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 Honda Diracc and NTUC Income Car Co-Op are 2 of the more popular car-sharing companies in Singapore. The major differences between them and the normal car-rental companies is the charging model and rental convenience. While car-rentals are charged by the day, car-sharing schemes charges up to the minute. Also, the cars are available at many designated car-ports and members simply pick the car and drive off. Despite being competitors, both car-sharing companies are charged differently, and thus cater for different segments of the market.
NTUC Income Car Co-Op has over 100 cars located at more than 30 public car parks all over Singapore. The charging model is catered towards the heartlanders who require a personal vehicle on weekends. Therefore, Car Co-Op offers discounts for weekday usage. Car Co-Op offers different car models with varying prices (which includes free mileage), from manual to auto-transmission, from sedan to MPVs and minivans. Monthly membership is $20, and pre-booking is required, so you have to pick up and return the car strictly according to your booking period. No charges for reservation but charges will be imposed for cancellation. Honda Diracc has most of its car-ports situated at the CBD area. on the contrary to Car Co-Op, their weekend and overnight charges are discounted. one major advantage of Diracc is that you can return the car at any of the designated ports. It means that you can travel from Point A to Point B without returning the car to Point A. Another advantage is that no booking is required (but available up to 60 mins at a charge) and members can use the car as long as they want. The charging model is also more flexible than Car Co-Op: Diracc charges time-usage per minute and imposes a separate distance charge. For overnight and weekend, there is a cap on the time-charge, so if the total rental period exceeds the cap, you only pay up to the capped amount. Annual membership is $120, and only one car model is available. Let me illustrate a few scenarios and see the comparison:
| Scenario | Honda Diracc | NTUC Income Car Co-Op | Comments | | You work in CBD. on Tuesday 10am, you realised you need to run a few errands during lunch time. Duration: 90min. Distance travelled: 60km | Pick up the car at the nearest car port at 12pm, run errand then return the car at 1.30pm. Total cost: $2+10.50+21 = $33.50 | Reserve the car (Group B) in advance (up to 3 months to avoid disappointment). Pick up the car at Bras Basah car port at 12pm, run errand then return the car at 1.30pm. Free mileage: 15km. Total cost: $16 + 18 = $34 | Both models seem to work, only if you work near the car ports. | | You work in CBD. You need a car after work to pick up your spouse for a romantic dinner at Mount Faber. You'll return the car on the next day 8am. | Pick up the car at the nearest car port at 7pm, drive to Mount Faber, dine, go pubbing then back home (total 70km), returned the car next day 8am. Total cost: $15+24.50 = $39.50 | Pick up the car at Bras Basah car port at 7pm, drive to Mount Faber, dine, go pubbing then back home (total 70km), return the car next day 8am. Free mileage: 70km. Total cost: $72 | Diracc is cheaper for overnight rental. | | You live at Ang Mo Kio. on Saturday 12pm, you plan to go to Ikea at Alexandra Road to buy furniture. After shopping, go home. | No car port in Ang Mo Kio. You are better off taking a cab. | Reserve the car (Group B) in advance (up to 3 months to avoid disappointment). Pick up the car at the nearest car port at 12pm, then drive to Ikea, shop, and drive back to car port at 5pm. Total cost: $46+4 = $50. Alternatively, if no car available, take a cab. | Car Co-op is the better choice for initiating a car trip near their residences, but you may need to plan your trip in advance so that you can secure a reservation. Car Co-op statistics shows that reservation success rate are as high as 80% on weekends if members book 24 hours in advance. | | You want to rent a car on a weekday from 9am to 6pm. Distance travelled: 100km | Pick up the car at the nearest car port at 9am, return the car at 6pm. Total cost: $80+15 = $95 | Business day special for Group B cars: $61. Free mileage: 120km | Car Co-op is cheaper for weekday trips, which comes to show their supply-and-demand model caters for weekend users. | | You want to rent a car over the weekend from Fri 7pm to Mon 8am and to do travelling up to 200km | Pick up the car after work and drive home. Return car on Monday 8am. Total cost: $70+70+70 = $210 | Reserve the car (Group B) in advance. Based on rental period on the scenario, total cost: $304 (using carcoop web calculator) Realistically, I would pick up the car at the nearest car port on Sat at 10am. Return to car port on Sunday 10pm. Still, the total cost is: $121+121+32= $274 | Diracc is cheaper for the same period of rental over the weekend. | | On Sunday, you are at Wisma Atria (Orchard Road). You got a loadful of shopping and wants to proceed to Suntec City at 3pm for more shopping, before heading home at 8pm. | Pick up the car from the Wisma car port at 3pm, drive to Millenia Walk car port and end the trip at 3.20pm (5km). Then start a new trip to head home at 8pm. Next morning, return the car to the car port at 8am (30km). Trip 1 cost: $2+1.75= $3.75. Trip 2 cost: $70+10.5=$80.50. Total: $84.25 | You need to travel to Bras Basah car port by public transport (est. $1), pick up the car (Group B) at 3.30pm, then drive to Millenia Walk for more shopping. Then drive home, and return the car to Bras Basah at 8am (30km). Free mileage: 105km. Total cost: $107 (public transport not included) | Again, Diracc proves to be very affordable if you shop and work in CBD. The advantage highlighted here is that you can return the car at any car ports. |
Personally, I have signed-up with Diracc, because the car-port is in my office building, I can drive to another car-port and end the trip (cheaper than taxi!), and the weekend charge is lower. With a lower weekend charge-cap, I can park the car at my house and only be charged for mileage, compared to Car Co-Op which factors free mileage in the higher weekend charge. I also don't have to pre-book the period of usage. The disadvantage is that it is more difficult to pick up the Diracc car if I'm not working in the city, but there are always alternatives like taxi or MRT. Afterall, car-sharing to me is a privilege, not a necessity. If my priorities were different, I would have bought a car myself.
Ultimately, the decision depends on your usage pattern and most importantly, the convenience of the car port near your journey starting point. In a nutshell, Honda Diracc caters for city workers with attractive weekend pricing while NTUC Carsharing Co-Op is optimised for HDB homestayers with better weekday package.
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