How is the cost of my trip calculated when I use a FLEX vehicle?

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Trips with FLEX vehicles are generally charged by the minute for short trips and by a combination of duration and distance for longer trips.

The exact cost of the trip also depends on:

  • your membership plan
  • the vehicle category (family and utility vehicles have an additional cost)
  • the pricing options available for the type of trip you make (such as the length of the trip and whether it is local or long distance)

You can find detailed pricing for your location on the Rates page of your branch’s website.

Price difference between One-way and Return FLEX

For trips lasting less than 4 hours, it may be more advantageous to use a Return FLEX rather than a One-way FLEX. The difference may seem subtle, but it is related to the rule of the “minimum 4 billable hours.”

How pricing works with a One-way FLEX vehicle

When you use a One-way FLEX, your trip is automatically billed at the lower price of:

  • the regular FLEX rate, or
  • the rate for station-based vehicles on your membership plan

This comparison is made regardless of the length of your trip. However, if the station-based rate for your plan ends up being the cheaper option, a minimum of 4 hours will be charged. The 4-hour minimum charge applies even if your actual trip was shorter.

How pricing works with a Return FLEX vehicle

With Return FLEX, the 4-hour minimum charge does not apply.

Your trip is still automatically billed at the lower price of:

  • the regular FLEX rate, or
  • the rate for station-based vehicles on your membership plan

With a Return FLEX, you are charged only for the actual duration of your trip, even if the station-based vehicle rate is applied. Because of this, for trips under 4 hours, a Return FLEX can often be the lower cost option.

When does the difference disappear?

For trips of 4 hours or more, there is no pricing difference between a One-way FLEX and a Return FLEX vehicle. In these cases, the same pricing rules apply regardless of FLEX type.

To learn more

Use our Trip Calculator on the Rates page of your branch’s website to compare the trip prices on a variety of membership plans.

See also:

How is the cost of my trip calculated when I use a station-based vehicle?