If you do not use the car, can I rent it?

If you receive a notice about the potential for CarSharing to programs, believes that other traditional car-rental companies, Hertz and Avis last pioneers in the short-term rental market, such as ZipCar, in the couple of years purchased.

Apparently those are rewarded well. A new study by Navigant research predicts that the number of car sharing participants are from 2.3 million in 2013 on more than 12 million in the year 2020 grow. Global sales should make a bigger leap from an expected $1 billion to $6.2 billion.

Car-sharing services offer an alternative to the traditional rent approach through targeted those who need a car for less than an hour. Customers access, usually vehicles for vacant lots or reserved parking places.

However, there are also a number of variations on the theme.

Pioneering companies such as ZipCar, much like a traditional car rental companies offer their own vehicles. But parts in a different view on the so-called economic, RelayRides, with each owner to earn such as partner some money, you want to rent their vehicles.

RelayRides, which recently joined with OnStar to it easier for a customer access to a car, that entry can be parked in an owner, a commuter train station or some other place. An OnStar app enables an authorized customers to unlock the car and they drive away, the pursuit of the settlement in the process.

"The emergence of mobile apps and vehicle connectivity growth driver is in the car-sharing services," said Navigant, based in Boulder, Colo.

Lisa Jerram, Navigant's senior research analyst, said car-sharing broader complaint is that it "Members the possibility of mobility without the expense and the effort of the ownership of a car or the need, often a vehicle by a traditional car rental to enjoy rent offers."

Market growth is expected to be clear to accelerate according to the study. A handful of brands now dominate the market, and traditional businesses have a position to occupy at lightning speed. For example Avis ZipCar bought in March.

According to their website, ZipCar has about 810,000 members and more than 10,000 vehicles in a growing global network, which now includes operations in the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Spain.

Because the services members are largely based on transport, said Jerram at Navigant, "car-sharing is seen by public and private institutions as a powerful tool for the city to reduce congestion and lower greenhouse gas emissions."