Avail Car Sharing Shut Down: What Happened and Alternatives for 2026
Avail car sharing stopped operating in July 2024. Here is what Avail was, why Allstate’s car sharing service closed, and the alternatives for car owners and renters in 2026.
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Update, October 2026: Avail car sharing has shut down. It stopped peer-to-peer car sharing in Chicago and Denver on July 16, 2024, and it no longer accepts bookings or new cars. This guide now explains what Avail was, what happened, and what to use instead.
What was Avail car sharing?
Avail was a peer-to-peer car sharing service launched by Allstate in 2018. Car owners, called hosts, handed their cars to Avail, and travelers, called guests, rented them at a daily rate.
What set Avail apart was how little the owner had to do. Avail ran staffed lots at and near airports and in city locations. You dropped your car off, and Avail handled the rest:
- Insurance. Allstate coverage was included for every trip.
- Check-in and check-out. Avail staff met the guest and handed over the keys.
- Cleaning and upkeep. The car was cleaned between trips.
- Free parking. Owners who flew out of the airport got free parking while their car earned money.
For guests the appeal was simple pricing: insurance and a second driver were included, with a limit of 150 miles per day.
For owners it was close to fully passive income. When this guide was first written, a typical car earned about $25 a day on the platform.
What happened to Avail?
On July 16, 2024, Avail ended its consumer car sharing service in Chicago and Denver. It contacted guests to cancel bookings due to start on or after that date.
In its statement the company said it was ending peer-to-peer car sharing and would keep exploring business-to-business partnerships in the vehicle space. It did not say much more than that.
Avail is not the only casualty. Getaround, one of its two large rivals, closed its US operations on February 12, 2025, and now operates only in Europe. That leaves Turo as the one large peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace in the US.
If you were an Avail host or guest
- Bookings. There is nothing left to book. Trips scheduled for July 16, 2024 or later were cancelled.
- Promo codes. Old Avail promo codes no longer work, because there is no service to use them on.
- Phone numbers and locations. The Avail lots in Chicago, Denver and other cities are closed.
Alternatives to Avail in 2026
For car owners who want to earn
Turo is the main option. Owners list their cars and renters book them through the app, and the marketplace covers more than 350,000 vehicles across the US, Canada and the UK.
The trade-off is that Turo is not hands-off the way Avail was. You handle the handover, cleaning and maintenance yourself, or pay a co-host to do it. You also choose a protection plan, and the plan you choose sets how much of each trip price you keep.
Before you list a car anywhere, check three things:
- Your insurance. Many personal auto policies exclude commercial use. Ask your insurer before the first trip.
- Your loan or lease. Some agreements do not allow renting the car out.
- Local rules. Airports and some cities restrict or tax peer-to-peer rentals.
More on the idea: How to earn passive income with car sharing, 5 ways to make passive income from your car and Is a car an asset or a liability?
For travelers who need a car
- Turo, if you want a specific car or a neighborhood pickup.
- A traditional rental company, if you want airport counters, one-way trips and predictable insurance terms.
FAQ
Is Avail car sharing still operating?
No. Avail stopped its peer-to-peer car sharing service in Chicago and Denver on July 16, 2024. It no longer takes bookings from renters or listings from car owners.
Who owned Avail car sharing?
Avail was launched and backed by Allstate, the insurance company. It started in 2018.
Why did Avail shut down?
Avail did not give a detailed reason. It said it was ending peer-to-peer car sharing and would keep exploring business-to-business partnerships in the vehicle space. Peer-to-peer car sharing has been a hard business in the US: Getaround closed its US operations in February 2025.
What is the best alternative to Avail?
Turo is the only large peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace left in the US. It lists more than 350,000 vehicles across the US, Canada and the UK. If you only need a car for a trip, a traditional rental company is the other option.
Can I still earn money by sharing my car?
Yes, mainly through Turo. Unlike Avail, Turo does not park, clean or hand over your car for you, so expect to do that work yourself or pay a co-host to do it.
Final thoughts
Avail was a good idea that made car sharing easy for owners, and it still could not make the numbers work. If you are looking for the same kind of income today, Turo is where the renters are, and the work that Avail used to do for you is now yours.
