Car Sharing vs Rental Car in Japan: 24 and 48-Hour Prices and the Distance Where They Cross

Whether car sharing or a rental car is cheaper in Japan depends on how long you use the car and how far you drive. Up to six hours, car sharing at ¥4,190–¥4,290 including fuel and insurance is cheaper. For 48 hours, Times Car costs ¥9,900 plus a distance charge, less than a major rental company's compact car (from ¥17,820 with CDW), with the turning point at about 400km. If you will drive 100km or more in 24 hours, add the distance charge and compare with a rental car before deciding (prices as of 1 November 2026).

Car sharing means registering as a member and taking a car from an unstaffed station. Its sign-up and licence conditions differ from a rental counter's. If you hold a foreign licence, check whether the service will register you before comparing prices, and read our licence and IDP guide.

Prices for three car-sharing services and rental cars

• Amounts include tax. Car-sharing prices include fuel and insurance, and the deductible for property and vehicle damage after an accident is ¥0 at Times Car and Orix Car Share.
• Rental cars are the listed prices before discounts at Toyota, Nippon, Times Car Rental, Orix, Nissan, JR Eki and Sky. Sky has no 6-hour or 12-hour band, so its "same-day return" price of ¥7,480 is used.
• The collision damage waiver (CDW) that waives accident deductibles in a rental car is ¥1,100 per day (¥1,650 on Nissan's Standard Plan), charged on top of the basic charge.
• Orix Car Share's 48 hours is ¥7,890 for 24 hours plus ¥4,190 for "each further day". Mitsui Car Shares does not list prices beyond 24 hours.
• For night-only use, the night pack (18:00 to 09:00) costs ¥2,640 at Times Car, ¥3,200 at Mitsui Car Shares and ¥3,480 at Orix Car Share.

How to choose

1. Up to six hours: car sharing

For bookings and use of up to six hours, Mitsui Car Shares and Orix Car Share have no distance charge. Times Car has none up to 20km. Six hours in a rental car costs ¥6,160 even at Toyota, the cheapest, plus CDW and fuel.

2. For 24 hours: compare by distance

Times Car costs ¥6,600 for 24 hours, plus ¥20 per km beyond 20km. Compared with the cheapest rental car (JR Eki S, ¥8,470 + ¥1,100 CDW = ¥9,570), the ¥2,970 difference equals 148km of distance charge, so Times Car is cheaper up to 168km. With Mitsui Car Shares (¥7,300 + ¥21 per km), the turning point is 108km. A rental car also needs fuel, so the real turning point is further than this.

3. For 36 or 48 hours: usually car sharing

Times Car is ¥8,800 for 36 hours and ¥9,900 for 48 hours. The seven major rental companies are ¥15,620–¥17,820 for 48 hours, and ¥17,820–¥20,790 with two days of CDW. Compared with JR Eki, the cheapest (¥17,820), Times Car is cheaper up to 416km. Compared with Times Car Rental's discounted 48 hours (¥13,420 + ¥2,200 CDW = ¥15,620), Times Car is cheaper up to 306km.

4. Decide by available cars and equipment

Even if the price settles it, car sharing does not help if no car is free at a nearby station at the time you want. For trips needing a child seat, winter tyres or a return elsewhere, secure them with a rental booking. Our child seat and company comparison guides cover rental options.

When the price list does not tell the whole story

• Car-sharing booking time: at Mitsui Car Shares and Orix Car Share, a booking over six hours is charged to the end of the booking, even if you return early.
• Late car-sharing returns: at Times Car, returning late without an extension doubles the charge for the excess (¥440 per 15 minutes on Basic), and the maximum-charge caps do not apply.
• Accident costs (NOC): car sharing also has a non-operation charge (NOC) when an accident leaves the car unusable. Times Car charges ¥20,000, waived by its ¥550 Anshin protection service. Mitsui Car Shares charges ¥20,000 or ¥50,000. Orix Car Share charges ¥20,000 or ¥50,000, waived by its ¥660-per-day Anshin Pack.
• Car-sharing registration costs: at Times Car, there is no issue fee without a card, or ¥1,650 with one. Mitsui Car Shares has no initial fee.
• Rental high seasons: rental basic charges rise at the New Year and Golden Week. Orix's SA goes from ¥9,900 to ¥11,880 for 24 hours.

Checks before booking

• Whether your use is up to six hours, 24 hours or longer
• Your round-trip distance (including detours), and the total with the car-sharing distance charge
• For a rental car, the total with CDW and fuel
• Whether a car is free at a nearby station at the time you want
• Whether you need a child seat, winter tyres or a return elsewhere

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper for a short time, car sharing or a rental car?

Up to six hours, car sharing: ¥4,290 at Times Car, ¥4,280 at Mitsui Car Shares and ¥4,190 at Orix Car Share, including fuel and insurance. Major rental companies' compact cars start at ¥6,160, with CDW and fuel extra.

Which is cheaper for one night and two days?

For 48 hours, Times Car is ¥9,900 and Orix Car Share ¥12,080. Major rental companies are ¥15,620–¥17,820 plus two days of CDW, so Times Car stays cheaper up to around 400km.

Does car sharing have a distance charge?

Times Car charges ¥20 per km beyond 20km. Mitsui Car Shares (¥21 per km) and Orix Car Share (¥20 per km) have no distance charge for bookings and use of up to six hours.

Is the monthly fee wasted if I rarely use it?

The ¥880 monthly fee at Times Car and Mitsui Car Shares is credited against that month's usage. Orix Car Share's Personal A Plan is ¥250 a month, and its Personal B Plan has no monthly fee (time charges from ¥350 per 15 minutes).

Related guides

• Compare rental-car companies in Japan
• CDW and NOC in Japanese rental cars
• Rental car cancellation fees in Japan