When is a shared car smarter than owning one?
The break-even point between a shared car and an own car sits at around 8,100 km per year for typical driving habits. This article explains how that works and lets you calculate your own break-even with an interactive tool.
The rule of thumb
If you drive fewer than about 8,100 km per year, a shared car is almost always cheaper than owning one. Between 8,100 and 12,000 km it becomes a grey area, depending on your city, parking costs, and how often you truly need a car. Above 12,000 km, an own car usually becomes more economical, provided you avoid an expensive private lease and arrange maintenance yourself.
The crossover in view
The chart shows total annual costs for an own mid-range car versus a shared car. Where the lines cross is your break-even point. Move the slider or choose your trip type to see how your situation affects the break-even point.
Four pitfalls in the calculation
1. You are not the "average Dutch person"
The figures above are averages. Do you have no parking costs because you have your own driveway? Then the own-car side comes out €180 to €600 per year lower. That is the parking permit included in the average calculation, depending on your municipality. Do you mostly make short trips in the city? Then a shared car is extra advantageous, because the hourly component costs you relatively little on short trips.
2. Cars stand idle most of the time
Many people overestimate how much they actually use the car. Track for one month how often you really sit behind the wheel.
3. Convenience has a price
An own car is always right outside your door. A shared car is sometimes three streets away, or happens to be gone when you want it. For people who need a car every day or work inconvenient hours, an own car is probably the better choice.
4. The grey zone: 8,100 to 12,000 km
Are you in the zone between 8,100 and 12,000 km per year? Then the outcome depends strongly on details not captured in this average: if you pay an expensive parking permit, that helps the shared-car side. If you make many spontaneous trips at unannounced times, the availability of an own car counts in its favour. Always calculate it for your specific usage in the comparison tool, because the difference can easily be a few hundred euros per year either way.
Conclusion
If you do not need a car every day and drive fewer than 8,100 km per year, a shared car is almost always cheaper in 2026. That typically describes people who mainly cycle or use public transport and deliberately save the car for the occasional trip. For borderline cases (8,100 to 12,000 km per year) the outcome depends on your parking situation and how spontaneously you drive. Above 12,000 km, an own car wins, as long as you avoid an expensive lease contract. The CBS average of 12,300 km per year sits just above the break-even point, but that average hides large differences: the average Dutch person is probably not the one reading this article.
Do you want to calculate it precisely for yourself? Use the comparison tool to check the current rates of the three providers against your actual usage.