Communauto says it has ‘no choice’ but to hike fees

The carshare company Communauto says it has to raise some of its fees to keep up with vehicle costs.

President Benoît Robert said in a news release that costs tied to leased vehicles along with maintenance and insurance costs have gone up in recent years and months — and the company underestimated the impact of these changes.

“If it’s getting more and more expensive for individuals to own a vehicle, and for us to acquire vehicles to share, we have no choice but to adapt,” Robert said in the news release.

For example, the average cost of the vehicles Communauto added to its fleet went up from $21,000 in 2015, to $21,700 in 2019 to $28,000 in 2024. That’s nearly a 30 per cent increase in 10 years.

Insurance deductibles in Quebec doubled since 2021, going from $5,000 per accident to $10,000 in 2024. The company expects its insurance bill to go up another 20 per cent in the next year.

But the company says it will still be more affordable to use its services than to buy a car.

Communauto says it does not increase its prices systematically.

“In October 2015, for example, our Long Distance rate was $34.95 for the first day, $29.95/additional day and $149.75/week. In 2024 dollars, this would equate to $44.39 for the first day, $38.04/additional day and $190.18/week. However, the prices announced for January 2025 (i.e. 10 years later) are only $39.50 for the first day, $29.95/additional day and $175/week,” it said.

See the table below for all price adjustments.