SHARE NOW: Complete Guide to Urban Sharing

In the age of sustainable mobility and flexible transport solutions, car sharing is an increasingly popular choice for those who want a vehicle available without the burden of ownership. Among the leading services in Europe, SHARE NOW stands out for its vast network and ease of use. Born from the fusion of two giants in the industry, car2go and DriveNow, this operator offers an innovative approach to car rental, accessible directly from its smartphone. If you are looking for a practical and efficient way to move around the city, understanding the operation of SHARE NOW is the first step to fully exploit its benefits.

What is SHARE NOW and Where Opera

SHARE NOW is a state-of-the-art car sharing platform that allows you to rent vehicles, even for prolonged periods, at competitive costs in major European cities. In Italy, the fleet of vehicles is present and operational in key urban centres such as Rome, Milan and Turin, offering residents and visitors a comfortable solution for travel. It is important to note that, while allowing travel between the city, the service imposes some geographical limitations: it is not possible, for example, to go to specific regions such as Campania, Puglia, Calabria, Basilicata and Sicily, and it is not allowed to exceed the national borders.

The heart of the service lies in its mobile application, available for Android and iOS devices. After a simple download, installation and registration process, the app becomes your personal control center for rental management. From the location of the vehicle closest to your location, to booking, to the unlocking and start of the car, each step is manageable with few taps on the screen, making the experience fluid and intuitive.

Fee Structure and Benefits Included

Access to the world SHARE NOW starts with a one-time registration fee of 9 euros. Often, however, the company offers promotions for new members, which can include free credits to be used for the first rentals, making the approach to the service even more convenient.

Rental rates vary and depend on the selected car model. For more compact vehicles, such as the Fiat 500e or the Smart ForTwo (identified as the XS category), prices start from 0.19 euro per minute, with a maximum distance of 200 km. For different needs, hourly and daily rates are also available, designed to adapt to travel of greater duration or complexity.

A particularly advantageous aspect of SHARE NOW is the wide range of services included in the basic rate, aimed at simplifying user experience and eliminating unexpected additional costs:

• Free parking: It is possible to park without additional costs within the service operating area, both in public white strips and in the blue ones with municipal payment, as well as in the stables dedicated to SHARE NOW or car sharing.
• Supply and charging: The cost of fuel or electricity is charged to the company. If necessary, the user may be invited to supply the vehicle at partner service stations without any personal outburst. Electric cars, however, require charging at the end of each rental.
• Integrated navigation: All vehicles are equipped with a navigation system to guide you to your destination.
• Automatic change: Most of the fleet is equipped with automatic transmission, for a more comfortable ride.
• Basic insurance cover: An essential insurance policy is always included.

It is essential to be aware of some additional costs that are not included in the basic fee: any specific taxes for airport rental, penalties for particular conditions (such as the loss of keys) and supplements for the break-up of minutes or kilometers provided by the chosen fare. No security deposit is required, a detail that makes the service even more accessible.

The Detailed Registration Process

To start using SHARE NOW, the first step is registration via the official app. Here is a detailed guide to complete the registration:

1. Installation and Permissions: Download the app on your smartphone. Upon startup, grant the necessary permissions for access to the location and accept essential privacy settings.
2. Registration: Tap the symbol of the omino on the top left, then “Start”. Select “I’m new here — Register”. If you had a car2go or DriveNow account, you can associate it.
3. Filling Data: Fill the form with the required information. During this phase, you will have to create a 4 digit “magic PIN”, easy to remember, which will be essential for every new rental.
4. Terms and Conditions: Accept the terms and conditions of the service by check out the appropriate boxes and press “Register now”.
5. Payment Method: Enter the details of your debit/credit card that you intend to use for payments and tap “Save & Continue” for validation.
6. Confirmation Email: You will receive an email with a link to confirm the registration. After pressing it, return to the app and access the selected credentials. An additional 6-digit PIN sent via SMS for identity verification may be required.
7. Import licence: To finalize your registration, you must upload your driver’s license data. Login to “My account” in your profile, tap “Add” in the notification and authorize the app to process the document images and use the camera.
8. Patent and Selfie scanning: Select the format of your license. Carefully frame the front and back of the document within the virtual frame, ensuring that the image is clear and readable. Afterwards, take a selfie by centering the face in the appropriate frame. Wait for the upload and verification of data in the system, which will be confirmed by email.

Rental: Find, Book, Parts

Once you complete the registration and receive the confirmation, you are ready to book your first vehicle with SHARE NOW. The process is intuitive and offers different options to find the perfect car for you:

• Main screen of the App: Login to the main screen and tap the icon with the four dots on the top right to open the function menu.
• Advanced Search:
  • Cerca indirizzo: It allows you to locate the vehicle closest to a specific destination or point of interest.
  • Radar: Set a radius from your current location to view nearby cars.
  • Tutte le auto: Show a complete list of available vehicles, sorted by distance from your location.
  • Filtro: To refine your search based on specific features such as car type, number of places or fuel level.
• Interactive Map: Alternatively, you can use the app map, where available vehicles are marked by car-shaped icons.
• Details Vehicle and Rates: Once the vehicle is identified, tap its preview image to display details such as model, applied tariff, number of places, type of change and fuel level. If the default rate is not the one you are looking for, you can select a different rate using the option “Select a tariff”.
• Booking:
  • Prenotare: It assures you the availability of the vehicle for the next 20 minutes, giving you time to reach it.
  • Pianificare: It allows you to organize a future trip, choosing the date and time of withdrawal and delivery with an advance up to 60 minutes on the time provided. This option is free.

Access to Vehicle and Travel Management

By approaching the booked vehicle, it is essential to carry out rapid external control. Check that there are no pre-existing damage: if not, report immediately through the in-app functions, which also allow you to upload photos taken with your smartphone's camera. This procedure protects you from any charges for damages not caused by you.

To access the car, press the “Book” button in the app. Confirm the rate or change it if necessary, then authenticate with your magic PIN or, if available, via Face ID. At this point, a variable sum based on the chosen rate will be pre-authorized on your payment method or available credit.

Follow the instructions on the app display: you will be asked to enter a three-digit vehicle identification code, usually well visible on the driver side dashboard. Once inserted, the car will unlock automatically. The vehicle keys, if present, are generally found in the glove compartment. For models without physical keys, such as some BMW or MINI, the start of the engine is simply by pressing the Start/Stop button.

During the trip, you may need to make stops while keeping your rental active. If the car is keyless, you can lock and unlock the doors directly from the app, through the rental management card. If, instead, the vehicle is equipped with physical keys, you will need to use them to manually close the car and bring them with you; in this case, you will not need to interact with the app for the lock and temporary unlock.

Conclusion of Rental and Parking Rules

Once you arrive at your destination, it is time to finish the rental. It is essential to park the vehicle within the operating area of the city in which you are, respecting local regulations and SHARE NOW specifications. Generally, you can park for free in:

• Free public parking (white strips or roads without specific prohibitions).
• City parks (blue strips).
• Car posts dedicated to SHARE NOW or car sharing (identified on the map of the app with a circle containing the letter ‘P’).

The availability of dedicated places may vary depending on the city. You can also park and finish the rental outside the operating area, but in these cases a special fee will apply. To have a clear idea of the boundaries of the operating area, you can consult the map in the app or visit the dedicated section on the official website of SHARE NOW.

To finish the rental, return to the app and select the “Note in progress”, then press the dedicated button to finish the operation. Follow the simple instructions to lock the vehicle and make it available for the next user, ensuring that you have placed all the items provided (such as keys or supply cards) in the appropriate compartment.

Support and Assistance in Problem Case

Despite the simplicity of use, unforeseen situations may occur: the car does not start, reconvene a failure, you cannot finish the rental or you simply need clarifications you did not find in the FAQ. In these cases, SHARE NOW's customer service is at your disposal.

You can contact assistance by email at [email protected] (or [email protected] for business customers) or by phone at +39 0260063093. Operators will endeavour to solve the problem at a distance, providing you with all the necessary indications. If the situation requires local intervention, for example by a mechanic, you will receive via SMS a link to a service system that will allow you to follow in real time the path of the staff in charge. This ensures transparency and keeps you informed about the state of solving the problem, ensuring greater tranquility even in the most complex situations.