Citiz Car-Sharing: 2026 Rates, Subscriptions and Savings vs. Owning a Car
Debating between hourly car-sharing with Citiz and keeping your old Clio? Here’s the real cost of car-sharing in 2026. Citiz offers two plans: a €16/month subscription (€3/hour) or a pay-as-you-go rate of €5.50/hour.
We’ve crunched the numbers for you—whether it’s your daily commute, a grocery run or a family weekend away.
Citiz 2026 Rates: Subscription vs Pay-As-You-Go
Citiz offers two plans, available across all its cities (Lyon, Paris, Strasbourg, etc.). Here’s how they differ:
| Plan | Monthly Subscription | Hourly Rate | Included Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| With Subscription | €16/month | From €3/hour | 100 km/month (then €0.30/km) |
| Pay-As-You-Go | €0/month | From €5.50/hour | 0 km included (€0.30/km from the first km) |
Fuel, insurance and maintenance are included in both plans. No hidden costs—you only pay for the time used and any extra kilometres beyond the allowance.
What’s the Real Cost? 3 Practical Examples
Let’s look at three typical scenarios to see how the costs add up.
1. Daily Commute (10 km round trip, 2 hours/day, 20 days/month)
With Subscription:
- Subscription: €16
- Usage hours: 2h × 20 days × €3 = €120
- Mileage: 200 km (100 km included + 100 km at €0.30/km) = €30
- Total: €166/month
Pay-As-You-Go:
- Usage hours: 2h × 20 days × €5.50 = €220
- Mileage: 200 km × €0.30 = €60
- Total: €280/month
2. Weekend Grocery Run (50 km, 4 hours)
With Subscription:
- Subscription: €16 (prorated for one month)
- Usage hours: 4h × €3 = €12
- Mileage: 50 km (100 km included) = €0
- Total: €28
Pay-As-You-Go:
- Usage hours: 4h × €5.50 = €22
- Mileage: 50 km × €0.30 = €15
- Total: €37
3. Family Weekend (200 km, 2 days)
With Subscription:
- Subscription: €16 (prorated for one month)
- Usage hours: 48h × €3 = €144
- Mileage: 200 km (100 km included + 100 km at €0.30/km) = €30
- Total: €190
Pay-As-You-Go:
- Usage hours: 48h × €5.50 = €264
- Mileage: 200 km × €0.30 = €60
- Total: €324
Citiz Car-Sharing vs Owning a Car: Which Costs More?
Let’s take a second-hand petrol Clio bought for €8,000 and kept for five years. Here’s the real cost breakdown:
| Expense Item | Annual Cost (Petrol Clio) | Annual Cost (Citiz, 10h/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Car Depreciation | €1,600 (€8,000/5 years) | €0 |
| Insurance | €600 (comprehensive) | €0 (included) |
| Maintenance | €500 (oil changes, brakes, tyres) | €0 (included) |
| Fuel | €1,200 (15,000 km/year, 6L/100 km) | €360 (1,200 km/year at €0.30/km) |
| Parking | €600 (€50/month) | €0 (dedicated Citiz spaces) |
| Total | €4,500/year | €1,200/year |
The result? Even with low mileage (1,200 km/year), Citiz costs three times less than owning a car. If you drive less than 10,000 km/year, the gap widens even further.
How to Save More with Citiz: 3 Tips
A few ways to cut costs:
- Book in advance — Rates are cheaper if you reserve 24 hours ahead rather than last-minute.
- Opt for an annual subscription — Some Citiz networks offer yearly plans (e.g. €150/year instead of €192 for monthly). That’s a 20% saving.
- Share the cost — Splitting a trip with others automatically reduces the cost per person. Ideal for weekends away or a house move.
Need a car more often? Consider combining Citiz with other transport options. For example, use a bike for short trips, public transport for daily commuting, and car-sharing only when necessary. To compare with other options like short-term rental or leasing, this article breaks down the differences between car-sharing and alternatives.
Citiz Car-Sharing: Who Is It For?
Citiz car-sharing is particularly well-suited if:
- You drive less than 10,000 km/year — That’s the threshold where owning a car starts to make financial sense.
- You don’t have a dedicated parking space — Citiz spaces are reserved for subscribers.
- You only need a car occasionally — For example, for shopping, a weekend away or a house move, without the fixed costs of ownership.
- You live in a city and want to avoid the hassle of paid parking.
On the other hand, if you drive over 20,000 km/year or need a car daily for work, long-term rental (LLD) or leasing might be more suitable.
Citiz vs Other Car-Sharing Solutions
Citiz isn’t the only car-sharing option on the market. The key difference lies in the model: Citiz operates on a round-trip basis—the car must return to its starting station—while peer-to-peer rental via Getaround or Ouicar sometimes offers more flexibility, though availability can be less predictable.
The choice depends on your needs. For regular trips to a fixed destination—like a meeting or train station—Citiz’s fixed stations make planning easier. For one-off, flexible needs, peer-to-peer rental gives you more freedom over the vehicle and duration. Before deciding, also check the insurance terms for each option, detailed in our guide to insurance for peer-to-peer car rental.