- Why is comparing car subscription so important?
- The car subscription comparison checklist: 5 points you need to check
- Which providers offer the best car subscriptions in Switzerland?
- All Swiss car subscription providers – overview & comparison
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about comparing car subscriptions
A car subscription is the simple and affordable alternative to buying or leasing a car. You can drive a new car without the high upfront costs associated with buying and without the unexpected additional costs that can come with leasing. The fixed monthly price includes not only the car itself, but also all the essential costs: insurance, tyres, road tax, servicing, maintenance and registration.
Carvolution brought this concept to the Swiss market in 2028, and competitors were quick to follow. The model is booming, and there are now around 20 car subscription providers. However, the differences between them are significant, so it is worth taking a close look at the various offers in order to make an informed decision. Here, you will find everything you need to know about the providers.
Why is comparing car subscription so important?
As Switzerland's original car subscription pioneer, we at Carvolution basically brought the whole concept here. In this comparison, we're giving it to you straight – as honestly and impartially as possible – so you know what actually matters, what a proper car sub looks like, and how the big players stack up against each other.
In this article, you'll find out:
- Which five things you need to double-check before signing on the dotted line.
- What a top-tier car sub actually needs to include.
- Which providers offer the best car subs in Switzerland.
- How the 20+ Swiss providers differ when you look at the nitty-gritty.
The car subscription comparison checklist: 5 points you need to check
To avoid any nasty surprises later on, it is worth assessing every subscription offer against these five criteria before deciding to take out a subscription.
1. Car & equipment
Not every car subscription offers the same standard of vehicle. Be sure to ask specifically about:
Age of the car: Is it a new car, a nearly new vehicle or a used car?
Mileage: What is the mileage at the time of handover?
List price: This provides an objective benchmark for assessing whether the monthly fee is reasonable.
Equipment: Are driver assistance systems, satellite navigation or a winter package already included?
Tip: Ask for the list price, equipment specification and mileage in writing. This allows you to see immediately whether the monthly fee is genuinely fair.
2. What happens at the end of the car subscription?
This is one area where providers differ significantly:
Carvolution: You can purchase the car at the end of the subscription – the choice is yours.
Most other providers: The vehicle must be returned at the end of the subscription.
If you are considering taking ownership of the vehicle later on, make sure you clarify this before signing the contract.
3. Contract terms & transparency
Before signing, you should ask yourself the following questions:
Can the mileage package be adjusted on a monthly basis?
Are insurance, road tax and the excess clearly and transparently regulated?
Are trips abroad permitted, and exactly what is covered?
How does the return process work?
Can additional drivers be added free of charge?
It is always worth taking a look at the terms and conditions and insurance policy wording.
Info: It is important to know that not every provider allows you to adjust your mileage package during the contract term. With Arval, for example, this is only possible once a year, whereas with Carvolution, you can adjust it monthly via the app.
4. Tyres, servicing & replacement vehicles
A good car subscription already includes insurance, road tax and servicing in the monthly fee. Even so, there are significant differences between providers:
Tyres: All-season tyres or separate summer and winter tyres?
Tyre partner: At which locations can you have your tyres changed?
Service partner: Can you use any garage, or must you use an official brand dealership?
Replacement vehicle: Is a replacement vehicle provided in the event of servicing or a breakdown?
Accidents & damage: How are the procedures and costs handled in the event of damage or an accident?
5. Personal advice & customer service
A reputable provider stands out through good customer support:
- Easy to reach
- Transparent communication
- Clear, personalised advice without sales pressure
Tip: Get personal advice before making your decision. A reputable car subscription provider will answer all your questions openly and clearly.
Which providers offer the best car subscriptions in Switzerland?
It depends largely on what matters most to you. For new cars with the option to purchase the vehicle at the end of the subscription and nationwide servicing, Carvolution is considered a benchmark among car subscription providers in Switzerland. If you are looking for an electric car, Clyde (AMAG) offers a wide range of options. If you are looking for the lowest possible entry price and are happy with a used car, you are more likely to find suitable offers from smaller regional providers or platforms such as Carify.
The honest benchmark, therefore, is not the “best provider” overall, but the provider whose subscription best matches your individual needs and driving habits. The table in the next section, along with the overview of all providers further down, will help you narrow down the right car subscription for you.
Top 3 car subscription providers in Switzerland in detail
Carvolution is the Swiss pioneer in car subscriptions and offers one of the largest fleets of new and nearly new vehicles in the country. We have played a key role in shaping the car subscription market in Switzerland – with monthly adjustable mileage packages, servicing at any official brand dealership and the option to purchase your vehicle at the end of the subscription.
Carify is a platform that brings together vehicles from a range of different dealers. This means a wide selection, but also varying vehicle conditions and service standards, as each vehicle comes from a different dealer. Detailed comparison: Carify vs. Carvolution.
Clyde (AMAG) specialises in electric cars. If you are interested in an electric car subscription, you will find a good selection here – although minimum contract terms of several months apply and there is no option to purchase the vehicle at the end of the subscription. Detailed comparison: Clyde vs. Carvolution.
All Swiss car subscription providers – overview & comparison
Your advantages with Carvolution compared with most of the providers listed below:
- Best-price guarantee instead of hidden mark-ups
- Purchase option at the end of the subscription – you are not obliged to return the car
- Servicing at any official brand dealership rather than through opaque workshop partners
- Mileage package adjustable monthly via the app
Switzerland has a large number of providers – from nationwide players to small, regional garages. Expand each provider to see the key details, and read the linked article for a more detailed comparison with Carvolution.
AMAG Car Subscription
Region | Across Switzerland (AMAG network) |
| Vehicle type | Used cars up to around 3 years old |
| Key features | Contract term: 3–24 months, various mileage packages, registration in your canton of residence, minimum age 20 |
While AMAG primarily offers used cars up to three years old, with Carvolution you will generally drive a new or virtually new vehicle. More details on the AMAG car subscription vs. Carvolution car subscription.
Arval (BNP Paribas)
| Region | Across Switzerland |
| Vehicle type | New and used cars |
| Key features | Mileage package can only be adjusted once a year, no option to purchase the vehicle at the end of the subscription, registration in your canton of residence, maximum age 75. |
Unlike Arval, where the mileage package can only be adjusted once a year and taking ownership of the vehicle is not an option, Carvolution gives you maximum flexibility with monthly adjustments via the app and the option to purchase the vehicle at the end of the subscription. More details on the Arval car subscription vs. Carvolution car subscription
Astara Move
| Region | Across Switzerland (digital provider) |
| Vehicle type | Mix of new and used cars |
| Key features | Quotes only available with a login, limited transparency around service partners and insurance, and vehicle handover processes are not clearly communicated. |
Astara Move requires a login even for basic quotes and provides limited transparency around its service partners, whereas with Carvolution you can view all prices, vehicle specifications and the nationwide network of official brand dealerships openly and immediately. More details on the Astara Move car subscription vs. Carvolution car subscription
AUTOABO by Carplanet (Galliker Gruppe)
| Region | Central Switzerland |
| Vehicle type | Focus on used cars |
| Key features | Contract terms of 36 months or more, limited transparency around services, regional provider |
AWESOME Auto Abo
| Region | Zurich region / across German-speaking Switzerland |
| Vehicle type | Focus on used cars |
| Key features | Mileage not always transparent, minimum contract term of 3 months, budget-focused |
Emil Frey move
| Region | Across Switzerland (Emil Frey dealerships) |
| Vehicle type | Used cars from the EF network |
| Key features | Only 1,000 or 2,000 km/month, CHF 1,500 excess, minimum age 19, limited flexibility |
Emil Frey move limits you to fixed mileage packages (1,000 or 2,000 km) and a high excess (CHF 1,500), whereas Carvolution offers tailored, monthly adjustable packages and lower excesses. More details on the Emil Frey move car subscription vs. Carvolution car subscription.
Flatdrive
| Region | Langenthal / Oberaargau (BE) |
| Vehicle type | Young used cars & demonstrator vehicles |
| Key features | Part of the Gautschi Autohaus Group, monthly cancellation possible, limited transparency around services |
Hertz MiniLease
| Region | Across Switzerland |
| Vehicle type | Rental-car-based fleet |
| Key features | Monthly cancellation, wide availability, more expensive than traditional subscriptions, variable mileage |
Volvo Auto Abo
| Region | Across Switzerland |
| Vehicle type | New & nearly new used cars (Volvo only) |
| Key features | Good equipment, limited flexibility in mileage options, little specific information about service partners online |
The Volvo car subscription limits you to a single brand and offers limited flexibility in mileage options. With Carvolution, you can choose the car that suits you best, regardless of the brand. More details on the Volvo car subscription vs. Carvolution car subscription.
Hyundai All Inclusive
| Region | Across Switzerland (Hyundai dealership network) |
| Vehicle type | Hyundai models only, new & demonstrator vehicles |
| Key features | Fixed equipment specifications, limited information on servicing, availability varies by region |
Instadrive All Inclusive
| Region | Across Switzerland |
| Vehicle type | Electric cars, many used cars |
| Key features | Long-term contracts of 12–48 months, limited flexibility in mileage packages, service processes dependent on partners |
Instadrive focuses heavily on long-term contracts (from 12 months) and partner-dependent services, whereas Carvolution also offers short-term subscriptions from 3 months and allows you to have your car serviced at your preferred official brand dealership. More details on the Instadrive car subscription vs. Carvolution car subscription.
Navigas Mobility All Inclusive
| Region | Local/regional (varies by provider) |
| Vehicle type | Older used cars |
| Key features | Very small fleets, limited transparency online, unclear service partners, limited nationwide coverage |
Navigas mainly offers older used cars locally, whereas Carvolution provides modern new and nearly new vehicles nationwide, equipped with the latest safety technology. More details on the Navigas Mobility car subscription vs. Carvolution car subscription.
Renault Abo All Inclusive
| Region | Regional über Renault-Händler |
| Fahrzeugtyp | Nur Renault-Modelle, Vorführwagen & Occasionen |
| Besonderheiten | Limitierte Kilometerpakete, wenige Serviceangaben, regionale Verfügbarkeit |
Simpcar All Inclusive
| Region | Focused on German-speaking Switzerland |
| Vehicle type | Ältere Gebrauchtwagen |
| Key features | Budget-focused, limited insurance details, small selection, regional partner processes |
Simpcar focuses heavily on budget-conscious customers with older used cars, but often leaves important insurance details unclear, whereas Carvolution communicates these details clearly and transparently from the outset. More details on the Simpcar car subscription vs. Carvolution car subscription.
SIXT+ All Inclusive
| Region | Across Switzerland |
| Vehicle type | Rental-car-based subscription |
| Key features | Highly flexible, large fleet, higher mileage possible, more expensive |
SIXT+ uses a rental-car fleet, resulting in significantly higher starting prices and often higher mileage at handover than the car subscription pioneer Carvolution. More details on the SIXT+ car subscription vs. Carvolution car subscription.
The Hire Guys All Inclusive
| Region | Canton of Glarus |
| Vehicle type | Older used cars |
| Key features | Very small provider, no premium vehicles, limited selection, limited transparency online |
As a very small, regional provider from the Canton of Glarus, The Hire Guys cannot match Carvolution in terms of vehicle selection (premium vehicles are generally unavailable) or nationwide servicing. More details on The Hire Guys car subscription vs. Carvolution car subscription.
UPTO (Mobility Solutions) All Inclusive
| Region | Across Switzerland (including Liechtenstein) |
| Vehicle type | Car subscriptions for private and business customers (new and nearly new used cars), as well as fleet management for businesses |
| Key features | Subsidiary of AXA; cancellable monthly after the minimum contract term; covers both B2C car subscriptions and B2B fleet solutions |
Von Rotz car subscription
| Region | Central Switzerland (Nidwalden/Obwalden) |
| Vehicle type | Focus on used cars |
| Key features | Regional provider, small fleet, servicing dependent on local garages, limited details online |
A highly regional provider from Central Switzerland with a small fleet. Carvolution, by contrast, takes your car subscription nationwide – with a huge selection of vehicles and servicing at any official brand dealership near you. More details on the Von Rotz car subscription vs. Carvolution car subscription.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about comparing car subscriptions
What are the most important criteria when comparing car subscriptions?
The most important criteria are the vehicle itself (age, condition and equipment), the services included (tyres, servicing, insurance and road tax), as well as the provider’s customer support (accessibility and transparency).
How do I compare car subscription providers in Switzerland correctly?
Request quotes for the same model and a similar contract term, and check the contract documents carefully – particularly what is included in the subscription and which costs are not covered.
In addition to the contractual details, it is always worth looking at genuine customer reviews. They show how a provider actually performs in day-to-day situations, for example when dealing with a claim or handling vehicle handover.
Who is a car subscription suitable for?
A car subscription is particularly suitable for anyone looking for flexibility without a long-term commitment – for example, people with temporary stays, uncertain life plans or those who want the freedom of having a car without tying up capital or taking on the risk of depreciation.
Can I buy my car subscription vehicle at the end of the contract?
That depends on the provider. With Carvolution, you can purchase the vehicle at the end of the subscription, while many other providers require the vehicle to be returned.
Do you have any further questions or would you like to compare offers directly? Our team is always happy to help.
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