We've all had some experience with a rental vehicle, after a long flight, or when our own car broke down, and it was probably a bit suboptimal. Even a good experience usually had room for improvement. Fortunately, new technology and systems have brought that improvement. Here are five car rental alternatives worth knowing.

1. Lyft Rentals

Most people know Uber and Lyft for booking a ride point to point, like a taxi. Lesser-known are their expansions: Lyft Rentals among them. It works straight from the Lyft app and is a faster, more efficient way to get a car than a traditional rental service. It removes the paperwork and red tape, and adds perks like bonus credits toward Lyft services.

2. Dollar

Dollar is an online car rental service: the rental equivalent of Carmax or Vroom. It stands out for being the closest thing to a traditional rental without actually being one, so customers get a familiar experience without a disruptive change. Expect competitive prices, plenty of makes and models, and a focus on safety, flexibility, and convenience.

3. Turo

Turo had an original idea: instead of being limited to a rental company’s locations and selection, people rent out their own vehicles to one another, creating a giant marketplace. It’s seamless: choose the location and make you want and complete the transaction quickly. Instead of a dealership with years of poor ratings, you find a highly rated Turo host, with a narrower range of locations and models to choose from.

4. Getaround

Like Turo, Getaround built a car-sharing marketplace where people skip the hassles of traditional rental and share with one another through the app. It also caters to those looking for a side income, making it convenient for both renter and owner. If you want an easy alternative, it’s high on the list: simple to start, navigate, commit to a car, and finish a transaction.

5. Zipcar

What about a rental that isn’t for driving across the country, a service for someone who just needs a car for 30 minutes? That’s Zipcar. It turns rental into a more manageable, short-term option, best for someone who wants to rent the old-fashioned way but for shorter distances.

Closing thoughts

The rise of car-sharing apps has changed how people think about the industry. As these systems keep growing and evolving, traditional car rental will increasingly look like a thing of the past.