Maven is a car rental alternative.

Car Rental By The Hour

Despite the best efforts of a few innovative companies, there hasn’t been a service that has truly disrupted the car rental industry. Travelers still must deal with long lines, transports, and hidden fees. Maven claims to be building “a more connected seamless car sharing experience.” The app lets users rent cars by the hour, typically with fees around $9/hour. There are various types of cars on the app, from electric vehicles to SUVs. They are located in various places around the city, and discoverable via the app. The coolest aspect of Maven is that the phone and app actually act as the key for the car.

Pick Up, Drive, and Drop Off

Whether you’re traveling to an unfamiliar city and may need a car occasionally, or you live in a city in which you don’t want to own a car full-time, Maven can be an incredibly useful option. Although it may end up being more expensive than a Lyft or an Uber, it comes with the added convenience of being able to drive yourself for an extended period of time, park, and transport whatever you need. If you use it right, it may even end up cheaper. Maven is currently available in most major U.S. cities, as well as smaller markets like Ann Arbor, Michigan. It’s a smart concept that hopefully will catch on and change the dynamic of intra-city transportation.