Media post: How Toyota’s KINTO Is Making Car Share in Melbourne Simpler
For many Melburnians, the car in the driveway handles the daily routine. But there are moments when one car isn’t enough: a second errand across town, a weekend visitor, or a bulky trip to the hardware store. That gap is where car share Melbourne services have grown, and Toyota’s KINTO program is one of the options now parked in streets across the city.
What KINTO Share is
KINTO is Toyota’s car rental and car share service in Australia, operated by Toyota Finance Australia Limited. Its car share option, KINTO Share, is built for hourly and same day use and is charged by the hour plus the distance driven. Members book, unlock and return the vehicle entirely through the KINTO app. There is no counter, no paperwork and no physical key.
Where to find it
KINTO’s Melbourne roots run deep. When Toyota launched the service, its first vehicles were placed in the Melbourne CBD and nearby Carlton. Today the network of car share Melbourne locations reaches well beyond the city centre. Listed areas include Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, South Yarra, St Kilda, Brighton, Preston, Glen Waverley, Dandenong, Deer Park, Frankston, Cranbourne, Melton, Pakenham and Mornington.
Vehicles are parked in three types of location:
– on street in CBD and suburban areas,
– off street at selected hotels and commercial car parks, and
– at selected Toyota dealerships.
Most are available for pick up and drop off 24 hours a day.
How it works
Signing up through the free app on iOS or Android costs nothing, and there is no membership fee. Once approved, members choose a nearby vehicle, book it and use their phone as the key. Each car is returned to the same spot it was collected from.
Fuel is included, along with insurance (an excess applies) and 24/7 roadside assistance. Cancellation is free up to two hours before a booking starts. At the time of writing, a Yaris Hybrid could be booked from $9.75 per hour plus 27 cents per kilometre.
More than a small hatch
The KINTO fleet is all Toyota and no more than three years old. Options range from hybrid hatchbacks and sedans to the RAV4 Hybrid and the seven seat Kluger Hybrid. There is also the HiLux Double Cab 4×4 ute and the HiAce Cargo van, which offers 6.2 cubic metres of load space for moving furniture or deliveries.
A complement to the family car
KINTO is designed to sit alongside car ownership rather than replace it. It works as a second car for an afternoon, a larger vehicle for a family outing or a van for a weekend move. For households weighing up car share Melbourne options, it offers the backing of a familiar brand with booking that happens entirely on a phone.
The KINTO app is available from the App Store and Google Play. Locations, vehicles and pricing can be checked at kinto.com.au, or by calling 1300 4KINTO (1300 454 686).
