Car-sharing app for a Korea weekend outing: SOCAR

Why did I use SOCAR for a weekend outing?

While planning a domestic outing with my husband, I decided to try SOCAR. We usually take public transportation or taxis, but this time we had several places to visit. We also had luggage, and our route was flexible, so I thought having a car would be convenient.

Can everything from booking to return be done in the app?

For this trip, I handled everything in the app, from booking and rental to return. There was no need to visit a separate office or fill out paperwork, so it was not difficult even for a first-time user.

When booking, I set the destination and time, then chose a vehicle type. There were quite a few cars available at the time I wanted. At the time, the listed rental period ranged from a minimum of 30 minutes to a maximum of 30 days.

Are there options for vehicle delivery or returning it elsewhere?

Besides picking up, using, and returning the car myself, the app also introduced a “Bureum” service that brings a car to your home. There was also a one-way option that lets you return the car at your destination instead of going back to where you started. I thought these would be useful choices depending on how much luggage you have and your route.

What did I consider when choosing a car?

There was a wide range of vehicle types, including SUVs, compact cars, sedans, and imported cars, and prices varied by type. This outing involved a walk, a café stop, and taking photos, so we would be moving around a lot. I chose a car based on practicality.

What fare benefits were available at the time?

At the time, the app showed a benefit of unlimited free driving fees for electric vehicles, while regular vehicles had free driving fees for up to 30 km. I felt that this benefit reduced the cost burden for our outing.

There was also a notice saying that 5% of the payment could be earned as credit for the next use. The app also showed one-way, late-night, and early-bird discounts. Since I used it during the daytime on a weekend, I could not use the late-night discount, but next time I am thinking of applying a coupon too.

What was the process of finding and picking up the car like?

I set a starting point, found the vehicle, and picked it up. SOCAR Zones are located in apartment complexes, public parking lots, and near stations, so I felt they were easy to access. For pickup, I simply took photos and confirmed everything in the app, so it could all be done without staff.

Was it convenient for an outing with several stops?

For an itinerary like this one, moving between several places with luggage, having a car was convenient. What I liked was the lower cost burden, how easy it was to find a vehicle, and being able to complete the process in the app. I wanted to use it again, and I thought it could be useful when taking my parents on an outing too.