Young drivers get going with GoGet | P Plate and Learner Car Rental
It’s hard to be a young driver. With the price of housing, education, and the stress of landing a job with decent pay, living your best life can be tough! Cozzie liv can be brutal!
So if you’re a learner driver, P plater or under 25 years old, the last thing you need is to deal with the massive cost of owning or renting a car. Especially with the soaring cost of new and second hand cars we’ve seen since the pandemic hit, increasing parts and repair costs and the ever rising price of fuel.
GoGet Carshare is here to make your life way more awesome! Say goodbye to car ownership drama and let's dive into why GoGet is your ultimate ride-or-die choice.
Read on for a legit comparison of your options between car rental, car ownership, and GoGet car sharing as a P Plater, learner driver or young driver.
GoGet vs Car Ownership for Young Drivers
Getting a driver’s license is important, and it’s a must for lots of jobs. But owning a car is super expensive. And especially so for young drivers, P platers and learner drivers with insurance costing way more than for older drivers.
Servicing and maintenance is also a drag, especially when you can only afford to buy an older car. And like cars overall, parts and labour for any repairs have become much more expensive over the past couple of years. Plus, most of us don’t know how to do an oil change, check brake pads, or change a tyre (though we can help you out with that). Unfortunately, these jobs can cost thousands when left to the mechanic – especially in older cars where stuff breaks more often. Even if you do know how to do it yourself, who's got time to play mechanic? We're all about better things, right?
But hey, don't sweat it. There is still a way to have the freedom that a car gives you, without the associated BS. GoGet car share offers hope! How does access to cars and vans near you where and when you need them sound?
What is GoGet?
GoGet is a car share service. Our 200,000+ members either opt for a free membership or they pay a small annual or monthly membership fee and get access to around 3,000 cars and vans across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, generally parked on a street near their house, Uni campus, Airport or major transport hubs. Think of it like Costco, but instead of cheap bulk groceries you get cheap hourly car usage.
Joining GoGet means you don’t need to own a car. That means more money for rent, food, and fun. By paying for a car only when you actually need to drive one, you avoid all the hidden costs of owning a car - most of our members save thousands of dollars a year. Plus you get access to a whole range of vehicles. Book a hatch for a beach trip, grab a van for that IKEA haul, or take the whole crew out in one of our people movers.
More savings mean more money for rent, food, text books, or tasty beverages. More importantly, a GoGet membership gives you the freedom to go where you want, when you want, without the stress and hassle of car ownership.
“For a Uni student on a tight budget, GoGet vans were really helpful in moving-out, and hiring cars makes grocery shopping easy. Charging a flat rate per hour is a fair system, and having the opportunity to extend your booking without excessive charge makes GoGet an outstandingly flexible product. No complaints – thank you for making life easier.”
Car share vs car ownership: A cost comparison
RACV have done the numbers on the cost of owning a car, and it’s not pretty. The cheapest new car listed in their 2022 survey came in at a whopping average of $734.84 per month or $8,818.08 per year! And it’s usually much more for young drivers who tend to pay way more for insurance than the average punter. We’ve crunched the numbers ourselves, and switching to GoGet can save you heaps!
You can buy an older car, but these come with their own problems and risks. They tend to break more often and sometimes cost way more to fix than you think they will. They are also much less safe than newer models.
Luckily GoGet has your back! On GoGet’s discounted Student plan, you could get over 150 trips for the same price as owning a car* And you don’t have to worry about parking, maintenance and cleaning!
(* assuming an average trip legnth of 5 hours and 40kms per trip in a small hatch at 2023 GoGet rates)
Or you can try out our GoStarter plan. The hourly rates are a bit higher than students pay, but the plan is free for the first year (usually $49), giving you the chance to try us out risk free.
If you’re keen to unlock the freedom of a car for less money and effort, find our pricing here or get some help choosing the right GoGet plan for you.
Other GoGet articles:
GoGet vs car rental for P platers
Ok, so we’ve convinced you that GoGet is a great alternative to car ownership. But what if you, a young driver, p plater, or learner driver just needs to hire a car or van for a little while?
Well, if you do a google search for car rental for p plate, car hire for p platers, van hire for p platers or p plate car rental, you’ll find it really difficult to find competitive car rental rates (aka, you’ll get stooged). That’s assuming you find a company that will rent you a car or van in the first place, not all of them do!
The fact is, GoGet is a better way to hire a car or van for young people. Let’s find out why.
Can P platers rent a car?
Yes, you can rent a car with P plates in Australia, but it’s hard. At a minimum, a P plate driver will need to have been driving for a year by themselves before they can rent a car – that’s all we ask for at GoGet. More often, car rental companies only let Green P Platers rent a car (depending on your state). Some car rental companies have a strict rule against P platers renting cars at all. We think that’s pretty unfair.
At GoGet, we don’t mind if you’re a P plater, we’ll let you hire our cars under a few conditions. You can find those requirements at the end of this article.
If you’re looking to find out more about p plate rules and restrictions in general, find our guide to P Plate restrictions in NSW, P Plate restrictions in VIC and P Plate rules in QLD.
Cost of GoGet vs Car rental for young drivers
By signing up to GoGet, you join a network of car share members, who use us to replace owning a first or second car, replacing traditional car rental at the same time.
An unlike traditional car rental, hiring a car from GoGet is way more flexible. Our vehicles can be booked for as little as an hour 24/7, 365 days a year. No need to find the opening hours of your local car rental branch. Plus, we know that plans change so all our bookings can be camcelled right up to the start of the booking for a full refund!
Even better, we don’t charge a surcharge for young drivers! This ranges from around $20 - $34/day. With GoGet there is no surcharge (apart from for learner drivers or under 18s), though you may have a higher damage liability.
“Good customer service, helpful and understanding. Good payment options, simple and reliable. Great variety of vehicles! A very good option for students and young people.”
Car rental made easier with GoGet
So, whether you join GoGet to replace owning a car, or to replace renting a car when you don’t have access to one, GoGet will probably save you money. Plus, you’ll have access to way more cars than most car rental fleets, including vans, SUVs, vans and people movers.
But there’s also the time and effort factor. GoGet has cars all over Australia’s 3 biggest cities, including the suburbs, so there’s probably one near you. That means you don’t need to travel to a car rental location to pick a car up.
And unlike car rental, you won’t need to go through a long booking/pick-up/drop-off process each time you need a car. There’s no queueing up at a car rental counter. Just sign-up, make a booking in 30 seconds on the app, then tap into a car with your GoGet smartcard to unlock and lock it. It’s that easy!
Young Drivers Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I hire a car as a learner?
Yes, learner drivers can drive learner approved GoGet cars (any of our small hatches - we have over 1000) by being added as an additional driver of another GoGet member. That member needs to be 25 years or older and be on the GoFrequent or GoOccasional plan.
Learner drivers can be any age, but they need to live at the same address as the account holder. Learner drivers also need to be supervised by a fully licensed driver at all times. For more information, head to our GoGet learner page.
Additional Costs:
There’s a one-off $25 fee to register a learner driver on an account. During bookings, learners attract a daily and hourly surcharge and have a higher damage cover liability.
Can I hire a GoGet car on my P plates?
Yes, provisional drivers can drive GoGet cars, but there are a few restrictions.
Red P platers:
First year P platers can be registered as an additional driver on an existing GoGet account in the same way learner drivers can, with the same restrictions. The costs are also the same as learners, with a higher damage cover liability and an $1.90/hour additional booking surcharge.
All other P Platers:
If you’re under 18 years old you will need to be an additional driver on an existing GoFrequent or GoOccasional account.
If you are over 18 years old and have 1 year’s unsupervised driving experience and a clean driving record, you’re eligible for your own GoGet account! We won’t charge you any extra booking fees, although you won’t be able to elect for our reduced liability option.
Which GoGet plan is right for me?
Every driver is unique, so the right plan for you will depend on your individual situation. But we can offer a little guidance.
If you’re a student, your best bet is to sign up to GoGet’s student plan. For just $35 a year you’ll have access to 3,000+ cars for some of our lowest rates. That includes hatchbacks, SUVs, Vans, and even 8-seater people movers!
If you’re not a student, you’ve got a few more options. If you only need a van, our free GoVan plan gives you access to over 500 vans with no ongoing or upfront membership fees. If you want access to the whole fleet, try GoStarter if you’re only going to use GoGet every few months, it’s free in the 1st year. Planning to use us heaps? Sign up to GoFrequent or GoOccasional plans to get the best hourly and daily rates.
What kind of trips can I make in a GoGet?
GoGet suits all kinds of round-trips:
If you need a car to go to the shops, GoGet!
If you need to drive to a friend’s place for a get-together, GoGet!
Planning on a run to the beach this weekend? GoGet!
Run to the bottle o to stock up for a house party? GoGet!
Need a van to move house or get a big purchase home? GoGet!
Can I hire a GoGet car if I’m under 18?
Yes, you can book a GoGet car if you’re under 18. However, you will need to be an additional driver on an existing GoFrequent or GoOccasional account where the main account holder is 25yrs+.
Does it cost more to hire a GoGet car if I’m under 25?
If you’re a learner, under 18 years old or have less than 1 year’s independent driving experience, we will charge an additional surcharge. There’s also a one time fee of $25 to add an additional driver to either a GoFrequent or GoOccasional account (details above) at the time of sign-up.
If you are a learner, under 18 years old or have less than 1 year’s independent driving experience you cannot elect our reduced liability option. In the case of an accident, your damage cover will be higher than for a more experienced driver. Otherwise, we won’t charge you any extra if you’re under 25 years old.
Details of GoGet’s liability rates can be found here.
Ditch the Hassle, Steer Clear of High Car Costs: Young Drivers Get Rolling with GoGet!
Forget The Drama of Buying A Car, GoGet Has You Covered
Being a young driver can be tough. Between study, work, and living expenses, affording a car, let alone renting one, feels impossible. But ditch the stress! GoGet car sharing is here to be your ultimate ride-or-die. So say goodbye to the old ways of car ownership and rental, and hello to a life where you're in the driver's seat and only pay for a car when you need one!
No Hidden Fees: Just Freedom with GoGet
Here's why GoGet crushes car ownership and rentals for young drivers:
Skip the high cost of car ownership: Fuel, insurance, rego, maintenance, parking - it all adds up. GoGet lets you pay by the hour, only when you need a car.
Wave goodbye to rental car hassles: No waiting in lines, hidden fees, or unfair surcharges for young drivers.
Variety is the spice of life! Need a hatchback for a grocery run? A van for a move? Choose from thousands of cars and vans across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
P Plate Friendly: Unlike most rental companies, GoGet welcomes P platers with at least a year of solo driving experience (no age restrictions!).
Still not convinced? Check out the GoGet advantage
Student Savings: Our student plan offers incredible rates, saving you thousands compared to owning a car.
Flexibility on Your Side: Book a car in seconds with the GoGet app. Plans changed? No worries, you can cancel anytime right up until the last minute for a full refund.
Cars Where You Need Them: Find GoGet vehicles parked conveniently around the city, near your home, uni, or work. Book with just a few taps on the app, jump in and get going.
Did We Mention, We Pay For Fuel? That’s right, fuels on us here at GoGet. Simply use the fuel card in the car and the fuel pin in your app to top up if the tank gets below 1/4 full.
