How to Create a Car Rental App in 2023Home Guide How to Create a Car Rental App By Rakesh Patel Last Updated: September 6, 2023 Being a car owner, are you inspired by a peer-to-peer car rental app like Turo? Looking to build your own car rental app to take your business to the heights of success?Why not? When a car rental app like Turo is making millions every year, you also have the opportunity to take your business online and make money with a successful car rental application.If you want to quickly launch your app in the market and are looking for a complete guide on how to create a car rental app, then read this blog. We have exclusively crafted this guide to help you build a powerful car rental app.Table of ContentsStatistics of the Car Rental IndustryHow to Build a Car Rental App in 5 StepsHow Much Does It Cost to Develop a Car Rental App?How Much Time Does It Take to Build a Car Rental App?10 Best Car Rental Apps in 2023FAQs About Car Rental App DevelopmentReady to Build Your Own Car Rental App?Statistics of the Car Rental IndustryToday, car sharing apps have become a beneficial business model for many, including Turo, Hertz, and Kayak. The statistics below will give you an idea of how much money these business owners and the industry make by offering car rental services.Let’s dive in with the market statistics of car rental applications.One report by Research and Markets shows that the car rental market is expected to reach USD 139.65 billion by 2027.SafeGraph reports that there are 13,142 car rental sites in the United States as of 2023.IBIS World reports that there are 17,287 car rental businesses in the USA alone as of 2023, with an increase of 2.7% from the last year.Most revenue in the car rental industry is generated by the United States compared to other countries (USD 25,080 million in 2023).There is no doubt that the market for car rental is growing, and more people are taking an active part in it. Car rental service apps are a great way to break into this industry as a car owner.However, you must want to know the steps of how to create a mobile application from scratch. No need to worry, as we have discussed below how you can follow the step-by-step process to develop a car rental mobile app.How to Build a Car Rental App in 5 StepsThis section will help you know the step-by-step car rental app development process if you are looking to build a car rental mobile app for your users and manage your business.We will discuss how to build a car rental app for your users and an admin panel to manage your business. In short, you will be creating 2 separate apps for taping into the online car rental market.Conduct Market Research on Your Car Rental App IdeaBefore you directly jump into hiring an app development company and building a car rental app, you need to conduct market research to understand the market trends, audience pain points, and market requirements.This is one of the essential stages where you will get clarity about what you will offer to your users and define the app development requirements.Why Conduct Market Research?How to Conduct Market Research?To understand the requirements of your usersTo know the pain points of your target audienceTo define your app development requirementsTo get an idea about the revenue models and monetization ways for your appTo enhance your app development idea and existing strategiesTo find out how your car rental app can help you grow your businessGo through the app stores and look for existing car rental apps which are doing exceptionally well to check their features, UI/UX design, reviews, and performanceEvaluate feedback that these car rental applications have received to understand what a customer expectsFind mistakes made by your competitors to look for opportunities and gain a competitive edgeHire a professional market research companySet Your Requirements About Your Car Rental AppResearching the car rental market will help you define your requirements. So at this stage, it would be better if you are ready with your requirements before hiring a leading mobile app development company.To make it easy for you, we are sharing a list of requirements that you can consider for your car rental app development. Also, this will help you explain your app requirements to potential developers while hiring them.Create a list of the features that you are planning to includeSelect one app development platform, either iOS or Android, or you can build a cross-platform app that works seamlessly on multiple platforms and devicesYour choice of UX/UI designs, elements, fonts, logos, and colorsAny advanced tech stack if you have in your mindIf you are confused about finalizing the features or tech stack, you should talk to car rental service providers.Hire a Car Rental Mobile App Development CompanyTo build a car rental app like Turo or Hertz, you will need to hire talented mobile app developers. There are multiple ways to outsource your requirements to a mobile app development company that helps you with the car rental application development process.Websites such as Clutch, Upwork, and Toptal and experienced agencies such as Space-O offer a platform to hire pre-vetted developers. While hiring, look for the experience of the company, specialization in building an app for the same industry, portfolios, and reviews & ratings of the clients.In fact, you can choose to outsource your app development requirements to Space-O, as we have experience developing several on-demand taxi-booking apps, such as glspY and Houdini. You might want to know more about the Houdini app to understand our expertise in this industry.HoudiniHoudini is a cross-platform on-demand ride-sharing app that helps existing customers book rides conveniently. This app has main features like ride tracking, scheduling, ride management, reports, and push notifications.Develop User and Admin Panel AppAs you will be managing your customers, you must also build an admin panel, along with an app for your customers. However, your hired app development company will already know this and help you make both applications for your selected OS platform.Also, it is essential for you to share your requirements clearly with the developers to ensure they deliver you the best results. Meanwhile, the developers work on your project; you can stay in touch with them to know the progress of the project at regular intervals or milestones.Hence, it is one of the most crucial stages which can make or break the success of your app.Launch Your Car Rental AppOnce your app is ready and 100% bug-free, the app development team will launch it on the desired app stores. It might take 2 business days or more to launch your app successfully on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.Generally, the app gets launched on the app stores within 24 hours if the app is well developed considering the app store guidelines.Want to Discuss Your Car Rental App Idea?Contact us today to validate your car rental app development idea. We are a leading mobile app development company to build over 300 software solutions for clients worldwide. Book Your Free Consultation Now you know how to make a rental app, it’s time to find out the car rental app development timeline.How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Car Rental App?The average cost to create a car rental app ranges from $25,000 – $1,50,000.However, this range is generally influenced by several factors. Such as the location of the mobile app developers, the complexity of your car rental app, UX/UI services, the usage of third-party services, and the features and functionalities you want to integrate into your app.To know exactly how much does it cost to create an app, get in touch with our senior and experienced tech consultant. We will discuss your requirements and help you with a custom quote for your uni1que car rental app.How Much Time Does It Take to Build a Car Rental App?The estimated hours to develop a car rental app range from 900 to 1000 hours.We have classified the app development timeline based on several factors.Now, we will discuss all the factors one by one, helping you define the development timeline of the car rental app.Car Rental App Development Timeline Based on the App Development StagesAs we have just discussed the different stages of the car rental app, we will classify the timeline based on these 5 different stages. Let’s check how long it will take to build an iOS and Android app.App Development StagesEstimated Man HoursBA & SRS & Wireframe80 – 100 HoursDesign & Development40 – 60 HoursBackend130 – 150 HoursAPI Development80 – 90 HoursApp Development (iOS + Android)550 – 600 HoursTesting60 – 70 HoursApp Launch10 – 20 HoursTotal Development Hours950 – 1090 HoursNow, we will check the app development timeline based on the app complexity. Please know that adding core and advanced features and functionalities to a car rental app solution increases its complexity.Therefore, we will mention the car rental app development timeline based on the app’s complexity along with the features. Let’s find out the timeline.Car Rental App Development Timeline Based on the Car Rental App ComplexityWe have classified the app complexity based on 3 different types; simple, mid-level, and complex apps. Along with this, we have addressed the car rental app features for every kind of app complexity.App ComplexityFeaturesEstimated TimeiOSAndroidSimple AppSign In/ Sign UpVariety of carsSchedule a booking for a carManage bookingsCalculate the fareOnline payments115- 145 hours125 – 150 hoursMid-size AppPre-book the car ridePush notificationsReal-time trackingSOS optionCancellation of bookingCalculate the fareOnline paymentsReview and ratings300 – 330 hours310 – 335 hoursComplex AppGPS trackingReal-time trackingFee estimationSOS optionCustomer managementDifferent payment optionsManagement of the carDashboard/user profilePrevious ridesManaging paymentsManaging fares415 – 450 hours425 – 460 hoursApart from the complexity, the car rental app is divided into 2 different types; a user app and an admin app. Let’s discuss the development timeline for car rental app types.Car Rental App Development Timeline Based on Operating System (iOS & Android)Being an owner of the car rental app, you will be managing your customers as well as your business. Therefore, you will need 2 separate apps, one for managing your car rental business and one for your users, who will book cars for their rides. Let’s check how much time it will take to build a user and an admin app.Car Rental App TypeFeaturesEstimated TimeiOSAndroidUser AppLoginMultiple carsChoose a carSchedule a booking for a carPick up locationManage bookingsPast ridesFare calculationOnline paymentsPush notificationsReal-time trackingBooking cancellationCustomer support330 – 375 hours350 – 380 hoursAdmin AppManagement of the carDashboardCustomer managementPayment managementData analyticsCategory ManagementManaging the faresFare estimationRatings and reviewsOffers and dealsAPI development195 – 245 hours200 – 250 hoursNow you know almost all the essential details on building a full-fledged car rental app. However, having a car rental company, if you are looking to find the top apps which are performing exceptionally well in the market, then check the following section.10 Best Car Rental Apps in 2023We have accumulated a list of top car rental mobile apps and compared each app based on the Play Store reviews and features. So, let’s have a look to find what unique features these apps are offering to be at the top in the car rental app industry.LogoAppFeaturesReviews (Play Store)DownloadTuroChoose from a unique list of over 800 rental carsThe direct booking process of cars from the local hostsAI chatbot integration for better communication between the parties on the occasionThe host can manage the vehicle and monitor its performance through this rental appGo remote technology for local car owners to earn more from the car-sharing marketplace 4.9 178K ReviewsiOS | AndroidGetaroundThe quick and easy way to verify renting or hosting a carUsers can book a car on an hourly, as well as a daily basisThe host and representative can easily list down the number of share cars without any limitThe Getaround connect feature helps the host with keyless entry and enhanced securityThe rental car users, can locate and unlock the car with their phone 3.6 8.16K ReviewsiOS | AndroidKayakSecure booking via the app without re-entering the traveller’s data and credit card informationFilter your search according to destination, dates, and best flying timePrice forecast to know the airfare trendsThe app navigates a user around the airport with step-by-step directions on the deviceShare travel plans with friends and family members 4.5 251K ReviewsiOS | AndroidZipcarThe users can book through check-in options their round-trip carsOrganizing upcoming trip details in one place, from car’s location to details on reservation changesUnlock the car with the in-app unlocking featureThe app has more than one language to communicate with usersChange or extend the car service on the go 4.0 45.7K ReviewsiOS | AndroidHertzA user can have a look at his upcoming reservation detailsIt allows accessibility of receipts for expense trackingUsers can search parking slots through SpotHeroThe previous car rentals service is also saved for faster booking and check-in optionsSocial media channel sign up like Facebook 4.2 8.75K ReviewsiOS | AndroidEnterprise Rent-A-CarIt allows everyone to narrow their search and filter vehicles, and save rental details for future reservations from a review24/7 road assistance and consumer support serviceVisit the favorite location and access the information whenever needed for the reservationEarn and redeem points for free rental daysFast signing through fingertip recognition technology 5.0 35.3K ReviewsiOS | AndroidVirtuoComplete the car rental counter process in one goSelect from a wide range of premium cars, vans, and trucksDownload the digital key and unlock the VirtuoAutomatic transmission facility for better navigationA user can add four friends as additional drivers for free 3.8 4.72K ReviewsiOS | AndroidCarngoSelect location, age, dateBook a car and get a voucher through emailChoose from a wide range of carsCompare prices before booking a car via check-in options 4.7 3.87K ReviewsiOS | AndroidSkyscannerBook the whole trip with just one appSearch and compare flight prices before booking itGet the best deals on hotels, hostels, resorts, and apartments with a proper comparisonCustomize flight search (flight duration, departure-arrival time, travel class)Select a car rental and pickup location 4.7 806K ReviewsiOS | AndroidSIXTA user can book trips with the car-sharing marketplace feature without any limits on duration, drop-offs, destinationsIt provides the filter for price, type of car, equipment, and driver ageAn individual can manage multiple profiles with a single loginView and manage upcoming reservations and also get an overview of past reservationsPre-schedule a rental car and pay via credit card easily and securely 4.7 56.6K ReviewsiOS | AndroidLooking for more answers on car rental application development? Want to know the app development timeline, trends, and other details? Quickly check the following section highlighting the most asked questions by car rental business owners.Want to Build a Car Rental App with Advanced Features?Contact us to discuss your requirements. We will help you integrate advanced features into your car rental apps, such as real-time tracking, online payment, and a fare calculator.Click Here To Book Your Free Consultation FAQs About Car Rental App DevelopmentWhat are the things to remember before developing a car rental mobile app?If you are ready to build a car rental service app, then here are the few things you need to take care of.It is mandatory to have auto insurance for all your vehiclesIntegrate user-friendly features into your app that attract your target audiencesAPILook for custom car rental app development that will make you stand out in the industryWhat are the top car rental industry trends in 2023?Here are the top trends in the car rental app industry. Have a look:TrendDescriptionIncreasing the Use of AIAI technology lets you manage your fleets and analyze crucial business data. For example, it will help you keep track of the customers’ demographics and drivers’ habits to enhance the overall work process.Car Rental Accommodation at the AirportsThe airport is one of the best places where taxi and fleet management companies make a lot of money. Offering your car rental services in these areas will help users to travel faster and skip the taxi lines.Subscription Packages for Online ExpansionThis model really helps companies to attract new customers and travellers. In addition, these subscription packages are available on the price of vehicles on each level and occasional weekend bookings to sustain your audiences for the long run.Which are the different types of car rental services?Car rental services are booming every day. So far, there have been 4 types of car rental services that are doing well in the market. Let’s discuss all those 4 different car rental service types.Car Rental Service TypeDescriptionSelf-driven Car RentalsThe user will drive a car himself after reserving it for a specific time frame. This is great for those users who know driving but don’t have a car. Also, this rental service is cost-effective.Local Car RentalsThis service only applies to those near your area or visitors to your city. Offer your car rental services to them and charge for it.Corporate Car RentalsA company offers this service to its workers to visit around the city and get work done. This might not be a popular car rental service. However, this is very much in demand.Outstation Car RentalsThis service will help users to drive a car anywhere they wish without worrying about paying a hefty expense.Ready to Build Your Own Car Rental App?In this blog, you learned almost all the essential information that you need to create a successful app for your car rental business to boost sales. In addition, you now know the 5 steps of the car rental app development process, the app development timeline and cost, and the top car rental apps.Now, it will be easy for you to step into this booming industry to take your business to the next level. But, in case you are still facing a challenge, contact us with your car rental app development requirements. Our app development consultant will validate your app idea and help you develop a car rental app from scratch tailored to your needs.Subscribe4 Written byRakesh PatelRakesh Patel is the Founder and CEO of Space-O Technologies (Canada). He has 28 years of IT experience in business strategies, operations & information technology. He has expertise in various aspects of business like project planning, sales, and marketing, and has successfully defined flawless business models for the clients. A techie by mind and a writer at heart, he has authored two books – Enterprise Mobility: Strategy & Solutions and A Guide To Open311 ×WAIT!Do you know we offer FREE 30-min consultation?If you have a project in mind, let’s talk.We are here in Canada. If required, we can meet in person. Click Here To Get Started Trusted by Leading Brands in Canada ×Join our subscribers' list now! Get top insights and news on latest technologies and trends right to your inbox.