Auting

Auting, peer-to-peer car sharing in Italy

Auting presents itself as the first Italian peer-to-peer car sharing platform. Its model connects vehicle owners (called Owners) with drivers who need a car for one or more consecutive days, instead of turning to traditional rental. The company claims a presence in 150 Italian cities and a community of more than 65,000 active users among owners and drivers.

How booking works

The process described on the platform is divided into four steps: find the right vehicle, chat with the owner, pay for the booking and pick up the car to start the trip. The search is done by city and dates, with a choice of pick-up and return time. The platform states that vehicles are located within cities, near train stations and airports, or in residential areas.

Insurance coverage and included conditions

The project has the insurance backing of Reale Mutua. According to the information on the website, the base rates already include conditions that in conventional rental are usually paid options: a security deposit of €0, reduced liability in case of damage or theft, premium roadside assistance available 24 hours a day, and simplified communication and pick-up. The platform also offers, for €6 per day, the total elimination of liability for damage or theft.

Comparison with traditional rental

The company contrasts its model with that of conventional car rental, to which it attributes security deposits of between €1,500 and €3,500, high liability of up to €3,500, basic assistance and queues at the counter. It also notes that the optional coverages of traditional rental can mean up to €50 per day in addition to the base price.

Fleet and featured destinations

The catalogue shows privately owned vehicles available in various Italian cities, with examples such as Fiat Panda, Volkswagen up!, Toyota Auris, Toyota Yaris, Audi A3, Fiat Doblò Cargo and Dacia Sandero, with daily prices that vary depending on the model. Among the destinations with featured search are Bologna, Florence, Cagliari, Bari, Rome, Milan, Palermo and Catania.

Owners and community

The platform invites vehicle owners to list their car to earn income, and describes the service as a community of users rather than a simple mobility service. It has a mobile app for iOS and Android, as well as a blog with content about travel and car sharing.