(Updated at 9:50 a.m.) Car-sharing company Car2Go is coming to Arlington this September with a fleet of 200 cars.
Starting Saturday, Sept. 19, people will be able to rent Car2Go vehicles for trips that start and end Arlington, Car2Go’s latest “home area.” The Arlington area does not include Reagan National Airport, the Pentagon or Arlington National Cemetery.
“Arlington has been at the forefront of expanding and improving transportation options, and our new year-long demonstration study with Car2Go is another opportunity to show residents, workers and visitors how easy it is to travel without owning a car,” Arlington County Director of Transportation Dennis Leach said in a statement.
To celebrate the car-sharing service’s arrival in Arlington, Car2Go is offering membership registration for $10 and 30 minutes of free driving time if new customers use the code DRIVE703.
“With access to a network of 200 Smart Fortwo vehicles, Arlington residents, workers and visitors will be able to experience a true complement to existing transportation options as they move throughout the city,” the company said in a statement.
Car2Go costs $0.41 plus tax per minute, with $14.99 plus tax per hour and $84.99 plus tax per day maximums. A $1 “driver protection fee” is also added for each trip. Gas, parking and insurance are free in the “home area.”
To find a Car2Go, Arlington users can use the Car2Go website, app or call the company’s customer service line. Users tap their membership cards to a card reader on the front windshield to start and end a trip.
Once the Arlington users are done, they can park the car at any county metered space or on any residential street in Arlington. While users can drive outside of the county, cars borrowed in Arlington must be returned in Arlington. When parking, users must follow Arlington parking rules.
There are currently 1,200 Arlington Car2Go members, according to the company.
“Arlington has shown an increasing appetite for more flexible and convenient mobility options, such as bikesharing and the Metro’s new Silver Line, and we’ve heard consistent requests to add Car2Go to the mix,” said Car2Go D.C. General Manager Adam Johnson. “We’re excited to make Car2Go an important part of the evolving transit landscape in Arlington, enhancing existing transit options and offering residents greater choice and flexibility in their day-to-day lives.”
Car2Go first came to the Washington area in 2012, when it launched in the District.
“Car2Go gets Arlington going: Arlington is a city rife with energy and innovation, and here’s an innovation that fits the active, always on the go Arlington lifestyle,” says Car2Go’s website.