Exploring the Role of Digital Platforms in the Growth of Peer-to-Peer Car-Sharing in Italy

The over-reliance on private cars has created an urgent need for alternative mobility solutions. Car-sharing, enabled by technological progress, offers a potential solution by allowing individuals to rent vehicles for a limited period without ownership. Peer-to-peer (P2P) car-sharing emerged around 2010 as a model that connects private users through a digital platform operated by an intermediary company, enabling people to rent their personal vehicles. This study examines the development of this form of shared mobility in Europe and the US, with a particular focus on the characteristics of the services offered in Italy, based on interviews with managers of two P2P car-sharing companies operating in the country. The results show that in Italy, P2P car-sharing is still in its early stages, primarily hindered by unclear tax rules for private car owners, inadequate insurance coverage for users, and limited public awareness of P2P services. Based on these findings, the study provides policy recommendations to support the development of this promising form of mobility and encourage active participation from key stakeholders.