AutoGirl: Nigerian startup aiming to revolutionize car rentals like Airbnb

For many university students, finances can be tight, but for Chinazom Arinze, this challenge sparked the creation of a business.

While studying law at Babcock University in Nigeria and working part-time at a car dealership, she launched a side business in 2019, informally starting AutoGirl. What began as a car dealership soon transformed into a platform connecting car owners with people looking to rent vehicles.

“I started my business with no money; my only advantage was the connections I had. I used the network I built at the dealership and through social media,” Arinze explained.

She identified a need among car owners who wanted to generate income from their vehicles and saw an opportunity to connect them with short-term renters, especially tourists. AutoGirl differentiates itself by including drivers with rentals and offering a broader selection of vehicles at competitive rates.

Presently, AutoGirl offers rentals like a Hyundai at 45,000 naira (about US$27) per day, while a luxury 2018 Lexus is available for around 2.85 million naira (US$1,722) per month. On average, vehicle owners using the platform earn about 7 million naira (US$4,230) per car.