Carsharing helps with moving, big shopping trips, and even music gigs

A shared car is the perfect solution for many people - both in everyday life and special situations. This is true for Vojtěch, a student in Brno who occasionally moves, plays in bands, and needs reliable transportation - but doesn’t want to own a car.

Thanks to Autonapul carsharing, he has access to a car whenever he needs it, without extra costs or hassle.

After trying out multiple carsharing services across the Czech Republic out of curiosity and carefully weighing his options, he has been using Autonapul since 2021.

How student Vojtěch discovered the benefits of carsharing

It all started with curiosity. How does carsharing work in the Czech Republic, and how could he use it as a student and musician? He tried different services, but Autonapul carsharing has suited him best since 2021.

He was looking for a way to have access to a car without the high upfront costs. Buying a car would have cost him at least 100,000 CZK for a decent used one - an investment that didn’t make sense for a student working in the cultural field.

Carsharing allows him to:

make larger shopping trips to IKEA or shopping centers,
handle moving within Brno,
get exactly the kind of car he needs (small, combi, van),
feel independent from his parents and their car.

“It’s great to have access to a car even as a student. Whenever I need it, I can free myself from depending on my parents and their car, and get a car that fits my current needs. On top of that, shared cars are available not only in Brno, where I study, and Ostrava, where I’m from, but also in other cities where I can use them for trips,” says Vojtěch about the advantages he sees in the first Czech carsharing service. The independence usually associated with owning a car - he found it with carsharing. Maybe even more.

Comparing leasing, rentals, and Autonapul: carsharing wins

As Vojtěch’s studies are coming to an end, he’s thinking about his future mobility needs. He compared various options from operational leasing to car ownership and carsharing. He wants to remain a person of integrity, which is one of the reasons he avoids buying used cars with potentially unreliable histories.

Leasing, on the other hand, discourages him with its high initial deposit.

“I seriously considered operational leasing. But when I calculated the costs for the smallest class of car, it came out to around 10,000 CZK a month. Then I compared that to the number of kilometers and time I’d need to spend with carsharing to reach that same amount. With leasing, I’d be paying 10,000 just to have a car parked in front of my house. Sure, it includes service, but fuel costs would push that number even higher. Comparing the numbers in my situation, carsharing makes more sense,” explains Vojtěch.

Even when he deliberately drove more instead of taking the train, his monthly carsharing costs never reached the level of a lease payment. For him, Autonapul simply makes better financial sense.

Carsharing as a flexible solution for the band

Vojtěch plays in several bands, for example, Tři Vykřičníky and with singer-songwriter Petra Göbelová. They need a car about once a month, for gigs and transporting equipment. Buying a vehicle just for that would be inefficient.

“One car isn’t enough for the whole band, so usually one member takes their own or borrows from parents, and another books through Autonapul. That way, we don’t have to stress about whether someone will lend us a car or if it’ll work.” Carsharing gives the band reliable transportation without unnecessary worries.

“Sometimes the gig contracts are tricky, because the organizers budget very little for transport, and carsharing costs often exceed those limits. So I sometimes cover the extra cost myself - but since I support the idea of carsharing, I don’t mind,” Vojtěch adds.

What the band appreciates most is not having to worry if a car will be available or working - Autonapul’s fleet is always ready.

“Plus, I love how everyone nods in approval when I book a car. I just open the app, tap twice, and we’re good to go,” Vojtěch smiles. No need to deal with the bureaucracy and rigidity of classic car rentals.

Why did Vojtěch choose Autonapul?

When exploring carsharing options, Vojtěch tried several services. He found that some are best suited for large cities, where they partly substitute taxis or even public transport. That’s a natural feature of so-called free-float carsharing. He used it when he moved frequently, but with stable housing, those services became less relevant.

He primarily uses cars for longer trips, whether for outings or concerts. And for each trip, he needs a different car size. Autonapul’s fleet meets that need, offering four pricing categories from small city cars to estate cars, vans, and electric vehicles - exactly what Vojtěch was looking for. The more he uses carsharing, the clearer his requirements become.

“For city travel, there are several services I can choose from. Autonapul’s strength lies in trips outside the city or longer distances. And that’s how I think a car should be used. You can get around the city with public transport or taxis. Driving in the city usually isn’t necessary. Other services only meet some needs - but Autonapul, thanks to how it’s set up, has always suited me, no matter what I needed from the car or journey,” Vojtěch explains.

After years of using shared cars, he canceled his registrations with other providers and stuck with Autonapul, it simply covers everything he has needed, and still needs. And most importantly, when he reserves a car in advance in a specific zone, he doesn’t want to deal with another user moving it across the city at the last minute.

A bright future for carsharing

Vojtěch sees shared cars not just as a personal solution, but also as part of a broader social shift.

“I live on a huge housing estate in the south of the city. And when I look around during normal working hours, about half the parking spots are full. Those cars just sit there, unused, taking up public space. And I ask myself: is owning a car really worth it for their owners?”

He believes carsharing would be more accessible if:

dedicated parking spots for shared cars were available around the city, especially at housing estates and transport hubs,
it were integrated with public transport (e.g. discounts for pass holders),
it received stronger support from cities and the state.

It’s a direction he’d like to help with by spreading the word and sharing the benefits. He hopes for a shift in public opinion and attitudes towards cars in the Czech Republic. More cars in more cities would definitely help. Some ways he believes carsharing could reach more people include:

Carsharing benefits from a regular user’s perspective

“Traveling feels easier now. I know that if I miss a train, I can just book a car and get home,” says Vojtěch, describing everyday situations where carsharing proves useful.

He also questions why people feel such a strong need to own a car - especially if it just sits outside most of the time. “They clearly don’t need it for everyday driving, but they still pay for insurance, seasonal tire changes, servicing… all of it. I don’t get why anyone needs a 15-year-old money pit sitting under their window, when they could book a modern car in a few taps and only pay when they use it. Before I joined carsharing, I probably had that 90s mindset too. I looked forward to owning a car. But now, after all these years of carsharing, it doesn’t make sense anymore. And honestly, I may never own a car. Why would I?”

He also enjoys the idea that when he doesn’t need the car, someone else can use it and vice versa.

His experience shows you don’t have to own a car to use one comfortably. With carsharing, you can forget about:

insurance,
servicing,
seasonal tire changes,
highway toll stickers.

That’s what Autonapul is for. A service whose Help line is happy to help - even at 2 a.m.

And you free up space in the city.

“Carsharing made me realize how beautiful places can be when they’re not filled with parked cars, but with people living their lives. Before you buy a car, try calculating whether you really need it. You might find that carsharing makes more sense,” Vojtěch concludes.

Looking for a smart transport solution? Try a shared car with Autonapul

Autonapul carsharing offers freedom and flexibility without the hassle of car ownership. Whether you need a car for moving, a trip, a concert, or a shopping run, choose the car that fits and go - easily through the app.