SoCar Extends Free ICE Driving Fee Through April Amid Oil-Price Volatility
SoCar, South Korea’s leading car-sharing operator, said on the 13th that it will maintain its free driving-fee benefits and, through the end of April, freeze the driving fee that would apply when ICE (internal combustion engine) cars are driven 30 kilometers or more. The move comes as fuel prices remain volatile and international energy markets swing.
The company revamped its pricing in the second half of last year. Under the revised scheme, ICE vehicles include up to 30 kilometers of driving in the rental price, while electric vehicles, according to SoCar, can be used for the rental fee regardless of distance. Per-kilometer driving charges, where charged, range from about 240 to 320 won depending on the vehicle.
SoCar cited data showing that 21% of all trips are within 30 kilometers, while electric-vehicle trips are skewed toward longer distances, with 84% exceeding 100 kilometers. The company said the driving-fee exemption policy has been widely used and that it will keep the existing fare structure intact despite rising oil prices.
To ease travel costs through April, SoCar is running a promotional push across its lineup. An electric-vehicle special offers 12 hours of use for 99,000 won. For ICE vehicles, there are time-sale deals for 24 hours on popular models, including BMW X1 and a Ray Camper for 19,900 won, The New Avante N and Torres for 29,900 won, and Volvo XC40 for 79,900 won. A 48-hour rental deal covers Staria and Carnival at 119,000 won.
In addition, the company is offering a weekday overnight coupon, valid from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. the next day, for up to 16 hours of use at 9,900 won. Kim Han-eol, head of SoCar’s business planning team, said the price actions reflect the need to reduce the perceived cost of travel as international crude prices fluctuate, while continuing to provide a practical and convenient mobility option.
Why this matters beyond Korea: for U.S. readers, SoCar’s approach illustrates how a major mobility platform manages price signals in response to energy-price volatility, a factor that also affects U.S. urban transportation, fleets, and consumer behavior. The shift toward including certain driving distances in base rental costs and offering distance-insensitive EV pricing, along with targeted promotions, highlights trends in car-sharing economics, EV adoption, and pricing analytics that could inform U.S. mobility services, fleet management, and policy discussions around urban transportation and resilience in supply chains.