Car Subscription FAQ | Snap Subscribe

GENERAL

What is car subscription?

Car subscription is a service that provides you with the right to use a vehicle for a set monthly fee. Good car subscription services will offer additional extras alongside the use of the vehicle, such as insurance, maintenance, roadside cover and more.

Car subscription providers may include minimum subscription sign up periods, or alternatively allow you to subscribe to vehicles for shorter terms such as weekly or monthly.

Nearly all car subscription providers offer "plans" with their car subscription service, which usually represent a weekly/monthly/yearly kilometer allowance which is measured by a GPS tracking device on the vehicle.

It's important to note that car subscription does not include any vehicle ownership component - i.e. you do not own your subscription vehicle, nor does paying for your subscription for any period of time bring you closer to owning the vehicle.

How does car subscription work?

The easiest way to understand how car subscription works is to think of it like getting a mobile phone with a plan.

With your mobile phone plan, you will receive a mobile phone + a set allocation of calls, texts and data for a set monthly payment amount.

With car subscription, you will receive a vehicle + a set allocation of kilometers (and sometimes vehicle swaps) for a set monthly payment amount.

Typically your subscription will include on road costs, servicing and maintenance and more as part of your monthly subscription - you will communicate with your car subscription provider to organise where to take the vehicle for servicing or any repair work provided.

Is car subscription worth it?

Car subscription, while relatively new to New Zealand, has been around since 2010. Invented in Hawaii, car subscription services are now becoming more and more popular across the globe. This longevity and popularity of car subscription suggests that it is definitely worthwhile and here to stay.

Compared with car ownership, car subscription offers significantly less stress, as if your vehicle breaks down you don't need to foot the bill at the mechanic. Mechanical work is growing increasingly expensive as the systems that drive vehicles are more and more complicated - this means that from a purely financial standpoint, car subscription could be better option than car ownership.

On top of breakdowns, car subscription services also come inclusive of general wear and tear and servicing as well as WOF & Registration. Getting your WOF and service can get very, very expensive very quickly if your tyres, break pads etc are worn - this is no longer something you need to worry about with car subscription.

For the above reasons, car subscription certainly is worth the monthly payment amount!

APPLICATION & REQUIREMENTS

Are there any requirements I need to meet in order to qualify for a car?

We accept customers with a full New Zealand drivers licence, good driving history and are 21 years of age or older. When you apply, we’ll check to see if you have a good driving record. Odds are, you may not pass if you’ve had recent serious violations like a DUI or other reckless driving incidents. However, people with parking tickets or run-of-the-mill moving violations generally do pass. In any case, we can’t guarantee that any person will pass until we run their motor vehicle record check.

If you’re interested in one of our cars, you’re more than welcome to begin the signup process and have your driving history reviewed by our system.

What are the driving history requirements for signing up?

We accept customers with a full New Zealand drivers licence, good driving history and are 21 years of age or older. When you apply, we’ll check to see if you have a good driving record. You’ll also need a valid credit card to complete your subscription.

If you’re interested in one of our cars, you’re more than welcome to begin the signup process and have your driving history reviewed by our system.

CARS

Is an electric car different to drive than a traditional car?

Electric vehicles are essentially the same to drive as a traditional vehicle, although they do not have any gears, fewer moving parts and are powered by electricity.

Don’t worry, when we drop the vehicle off to you our concierge will show you through the vehicle and make sure you know how everything is operated. Electric Vehicles also cost a lot less to run than a standard petrol vehicle.

Is my car inspected for damage before I take it?

Yes, we perform a pre-check on all cars before dropping them off to customers. This includes making sure everything is running well as well as documenting any minor cosmetic flaws.

Do I own the car or does Snap Subscribe?

You won’t own the car, however you will be registered to drive it as long as you are subscribed.

DELIVERY AND PICKUP

How long will delivery take?

You can book in an available delivery time during checkout, these are usually within a week from purchase. Please note that you will need to be available to receive the car so please select a time that works for you.

How do I return my car?

If you need to return your car for any reason you can book a time for one of our concierge drivers to come and pick up your car by contacting us on 0800 456 510 or support@snapsubscribe.co.nz.

Where do you deliver to?

Currently we only deliver to Auckland & Christchurch city suburbs as part of this service. If you are out of these areas and are interested in the service please contact us. Alternatively you can collect from one of the Snap Subscribe Service Hubs.

CHARGING

Where can I charge?

Your car will come with a home charging cable, and most electric vehicle owners find that charging at home is sufficient for the majority of their driving needs. We even have a great EV fuel package you can sign up to, simply fill in your details here to find out if you're eligible. Also, New Zealand has a good number of charging stations around the country. You can check out these stations here on Plugshare. Some of them are even free to use!

How long does it take to charge?

Charging times will differ depending on the car and the charging mechanism, but general information can be found on the vehicle details pages. In general, electric vehicles will be fully charged if left plugged in overnight, and can be charged in under an hour at fast-charge stations around the city.

PRICING

What if I want to cancel before the end of my plan term?

Please notify our team as soon as you would like to cancel your subscription.

If you are on a month to month subscription, you can drop off the vehicle before or on you monthly subscriptions rollover/end date. Please note there are no refunds for early drop offs.

If your subscription has a minimum period (three, six or 12 months) and you cancel prior to this period passing, you will have to pay:

any outstanding payments owed;
the difference between the subscription payments you would have been charged for the shorter subscription term and your subscription payments made; and
a $250 early cancellation fee

For example, if you sign up for a 12 month Nissan Leaf Gen 3 at $999 per month, but decide to cancel early at 7 months, you will need to pay the difference between the subscription payments for the Nissan Gen Leaf's shorter subscription term (in this case the $1,099 6 month rate) x 7 months; and your subscription payments made ($999 x 7) = $700 + a $250 early cancellation fee.

How do I pay parking, tolls and driving infringement tickets?

You’ll be required to pay all tolls and tickets. Some tickets will come through to us and we will forward these on to you to be paid. If we have to pay your fines or toll roads for you, we’ll debit your card and charge a $25 administration fee. For more information please see our Terms of Service.

When and how will I be charged?

Your credit card will be debited on a monthly basis based on when your plan renews. You’ll receive an invoice when your credit card has been debited.

Can I get a GST invoice?

Yes, you can. Simply contact us and we’ll arrange this for you.

INSURANCE

How do I file an insurance claim?

As soon as a minor incident takes place, we recommend checking your glovebox for an incident form. If something goes wrong, like damage to the car or a crash, contact us and we will organise to repair or replace your car.

Will I need to pay an excess if I file an insurance claim?

Yes, if we need to file an insurance claim you will be charged an excess of $1,000 immediately pending a damage assessment. Once a damage assessment is complete, if the total damage is less than the excess amount, we will refund you the difference between the excess charged & the damage amount.

What is not covered in my insurance, warranty, and maintenance packages? Put another way, what am I responsible for?

You are responsible for the day-to-day care of the car, and we expect you take care of it just like you would your own car by keeping it free from permanent stains, rips and other minor aesthetic damage - however a normal amount of wear and tear is expected and OK. You are also responsible for letting us know if anything major happens to the car so we can fix it in a timely manner. Your maintenace package includes general vehicle upkeep, but does not include damage to tyres or your windscreen. Tyres will be replaced in line with normal vehicle usage only.

Who can drive the car?

Only the people listed on as authorised drivers on the subscription agreement will drive the vehicle. You are able to add 2 additional persons as drivers on your subscription agreement. Please advise the team by phone or email if you have additional drivers. We’ll just need to have their name, address, contact details and drivers’ licence on file. If you have any questions, please contact us

MAINTENANCE

What happens if I damage the car?

In an emergency call 111.

Cracked Windscreen
Pull over as soon as it's safe to do so and contact us or AA Roadside on 0800 500 222. You will be liable for damage to the vehicles windscreen.

Scratches, Dings, Dents or Prangs
As soon as it's safe to do so, contact us and let us know. If possible, take photos of the damage to assist our team in remedying any issue. If it's safe to continue driving your car, carry on with your trip.

If a 3rd party was involved in any way, ensure you get their contact information (the pamphlet in your glovebox will provide a helpful guide) and pass these details on to the team.

Significant Crash
If you have a serious crash call the emergency services on 111. As soon as it's safe to do so, contact us and let us know.

What should I do if the car is acting funny?

Get in contact with us to organise maintenance on the car. We may also ask you to send pictures, videos, or a detailed description to help us diagnose the problem ahead of time.

What constitutues "fair wear & tear"? What type of maintenance/upkeep isn't covered?

Fair wear & tear refers to any damage sustained/upkeep required that occurs in normal use of the vehicle and is not caused by negligence by the subscriber.

You are not covered for damage sustained/upkeep required due to negligence on your part, regardless of whether the damage was caused directly by you or not. This includes:

Scratches, scrapes & dents caused to the exterior of the vehicle, including damage to car windows.
Stains & rips to the interior + any damage to the touch screen interfaces
Replacement tyres where new tyres are required outside of normal use

Do I need to drop the car at the shop for maintenance?

Yes, if the car requires maintenance we will either instruct you to take the car to one of our trusted service providers, or alternatively you may drop the vehicle off to one of our depots and we will arrange for the vehicle to be fixed + give you a spare vehicle in the meantime.