regularly. Over 3.5 million trips were made through car sharing services that year — the vast majority in Madrid.
Electric is the name of the game in Spain. Around 65% of the shared fleet is electric, and when you include hybrids, it’s more like 85%. The government’s aggressive push toward sustainability — plus public pressure to clean up urban air — has made electric car sharing the default option.
Most of these services are also integrated with the broader transportation network. In Madrid, for example, you can see car sharing availability directly in the city’s public transport app. Some services offer bundled deals with metro or bus passes. It’s all about making the switch between different modes of transport as smooth as possible.
Looking forward, more cities are getting interested. Valencia, Seville, and even smaller towns are exploring local car sharing options. By 2025, Spain could easily hit 6 to 7 million car sharing users — especially with tourism adding to the demand in urban areas.
Greece: Just Getting Started, but Showing Promise
Car sharing is still pretty new in Greece, especially compared to the rest of Europe. For a long time, people relied on traditional rentals, taxis, or just owning a car. But now, with traffic getting worse and cities looking for greener transport options, things are starting to change.
The first real car sharing service to launch in Greece was Caroo, based in Athens. It hit the scene around 2022–2023 with a smart idea: instead of buying its own fleet, Caroo partnered with local rental companies and pulled cars from their underused inventory. They repackaged these vehicles for short-term rentals through an app — fast, simple, and fully digital.
At launch, Caroo only had a small number of vehicles — a few dozen scattered across Athens — but it was enough to get people’s attention. The app was easy to use, everything happened through your phone, and the pricing was competitive (about €0.22 a minute). No paperwork, no hassle. For a city dealing with congestion and parking nightmares, this kind of on-demand car access made a lot of sense.
Local officials have taken notice. While there aren’t any big incentives yet, there’s growing support for giving car sharing services access to designated parking, or adding EV charging to help newer electric fleets grow. And in tourist-heavy areas like the Greek islands, car sharing could be a great seasonal solution — especially for visitors who want something flexible and low-commitment.
At this point, it’s early days. Awareness is still low, and most Greeks haven’t used a car share yet. But the groundwork is being laid. If Caroo can expand and succeed in Athens, there’s no reason similar services couldn’t pop up in Thessaloniki or even resort towns in the summer. Give it a few years, and Greece could go from “barely started” to “up and running.”
Romania: A Small But Fast-Moving Market
Romania’s car sharing market is still relatively small, but it’s moving fast — and it already has some strong local players.
CityLink, based in Bucharest, is one of the top names right now. They offer a mixed fleet of mostly Toyota hybrids and give users access to both cars and bikes through the same app. That combo — ride or drive — makes them more of a mobility platform than just a car sharing service. The whole experience is app-based, with simple pricing and a clean interface.
Then there’s GetPony, also known as Pony Car Sharing. It started back in 2015 in the city of Cluj-Napoca and later expanded to Bucharest. They were actually the first to bring real car sharing to Romania, with a mix of gas and electric cars. They’ve stayed pretty lean, focusing on consistent service rather than rapid expansion.
Romania also caught the attention of some international players. The Lithuanian company Spark launched electric car sharing in Bucharest in 2020, offering cars like the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe. But in 2024, Spark shut down its operations in Romania. Why? A mix of business challenges, lack of infrastructure, and little government support made it hard to compete. Access to parking and EV charging were big issues, and the economics just didn’t work.
Even so, Romanian startups like CityLink are pushing forward. Their approach is flexible, local, and tuned to the realities of their market. And there’s one more company worth watching: Getmancar — a Ukrainian car sharing company that’s been quietly eyeing Romania. Their website now includes sections for cities like Bucharest, Constanta, and Brasov, and they’ve been exploring ways to partner with local operators or launch a franchise setup.
Right now, car sharing in Romania is a niche service — mostly in big cities, with a few hundred vehicles between them. But the potential is there. If the government steps in with EV incentives or parking access, that niche could grow fast. In the next few years, Romania might go from a few thousand users to tens of thousands.
Hungary: A Real Car Sharing Success Story in Central Europe
Hungary, and more specifically Budapest, has one of the most well-developed car sharing scenes in Central and Eastern Europe. It’s competitive, popular, and actually profitable — something not every country can say.
Three big players are running the show:
- MOL Limo, backed by Hungary’s biggest oil and gas company, MOL, launched in 2018. It quickly became the top player in Budapest, with around 500 vehicles. The fleet includes small city cars like the VW Up, electric models like the Opel Corsa-e, and even small vans for moving stuff. You can leave the car pretty much anywhere within the coverage zone, which includes both central and outer districts.
- GreenGo was Hungary’s first electric-only car sharing service, starting back in 2016. They use cars like the VW e-Up and focus on being clean, quiet, and user-friendly. GreenGo has a loyal following and is especially popular with younger users and eco-conscious drivers.
- Then there was Share Now, which entered the Budapest market in 2019 with Smart cars and Mercedes models. It grew fast and had around 100,000 users. But in late 2023, Share Now decided to exit Hungary. The service didn’t disappear, though — it was taken over by a local company, AutoWallis, and rebranded as Wigo. They kept the cars, kept the app functionality, and basically just swapped logos. So, for users, nothing really changed — except now the money stays in Hungary.
What’s cool about Budapest’s car sharing scene is how integrated it is. The services work hand-in-hand with the city’s public transport system. Some public transit apps even show real-time data for nearby car share vehicles. MOL Limo and GreenGo also offer pre-booking, subscriptions, and English-language interfaces, which is great for tourists or expats.
And these companies are still growing. MOL Limo plans to increase its fleet past 600 vehicles. GreenGo is thinking about launching in other cities like Debrecen or Szeged. And Wigo, being the new kid on the block, is going all-in on promotions and user engagement to keep Share Now’s old user base active.
In short, Budapest is killing it. Car sharing here isn’t just a side option — it’s a real part of how people get around. With government support, strong apps, and smart business models, Hungary is showing other countries in the region how it’s done.
Poland: Consolidated and Customer-Focused
Poland’s car sharing market has gone through some major shifts in the last few years. In the early days, there were a bunch of new players popping up all over the country, especially in bigger cities like Warsaw, Krakow, and Poznan. Some focused on electric fleets, some tried luxury models, and others just aimed for scale.
But by 2023, only three major players were still standing: Panek CarSharing, Traficar, and 4Mobility. The rest either shut down or got absorbed. Turns out, running a profitable car sharing business — especially one focused on electric vehicles — isn’t easy without serious infrastructure and support.
Panek started as a traditional rental company, then pivoted into car sharing and never looked back. They now have one of the largest and most diverse fleets in Poland. You’ll find everything from basic city cars to flashy vintage models like the Polonez, and even sports cars. It’s part practical, part marketing genius. Panek also lets you rent for just a few minutes or several days — perfect for everything from quick errands to weekend trips.
Traficar has taken a more standardized route. Their cars — mostly Renaults and Dacias — are painted in their signature purple and offer clean, no-frills rides at affordable rates. You’ll find them in all the big cities. They also rent out vans for people who need to haul stuff — something that’s proving really useful for younger users moving apartments or making IKEA runs.
4Mobility started off targeting business users in Warsaw and has now joined forces with fuel giant Orlen. Their cars are mostly Audi A3s and similar models, giving them a slightly more premium image. They also work with corporate clients, offering companies accounts that employees can use for work trips.
One smart thing about the Polish market is that city governments have been pretty supportive. Shared cars can park in public zones for free in most cities. And some services even let you start your trip in one city and end it in another — no extra charge. Panek even allows trips across the border to places like the Czech Republic or Slovakia. That kind of flexibility is rare in other countries.
As for electric vehicles, they’re still part of the mix, but after a few failed experiments (like Innogy GO shutting down its all-BMW i3 fleet), most operators now focus on hybrids or efficient gas cars. EV infrastructure just isn’t quite there yet in many parts of the country.
Right now, the Polish market is steady. It’s not exploding, but it’s growing at a healthy pace. The apps are solid, the pricing is fair, and people trust the service. By 2025, experts expect user numbers to hit around 3 to 3.5 million. Once EV infrastructure catches up, there’s plenty of room for expansion.
Getmancar: From Eastern Europe With Ambition
Let’s talk about a company that’s not based in the EU but is starting to turn heads across Europe: Getmancar.
This car sharing company started in Ukraine in 2018. It grew quickly in cities like Kyiv and Dnipro and later expanded to Georgia and Moldova. Unlike some of the flashier services in Western Europe, Getmancar took a very practical, tech-first approach. Everything’s done through their app — booking, unlocking, payments — no paperwork, no in-person interaction.
One of the coolest things they did early on was open the platform to private car owners. That means regular people can put their cars on the app and rent them out when they’re not using them. Getmancar handles the insurance, tracking, and payments. This kind of peer-to-peer car sharing model isn’t new globally, but it was pretty unique in Eastern Europe when they started doing it.
They also rolled out a subscription option: pay a flat monthly fee and use a car like it’s your own, without worrying about insurance or maintenance. It’s kind of like car leasing, but more flexible — no long-term commitments.
When it comes to vehicles, Getmancar has been adding more electric models in recent years — everything from Nissan Leafs to Teslas. In Moldova, they launched with a fleet of 20 electric vehicles including VW ID.3 and BYD Dolphin. In some places where charging is still a pain, they’ve offered daily rates instead of minute-by-minute pricing so they can manage charging schedules more easily.
So what’s their role in the EU?
Right now, Getmancar doesn’t have a physical fleet operating in any EU countries — yet. But they’re laying the groundwork. Their website is available in multiple European languages (English, German, Romanian), and they’ve launched partner-based rental services in cities like Berlin, Munich, Bucharest, and Frankfurt. It’s like dipping a toe in the water before going all in.
Their model is lean, digital, and very adaptable — which could be exactly what some mid-sized EU cities are looking for. They’ve already shown they can operate across multiple countries and adapt to local conditions. So while they’re still an outsider in the EU market, don’t be surprised if you see Getmancar popping up in Poland, Romania, or Hungary in the next couple of years.
What’s Next: Car Sharing Trends to Watch
Looking ahead, there’s a lot happening in the car sharing world — especially in Europe. Here’s where things are headed:
Electric fleets are becoming the norm. Across the board, car sharing companies are replacing gas cars with electric or hybrid ones. In many countries, over half the fleet is electric already. This isn’t just about sustainability — it’s about cutting costs on fuel, taking advantage of government perks, and future-proofing the business.
Apps are smarter and more connected. Modern car sharing apps aren’t just for booking cars anymore. They’re turning into full mobility platforms. In some cities, you can plan a trip that includes a metro ride, a bike share, and a car share all in one place. It’s all about seamless transitions between different kinds of transport.
Subscription and P2P models are gaining ground. Some people don’t want to pay per minute — they want a car on standby when they need it. That’s where subscriptions come in. Others are open to renting a car from a neighbor, which is where peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing shines. These models expand the fleet without the operator having to buy more vehicles.
Governments are getting more involved. In some cities, car sharing cars can park for free. Others are getting access to charging stations or even subsidies. Expect more of this — especially as countries push for greener transport solutions. Some cities are even requiring developers to include car share access in new apartment buildings.
Car sharing is becoming normal. Maybe the biggest shift is cultural. A few years ago, sharing a car sounded weird to a lot of people. Now, it’s just another way to get around — especially for younger people who care less about ownership and more about access. That mindset is spreading, and fast.
Final Thoughts
Car sharing in Europe is no longer a test case — it’s a real, growing part of how people move around cities. In places like Germany, France, and Spain, it’s already embedded in the urban transport mix. In places like Romania and Greece, it’s just getting started. But across the board, the trend is clear: flexible, tech-powered, shared mobility is here to stay.
Whether it’s a five-minute ride to the office, a weekend trip out of town, or just avoiding the nightmare of city parking, car sharing offers a simple, smart solution. And the companies doing it best — from big names like Share Now and Free2Move, to challengers like Getmancar — are the ones that understand local needs, build solid tech, and stay one step ahead of what users want next.
If the last few years are any sign, the future of European car sharing is going to be fast, clean, and available right from your phone.
The team at Dollar Rental Orlando put a lot of work into this piece so you, our valued readers, could enjoy this deep dive. We hope you liked it — and stay tuned for more!
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