Car ownership has its advantages but the cost of having a vehicle is rising.By contrast, car sharing has become a popular and affordable alternative. We examine the differences to help you decide which option is right for you.

Last year, AAA found that the average annual cost of vehicle ownership jumped to $9,282, or $773.50 per month. Depreciation, maintenance costs, and fuel prices remain the top expenses for car owners today. These rising costs have helped new business models for personal mobility take hold, where things like depreciation and maintenance are not a concern. Different than ?ride hailing,? car sharing services position themselves as an affordable alternative to ownership.

Before you decide on whether to own or ?share? your cars,
here are some things to keep in mind.    
What is Car Sharing"

Car sharing consists of a fleet of cars shared among a
variety of patrons, similar to a car rental service. However, car sharing
differs in that you can rent by the hour, instead of by the day or week.

Car sharing services are often ?free-floating,? meaning instead
of visiting a rental office to get a car, they are ?floating? around the city.
They are located via the company?s mobile app. You simply select the car on the
app, walk up, and open the vehicle to ?rent? it.

Car sharing is sometimes confused with ride sharing or ride
hailing, but it is a little different. With ride sharing and hailing, you rely
on someone else to dr...