Getaround
Corporate brand
UnclaimedPeer-to-peer car-sharing platform that connected vehicle owners with people seeking short-term rentals.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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History
Getaround originated in the late 2000s as an attempt to turn unused privately owned cars into a distributed rental supply. Sam Zaid, Jessica Scorpio, and Elliot Kroo founded the company in 2009. Its public profile increased after it won the TechCrunch Disrupt New York competition in May 2011. The company’s concept combined a peer-to-peer marketplace with mobile booking and technology intended to allow renters to access vehicles without meeting an owner at a conventional rental counter. In 2012, Getaround expanded to Portland, Oregon, with assistance from a $1.725 million Federal Highway Administration grant. The grant supported an experiment in technology-enabled shared mobility and helped the company establish an early presence beyond its original market. Getaround subsequently expanded across numerous U.S. metropolitan areas, including Boston, Chicago, the San Francisco Bay Area, New Jersey, Seattle, Philadelphia, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, San Diego, Los Angeles, Denver, and Washington, D.C. The company pursued growth through both capital raising and consolidation. In November 2016, it reached an agreement with City CarShare under which Getaround took over the organization's fleet, parking spaces, and member base. In August 2018, Getaround raised $300 million from SoftBank, providing capital for additional expansion and technology development. In April 2019, it acquired Drivy, a European car-sharing platform, for $300 million. Drivy operated in several European markets and was rebranded as Getaround approximately six months after the acquisition. The transaction made Europe a major component of Getaround's international strategy. The peer-to-peer model brought substantial operational risks. Owners depended on the platform's screening, access controls, insurance arrangements, and claims processes, while renters expected vehicles to be available, safe, and accurately represented. Getaround's connected Getaround Connect system was intended to support remote access and vehicle tracking, but reporting in 2020 described thefts and misuse involving vehicles listed on the platform. In some cases, criminals reportedly used publicly visible vehicle-location information, broke into cars, removed or damaged connected devices, and took keys stored in the vehicle. The Washington, D.C., attorney general later announced a settlement requiring a $950,000 payment, restitution for affected users, and platform changes. Financial pressure became more pronounced around the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2020, the company was reported to be planning a reduction of about 150 employees. By March, sharply lower travel demand had reduced bookings, and reports said the company was short of cash and seeking a buyer. Getaround continued operating and later sought access to public capital through a SPAC transaction. In 2022, the merger gave the company an implied equity value of approximately $1.2 billion and placed its shares on the New York Stock Exchange under GETR. The public listing did not reverse the company's financial deterioration. The share price declined, and the company's market capitalization was reported to have fallen to roughly $24 million by 2024. Getaround reduced its workforce by about 30 percent in February 2024, following the departure from its San Francisco headquarters in 2023. Its NYSE listing ended in July 2024, when the shares moved to OTC Markets. On February 11, 2025, Getaround announced that it would stop operating in the United States. The decision covered both its main car-sharing business and HyreCar operations in the country, while the company said it would maintain its European activities. In April 2026, the company's remaining European interests were reported as sold to GoMore, a Danish mobility company. In June 2026, the board announced a plan to dissolve and liquidate Getaround. Since the cited material characterizes dissolution as a plan, rather than documenting its completed legal conclusion, the company's ultimate status remains recorded as unknown.
- 2026
European interests sold and liquidation planned
[1]The remaining European interests were reported as sold to GoMore, and the board announced a plan to dissolve and liquidate the company.
- 2025
U.S. operations discontinued
[1]Getaround ceased its U.S. operations, including its car-sharing and HyreCar activities, while retaining European operations at that point.
- 2024
NYSE delisting
[1]Getaround's shares were delisted from the NYSE and transferred to OTC Markets.
- 2022
SPAC merger and public listing
[1]The company completed a SPAC combination and began trading on the NYSE as GETR at an implied equity value of approximately $1.2 billion.
- 2019
Drivy acquired
[1]Getaround acquired European car-sharing platform Drivy for $300 million.
- 2018
SoftBank investment
[1]Getaround raised $300 million from SoftBank.
- 2016
City CarShare assets and members transferred
[1]Getaround agreed to take over City CarShare's fleet, parking spaces, and member base.
- 2012
Portland expansion supported by federal grant
[1]The company began serving Portland with assistance from a $1.725 million Federal Highway Administration grant.
- 2011
TechCrunch Disrupt recognition
[1]Getaround won the TechCrunch Disrupt New York competition, increasing visibility for its app-based car-sharing model.
- 2009
Company founded
[1]Sam Zaid, Jessica Scorpio, and Elliot Kroo founded Getaround as a peer-to-peer car-sharing business.
Products and positioning
Technology-enabled, app-based car sharing that makes privately owned vehicles available for short-term rental, emphasizing convenience, vehicle access without a traditional rental counter, and the productive use of idle cars.
Peer-to-peer car sharing
Getaround marketplace
The core service matched vehicle owners with renters seeking cars for short periods. Users could search for vehicles through the platform, review availability and terms, reserve a car, and complete payment through the service. The marketplace model allowed Getaround to offer a geographically distributed supply without owning every vehicle itself.
Connected-car access technology
Getaround Connect
Getaround Connect was the company's connected-vehicle system for remote access and location-related functions. It was designed to let approved renters unlock participating vehicles through the platform rather than exchanging a physical key directly with the owner. The system became central to the convenience proposition but also drew scrutiny after reports that criminals could damage or remove devices in connection with vehicle thefts.
European car sharing
Drivy
Drivy was a European peer-to-peer car-sharing platform acquired by Getaround in 2019. It provided the company with a larger European customer and vehicle base. Drivy was rebranded as Getaround roughly six months after the acquisition, integrating the European service into the wider brand.
Controversies
2021
District of Columbia settlement
The District of Columbia attorney general announced a settlement requiring Getaround to pay $950,000, provide restitution to certain users whose cars were damaged or stolen, and implement changes to its platform. The settlement followed concerns about vehicle theft, location visibility, device tampering, and consumer losses.
2021
Getaround settles with Washington, D.C. over alleged violations
Getaround reached a settlement with Washington, D.C., requiring it to pay $950,000 and make operational changes, including customer restitution and clearer disclosures. The AG's office alleged licensing, consumer-protection, tax and misleading-safety-representation violations; Getaround denied violating consumer protection or tax laws, and the settlement was not an admission of guilt.
2021
SAVVA sues Getaround over denied insurance claims
SAVVA filed a civil lawsuit against Getaround, alleging that Getaround denied more than 100 insurance claims for vehicles rented through its platform while collecting fees intended to pay those claims. The article reports allegations, not a court determination.
2020
Vehicle theft and platform-security concerns
News reports described criminals using Getaround and similar rental applications to identify vehicles, break into them, disable or remove Getaround Connect equipment, and take keys stored inside. Users also reported stolen, damaged, seized, or otherwise misused vehicles and disputes over insurance compensation. A former employee said the company had known since 2017 that its tracking devices were not tamper-proof.
Brand decisions
2026
Plan dissolution and liquidationStrategyBackground
After discontinuing U.S. operations and reportedly selling its remaining European interests, the board addressed the company's remaining corporate structure.
Action taken
The board announced a plan to dissolve and liquidate Getaround.
Aftermath
The cited material does not establish whether the legal dissolution was completed.
2025
Exit the United StatesStrategyBackground
Getaround cited liquidity challenges after prolonged financial pressure, declining public-market value, and workforce reductions.
Action taken
The company stopped its U.S. operations, including its main car-sharing and HyreCar activities, while retaining its European business at the time.
Aftermath
The company became primarily European until its remaining European interests were reportedly sold to GoMore in 2026.
2022
Complete SPAC merger and pursue public-market fundingM&ABackground
Getaround pursued a public listing to obtain capital and support expansion of its technology-enabled car-sharing business.
Action taken
The company merged with a special purpose acquisition company and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under GETR.
Aftermath
The transaction implied an equity value of approximately $1.2 billion, but the public share price and market capitalization later fell sharply.
Implied equity value. $1.2 billion (2022 SPAC merger)
2019
Acquire Drivy and consolidate the European businessM&ABackground
Getaround sought broader international scale in peer-to-peer car sharing and agreed to purchase Drivy, one of Europe's established car-sharing platforms.
Action taken
Getaround acquired Drivy for $300 million and later rebranded the service under the Getaround name.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded Getaround's European footprint and made Europe an important part of the company's operations.
Reported acquisition price. $300 million (April 2019)
Recent events
Reported
Getaround settles with Washington, D.C. over alleged violations[2]
Getaround reached a settlement with Washington, D.C., requiring it to pay $950,000 and make operational changes, including customer restitution and clearer disclosures. The AG's office alleged licensing, consumer-protection, tax and misleading-safety-representation violations; Getaround denied violating consumer protection or tax laws, and the settlement was not an admission of guilt.
Reported
SAVVA sues Getaround over denied insurance claims[3]
SAVVA filed a civil lawsuit against Getaround, alleging that Getaround denied more than 100 insurance claims for vehicles rented through its platform while collecting fees intended to pay those claims. The article reports allegations, not a court determination.
Reported
Getaround launches Power Host program[4]
Getaround announced the launch of Power Host, a program designed to support hosts with fleets of two or more vehicles.
Sources4 sources
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