9 out of 10 Budapest residents have heard of car-sharing

The survey, which also covered several settlements in the agglomeration (Budakeszi, Budakalász, Budaörs, Csömör, Dunakeszi, Érd, Fót, Nagykovácsi, Solymár, Törökbálint, Üröm), shows that the most important expectations of those who know or use this service category are the safety and cleanliness of the cars, as well as the size of the car-sharing zone.

Among regular users, the size and expanse of the service area leads the way (more than 79% of respondents identified this as a priority), while car safety and free parking are neck and neck (77-76%). By comparison, the least important of the 30+ attributes on the list is the ability to be able to drive abroad in a car-sharing car and having a fleet of electric cars only (28-28%).

A higher proportion of two-earner households with no children on the Pest side tend to drive more frequently, but mainly in the inner parts of Budapest: these tend to be short distances, which they travel during the day. While households on the Buda side are more likely to make longer urban trips and commute between work and office. Car use is part of families' daily lives, with the majority of households now even owning a car in addition to car-sharing. 

According to Bence Buday, managing director of Share Now Hungary, this will change in the coming years: according to a recent survey conducted by the company in Vienna, the number of privately owned cars owned by Share Now users there has fallen by 20% in the last five years. 

"This may be surprising in Budapest, but 44% of our customers in Vienna no longer own a car," says the expert, who expects a similar scenario in the Hungarian capital.

"The Budapest survey also shows that the proportion of households with several cars of their own is significantly higher (6%) among those who are only interested in car-sharing compared to frequent car-sharing users, suggesting that the service will gradually be able to take over the role of a second car  - and later the first car."

According to the survey, 84% of women and 90% of men surveyed had at least heard of the service. Above-average use is typical of men, especially those aged 25-34, and those living in Buda and the agglomeration. Most people use car-sharing to travel in the evening, followed by travel-related car-sharing, such as going to the airport, personal daily errands and other daytime activities such as shopping and business meetings.

The research also showed that while a significant proportion of people who are familiar with the service know that the cost of renting a car-sharing car includes the cost of fuel or charging, as well as the cost of maintaining and cleaning the car, few people realize that the cost of parking in the zone, tolls for longer journeys and the tax burden of car ownership are not borne by the user when using a car-sharing car.