If you own an electric vehicle in Australia, you already know the benefits: lower running costs, zero tailpipe emissions, and an incredible driving experience. But what if your EV could do more than just save you money on petrol? What if it could actually make you money?
With the rapid growth of the EV market and the rising cost of living, more Australians are looking for ways to offset their vehicle expenses. Learning how to rent out your electric car in Australia is becoming one of the most popular and lucrative side hustles.
Whether you want to cover your novated lease payments, pay off your car loan faster, or simply generate passive income while you work from home, sharing your EV on a peer-to-peer platform like evee is a smart financial move.
In this complete guide, we’ll break down exactly how much you can earn, how the insurance works, and the step-by-step process to get your car listed and earning.
Why Rent Out Your Electric Car?
The demand for electric vehicles in Australia has never been higher. While EV sales now account for over 12% of the new car market, there are still thousands of drivers who want to experience an EV before committing to a purchase.
A standard 30-minute dealership test drive isn’t enough to understand the reality of EV ownership. People want to know: Can I charge it at home? How does it handle a weekend road trip? What is the real-world range?
By renting out your electric car, you provide a valuable service to the community while tapping into a highly motivated market.
The Financial Benefits
Offset Ownership Costs: The average evee host earns enough to cover their monthly car loan or novated lease repayments.
Passive Income: Your car likely sits idle for 90% of the day. Renting it out turns a depreciating asset into an income-generating one.
Tax Deductions: Depending on your financial setup, expenses related to renting out your car (like cleaning, maintenance, and depreciation) may be tax-deductible. (Always consult an accountant for specific advice.)
How Much Can You Earn Renting Out Your EV in Australia?
The earning potential depends on your vehicle model, your location, and how often your car is available. However, the numbers are compelling.
On average, cars listed on evee are rented out for 10 days per month.
For popular models like the Tesla Model 3 or BYD Atto 3, hosts typically charge between $85 and $150 per day. Premium models like the Tesla Model Y or Model X command even higher daily rates.
Real-World Earnings
Average Monthly Income: Many hosts earn up to $2,000 per month.
Top Performers: Some of the highest-performing hosts in major cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) are earning up to $24,000 a year per vehicle.
The evee Advantage: When you host on evee, you take home 65% of the total earnings. Unlike other platforms that charge hidden “trip fees” to renters (which artificially inflates the price without benefiting the host), evee’s pricing is transparent. What you see is what you get.
“In just six months, I made nearly $10,000 by renting out my Tesla Model 3 an average of 12 days per month. This is enough to offset my monthly car repayments and insurance costs.” — Keith M., evee Host in Sydney.
Understanding Insurance: APRA-Regulated vs. Discretionary Mutuals
The biggest concern for any owner considering how to rent out their electric car in Australia is safety and damage. What happens if a renter damages my car?
This is where your choice of platform matters immensely.
When you list your car on evee, you are covered by a comprehensive commercial insurance policy backed by an APRA-regulated Australian insurer. This policy covers your vehicle for both personal use and car-sharing use.
Why APRA Regulation Matters
APRA (the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority) is the government body that regulates banks and insurers. An APRA-regulated insurer is legally required to maintain capital reserves and honour valid claims. You have a statutory right to a payout if your claim meets the policy terms.
By contrast, some other car-sharing platforms operate using a “Discretionary Mutual Fund”. A discretionary mutual is explicitly not insurance. They have the discretion to decide whether or not to pay your claim, and you do not have the same legal protections.
With evee, if a renter damages your car, they are liable for the damage (provided you have pre- and post-rental photos). Minor issues like curb rash can be settled directly via an extra payment feature, while significant damage is handled through evee’s standard, fully insured damage procedure.
How to Rent Out Your Electric Car: A Step-by-Step Guide
Getting started is simpler than you might think. Here is the exact process to list your EV and start earning.
Step 1: Create Your Listing
Head to the evee website and create an account. You’ll need to provide details about your car, including the make, model, year, and registration. Upload high-quality, well-lit photos of your vehicle’s exterior and interior. A great listing with clear photos attracts significantly more bookings.
Step 2: Set Your Pricing and Availability
You have complete control over your car. You set the daily rate (though evee provides data-backed recommendations to help you stay competitive) and you manage the calendar. If you need the car for a family weekend, simply block those dates out.
Step 3: Switch Your Insurance
Before you can accept your first booking, you need to switch to evee’s comprehensive commercial insurance. Because this policy covers both your personal driving and the rental periods, you can cancel your existing private insurance policy. Most hosts find that the income from their first few bookings easily covers any difference in premiums.
Step 4: Accept Bookings and Handover
When a verified renter requests your car, you review the request and accept it. evee screens all renters to ensure your vehicle is in safe hands. On the day of the rental, you’ll complete a quick handover process, which includes taking photos of the car’s condition and checking the renter’s driver’s licence.
Step 5: Get Paid
evee manages all payments securely through Stripe. Once the rental is complete, your earnings are processed and transferred directly to your nominated bank account.
Managing Charging and Tolls
A common question from new hosts is how to handle the logistics of charging and toll roads while the car is rented out.
Tolls: If a renter uses a toll road during their booking, you simply pass the cost on. You can charge out any additional costs incurred during the rental period as an extra payment to the renter through the evee platform.
Charging (Tesla Superchargers): For Tesla owners, Supercharger fees are billed directly to the owner’s account. Just like tolls, you calculate the charging costs incurred during the rental period and request reimbursement from the renter via the platform.
Handover Charge Level: It is standard practice to hand over the car with an 80% to 90% charge, and request that the renter returns it with a similar level (or pay a small convenience fee if returned empty).
Ready to Turn Your EV into an Income Stream?
Learning how to rent out your electric car in Australia is the first step toward smarter vehicle ownership. Whether you own a Tesla, a BYD, a Polestar, or an MG, there is a growing community of drivers eager to experience your car.
With evee’s APRA-regulated insurance, transparent 65% host payout, and dedicated support team, sharing your EV has never been safer or more profitable.
Stop letting your EV sit idle in the driveway.
Rent out your EV — list it free today and see how much you could earn.
