Welcome to FairCar: how the platform works
FairCar is a peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace built on flat fees. Here's how guests and hosts move through the platform.
The short version
FairCar connects guests who need a car with hosts (individuals and small fleets) who own one. Hosts list a vehicle, set their price, and choose pickup details. Guests search, book, and pay through FairCar. We handle payments, inspections, messaging, and disputes.
Unlike most marketplaces, we do not take a percentage of host earnings. Hosts pay a small flat subscription only in months where they actually book a trip, never up front, never on idle months. Guests pay a 10% service fee with a $9.99 minimum.
Roles on the platform
Guest: books a car and drives it for the trip dates.
Host: lists one personal vehicle and earns from rentals.
Fleet: manages multiple vehicles (small commercial operators) under one team account.
Admin: FairCar staff who handle escalations, payouts, and safety reports.
A typical trip end-to-end
1. Guest searches a city and dates, picks a car, and checks out. Card is authorized for the trip total plus a refundable security deposit hold.
2. The host gets a booking notification. The guest verifies their identity if they haven't already.
3. Both sides complete a pre-trip inspection with photos, odometer, and fuel/battery readings.
4. The guest drives. Messaging stays in the FairCar inbox so we have a record if anything comes up.
5. After return, both sides complete a post-trip inspection. Toll charges, fuel reimbursement, or damage claims are filed through the trip page, never asked for over the phone.
6. Once the trip is closed, the host's payout is queued; the deposit is released.
Sign in and message the FairCar admin team from your in-app Messages. A real person replies within one business day. We don't outsource support.