Hiyacar

About Hiyacar

Hiyacar is a company that facilitates direct rentals between individuals on terms as low as a single hour. Rather than being a subscription model whereby you choose from a pool of vehicles from the company itself with fixed pricing models, you are instead renting for a pre-agreed period of the directly from the vehicle owner. Hiyacar arrange insurance and ensure that the vehicle is covered by suitable breakdown cover, so you are left with paying for petrol (or charging) and the term itself, as per traditional subscription models.

How it Works

To start with, you have to register with Hiyacar and go through some checks – you then become a member. You must be 21 or over (or 25 and over for a van) and have a clean license for the last 2 years if you’re between 21 and 24. Once you have signed up, enter your postcode and pick-up and drop-off requirements, then browse vehicles. Once you have chosen one, you agree to the fees, arrange payment, then pick up the vehicle. You will either meet the owner and go through their checklist as provided by Hiyacar, or use the self-service pick-up QuickStart function.

Costs and Fees

• Hires range from £2 an hour
• Lateness fee £10 an hour, capped at £80 a day
• Admin fee up to £25 depending on hire length and vehicle
• Insurance cost variable by age, vehicle type

Brands & Models

Completely location and owner-dependent, but a range of vehicles are available, from hatchbacks and SUVs to EVs, vans and sports cars.

Notice Periods

You can cancel but if you don’t give 24 hours’ notice, you will be charged a fee depending on the booking length and cost.

What’s Special about Hiyacar?

Unlike a traditional subscription company, Hiyacar provides a platform for individuals to rent out their vehicles and set terms and prices. This isn’t dissimilar to a partner-dealer model in many ways, but there is a lot more variety for customers, and a lower burden on Hiyacar to source vehicles. The ability to rent a vehicle for an hour is something that other companies in the subscription market don’t offer, and as there is no overarching policy to cover details like mileage limits, there is a lot more choice and flexibility than with typical subscription models.

Social Media

Hiyacar has a Facebook page but it is only sporadically updated.

FAQs

Can I get a used Hiyacar vehicle?
The likelihood is that the car you hire will be used, as it is provided by an existing owner. That said, it isn’t impossible that new vehicles will be available.

Can I cancel my term early?
Contact the vehicle owner if you need to cancel early. As rental terms are set on an individual basis, you should think of Hiyacar like a facilitator rather than a regulator.

Will you deliver my vehicle?
No, you will need to pick up and drop off the vehicle from the designated address.

Can I get an electric vehicle?
Yes, there are many electric vehicles.

Do you inspect vehicles when they’re returned?
It is up to the vehicle owner to check for any damage – and they will send pictures of before and after to Hiyacar on each new rental.

Conclusion

Hiyacar is aiming to provide all the perks of a subscription service – including insurance and cover for breakdown – while gibing owners a chance to capitalise on times their vehicles are unused. The positives to this are variety of vehicle, location, term and price, but of course, the main disadvantage is that there is no guarantee on the quality, condition, or internal standard of the vehicle you are using. There is a risk to the owner, too, as an accident could mean they are left without a vehicle when they need it, while on the customer side, there is no courtesy car as a fallback after an accident.