Flexcar Reviews: How It Works, Pricing and What to Expect

What is Flexcar?

Unlike a lease or car loan, Flexcar gives you the freedom to swap cars or return your car early far more easily than a traditional dealership.

Flexcar has locations in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte and Nashville. You can pick up your rental car at those locations, or the company also delivers within these areas.

But, if you live somewhere else and want to use Flexcar, you'll have to travel to one of these cities to get your car.

Is Flexcar worth it?

Flexcar is a good deal for some people, especially if you can't afford a down payment on a traditional lease or loan. But its poor customer service reviews mean it's probably better for most people to lease or buy a car from a local dealership.

How much is Flexcar?

Flexcar costs vary depending on the type of car you pick, where you live, how many miles you drive, your credit score and other factors.

That's before you add the $249 per year membership fee and mandatory insurance package, which starts at $195 per month.

Whether this is a better deal than a traditional lease from a dealership depends on the car you choose.

Cost of Flexcar vs. a traditional lease

Keep in mind, these rates are for the Flexcar Standard Plan, which includes 850 miles per month. If you drive more than that, your Flexcar payment will be more expensive.

In addition, Flexcar may require a refundable security deposit, depending on your credit score.

Flexcar has a few hidden fees you should watch out for.

• $20 to $40 per month to add an additional driver.
• $99 vehicle preparation fee when you pick up a new car. This fee may be waived for your first order.
• $199 each time you switch cars.
• $49 to $450 in cleaning fees when you return the car, depending on its condition.
• $100 cancellation fee if you cancel your rental more than 24 hours after booking.
• $50 reschedule fee for changing your order more than 24 hours after booking.
• $450 fine if you lose a car key.
• $30 fee if you get a ticket while driving your Flexcar, on top of the cost of the ticket.
• A gas fee if you return the car with less gas than when you picked it up.

It's also important to note that Flexcar won't refund a portion of your payment if you return your car in the middle of a billing cycle. You'll still owe the full monthly rate, even if you only use the car for a few days that month.

Flexcar insurance

Flexcar rentals come with insurance, but it's not included in the base price.

Flexcar offers two protection plans, which include the minimum amount of liability insurance required in your state. However, that's not enough protection for most people.

Flexcar protection plans

Similar to a regular insurance policy, Flexcar won't cover the cost of an accident if someone not listed on the policy is driving your car. Flexcar may also refuse to cover the cost of a crash if you:

And the company won't pay for theft or vandalism if you park your car and leave it unlocked.

How does Flexcar work?

To subscribe to Flexcar, you must be at least 21 years old and have a permanent U.S. driver's license.

The first step to getting your Flexcar is finding your car. To start your search, you'll need to provide Flexcar with your:

Next, you'll select your mileage plan. Flexcar offers two mileage plans at this stage:

Once you're on the road, you can upgrade to the Road Warrior plan or downgrade to the Low Gear plan.

If you run out of miles, Flexcar will automatically add 100 miles to your account for an extra fee. The mileage fee varies depending on the car you choose, where you live and other factors.

Any leftover miles will roll over to the next month. If you have unused miles when you return the car, they expire. You can't transfer them to your next rental.

Next, you'll choose whether to pick up the car at a Flexcar hub or have the car delivered to your home. Delivery is only available near one of the Flexcar hubs, which are in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte and Nashville.

At this point, you need to create an account.

Flexcar will do a soft credit pull to finalize your monthly rate and determine whether you need to put down a security deposit. This doesn't affect your credit score. While Flexcar doesn't mention that you need a minimum credit score to qualify, a low score could increase your rental rates.

What's included with my Flexcar subscription?

Every Flexcar vehicle comes with:

If you're in a crash or get a door ding, you'll have to pay for any repairs your Flexcar insurance policy doesn't cover. That includes your deductible.

Flexcar customer service reviews

Most people are happy with the company's quick and easy car pickup process. But when things go wrong, the experience can become frustrating and expensive.

Flexcar customers frequently complain about unanswered phone calls and emails in their reviews on Reddit, Trustpilot, Yelp and other forums. Many reviews mention billing errors, such as charges of extra weeks, hidden fees and overcharges.

People tend to have a hard time getting refunds or credits, even when they have enough evidence to prove the charges were incorrect. If you're considering Flexcar, make sure you document everything to protect yourself if issues arise. This includes taking photos of the car, odometer and fuel levels when you pick it up and return it, mileage and records of all communications with the company.

Flexcar alternatives

There are a number of alternatives to Flexcar, including other companies that offer subscription-based rental cars, traditional rental car companies and a car lease through the dealership.

You can also find similar long-term car rental programs at Sixt+, Drive with Flex, Hertz Multi-Month and Autonomy.

Flexcar vs. Sixt+

Flexcar is a better choice than Sixt+ because it offers cheaper rates and a wider range of vehicles. But Sixt+ is available in far more locations than Flexcar, so it's much more convenient for most people.

Flexcar vs. Drive with Flex

Flexcar is a better choice if you want all of your costs bundled into one payment.

Drive with Flex has cheaper rates, so it's a better option for cost-conscious drivers who don't mind getting their own insurance and paying for maintenance on their own. It's also much easier to get a car from Drive with Flex, because they offer delivery in all 50 states.

Flexcar vs. Hertz Multi-Month

Flexcar has a much better online platform than Hertz if you're looking to book a long term rental, making it more convenient for most people. But Hertz is more widely available.

Flexcar vs. Autonomy

Autonomy is different from Flexcar because it only rents Tesla Model 3s. Flexcar offers a handful of EVs, including the Chevy Equinox EV and Hyundai Ioniq.

However, Autonomy's Tesla rental is cheaper than most EVs from Flexcar.

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

To determine the cost of Flexcar, ValuePenguin editors priced out rental vehicles for a driver between 25 and 34 years old with a good credit score who lives in Charlotte, NC. Insurance rates are based on a policy with the minimum car insurance limits required in North Carolina, along with collision and comprehensive coverage.