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SHARE NOW announced in December 2019 that it would end car2go operations in North America—including Seattle—effective February 29, 2020. At the time, car2go was Seattle’s last remaining free-floating car-share service, so its departure was expected to leave a gap. That gap did not last: AAA’s GIG launched a free-floating service in Seattle in July 2020. This is a historical account, not a confirmation of which operators serve Seattle today.
What SHARE NOW announced
On December 18, 2019, SHARE NOW said it would exit North America effective February 29, 2020. The company’s notice named Montreal, New York, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and Vancouver. It also announced closures in Florence, London, and Brussels, citing low adoption in those European cities. GeekWire reported the announcement and reproduced the company’s notice.
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SHARE NOW attributed its North American decision to a volatile mobility landscape, rising infrastructure complexity, and the investment it believed was necessary to make the market successful in the near and long term. The company said it had remained hopeful of finding a solution but could not commit to that level of investment. These were the company’s stated reasons, not an independently established account of why the business left. GeekWire’s coverage includes the notice.
Why Seattle faced a free-floating service gap
Car2go launched in Seattle in 2012 as the city’s first free-floating car-share service. By December 2019, two other services had already left: ReachNow shut down in Seattle and Portland in July 2019, and Lime ended its Seattle-only LimePod pilot in September 2019. That made car2go the city’s last remaining free-floating service when SHARE NOW announced its exit. GeekWire covered the Seattle service history and the announced departure.
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Former ReachNow CEO Steve Banfield described North America as a tough mobility market, pointing to its geographic scale, the limitations of public transit in many cities, and the ubiquity of alternatives such as Uber and Lyft. That is Banfield’s analysis, rather than proof that any one factor caused SHARE NOW’s decision. His comments were reported by GeekWire.
What free-floating car share means—and what it does not
In free-floating car share, members can pick up a vehicle and leave it elsewhere within a defined service zone, while following the operator’s and city’s parking rules. Seattle also recognizes designated-space car share, where vehicles use particular parking spaces. The city’s permit materials describe both models; a permit framework does not establish which companies currently operate locally. Seattle Department of Transportation: car-sharing permits.
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That distinction explains why other ways to access a car were not necessarily direct replacements for car2go. A December 2019 GeekWire report described Zipcar as requiring pickup and return at designated locations, while Getaround and Turo were peer-to-peer vehicle-rental services. Those descriptions distinguish service models; they do not verify present-day availability or terms in Seattle. GeekWire’s 2019 report discusses the alternatives.
| Model | Where a trip can end | Vehicle and parking arrangement |
|---|---|---|
| Free-floating car share | At a permitted location within the operating zone, which may differ from the pickup point | Shared operator fleet; zone and parking rules apply |
| Designated-space car share | At a designated space or location, according to the service’s rules | Shared vehicles use particular parking spaces |
| Peer-to-peer rental | As set by the rental listing and agreement; not necessarily a free-floating trip | A vehicle is made available by its owner through a rental platform |
The city describes the first two models in its permit materials; the 2019 report describes the named alternatives. Neither source supplies current, comparable prices or confirms current local availability for the named companies. Seattle Department of Transportation permit information; GeekWire, December 2019.
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GIG brought free-floating car share back in 2020
AAA’s GIG launched in Seattle in July 2020 with 250 hybrid-electric Toyota Prius vehicles, according to SeattlePI’s report at the time. Members could use the GIG app to reserve and unlock cars, park on streets or in lots within a designated HomeZone, and use a service that included fuel and insurance. These are launch-era details, not verified current fleet numbers, prices, or terms. SeattlePI reported on GIG’s Seattle launch.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is—and is not—known about Seattle service now
Seattle’s current permit pages describe the rules and categories for car-share operators, including free-floating and designated-space services. They do not, by themselves, provide a verified current operator roster. The sources available for this account do not establish which companies serve Seattle today or their current prices and operating terms. Check an operator’s own current service area and rules before relying on a listing.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
