SOCAR Malaysia ceased operations on 31 August 2026, ending eight years of car-sharing after the service peaked at 1.9 million members and more than 90% of the country's car-sharing market. If you relied on SOCAR for a car, the practical question now is what replaces it. Hertz Malaysia is the closest fl eet-rental equivalent — 18 branches nationwide, including every major airport, rentals from a single day to 24 months, and a fl eet that covers economy cars, 7-seater MPVs, SUVs and EVs.
Last updated: SOCAR Malaysia ceased operations on 31 August 2026. This guide covers what happened, what happens to your wallet balance and subscription, and how the alternatives compare.
SOCAR Has Shut Down Its Operations on 31 August 2026
SOCAR confi rmed the closure to users by in-app notice on 14 August 2026, followed by an email. The service ran for the last time on 31 August 2026. Launched in Malaysia in 2018 as a joint venture with South Korea's SK Inc, it grew quickly — by 2023 it claimed 1.9 million members and had taken over 90% of the local car-sharing market. The end came from the balance sheet rather than from demand. A planned initial public off ering never happened. In early August 2026, SK Inc, the largest shareholder, bought out the fi nancial investors through a US$6 million debt swap — against a 2021 valuation of roughly US$213 million. The fl eet-based model carried vehicle depreciation, insurance, parking zone rental and maintenance against hourly rates starting at RM6. High utilisation was never quite enough to cover that.Peak of 1.9 million members and over 90% of the Malaysian car-sharing market
14 Aug 2026Closure confirmed to users by in-app notice and email15 Aug 2026Wallet top-ups and new subscriptions stop31 Aug 2026Car-sharing operations cease1 Sep 2026Official refund process begins
What Happens to Your SOCAR Wallet, Deposit and Subscription
| What you had | What happens to it | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet balance | A full refund can be requested. The official refund process opened on 1 September 2026. | Follow the instructions SOCAR sent to your registered email. Make sure that address is still current. |
| Monthly pass or subscription | Discontinued. Eligible remaining value is refunded on a prorated basis. | Check the expiry date on your last statement so you can confirm the prorated figure is right. |
| Booking and payment records | App access may change now that the service has closed. | Screenshot your wallet balance, transaction history, past receipts, and the closure notice email. |
| Unresolved damage or deposit disputes | The support team is winding down. | Raise anything outstanding now rather than waiting. |
Keep the closure email. It carries the date and sender details, and it is the document you will need if a refund does not arrive.
The Best SOCAR Alternatives in Malaysia (2026)
There is no like-for-like replacement for SOCAR, because nobody else in Malaysia runs a fl eet on an hourly, app-unlocked basis at SOCAR's scale. What replaces it depends on how you used it. The table below covers the options that are actually still running.
| Provider | Model | Best for | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hertz Malaysia | Fleet rental, day to 24 months | Airport pickup, MPV / SUV / EV, long-term and corporate | RM141.51/day |
| GoCar | Fleet car-sharing | Hourly use — closest to SOCAR's model | RM13.90/hour (Daily from RM99) |
| TREVO | Peer-to-peer | Daily rental from private owners | RM70/day |
| WAHDAH | Fleet rental | Daily rental, nationwide | RM135/day |
| Public transport + e-hailing | Pay per trip | Low-frequency urban use | My50 pass |
If You Need a Car by the Hour
For a two-hour errand, the car-sharing and peer-to-peer platforms are closer to what SOCAR off ered. GoCar runs a fl eet model with app-unlocked vehicles, which is the nearest structural equivalent to SOCAR's zone-based pickup. Peer-to-peer platforms let you book a specifi c private owner's car by the day. Both work well when your need is short, and your plans are fi xed.
If You Need a Car for a Day or More
This is where a traditional rental operator makes more sense, and where the diff erence starts to show. A fl eet rental gives you a specifi c vehicle type booked in advance, a branch you can walk into, and included insurance and roadside assistance. If you are landing at an airport, you collect the car at the terminal rather than hunting for a shared vehicle in a zone that may or may not have one available.
If You Need a Car for Weeks or Months
Former SOCAR monthly pass holders are the group worst served by the hourly and peer-to-peer options, because both are priced for short hire. For anything from a month upward, a long-term rental or leasing arrangement is materially cheaper than renting repeatedly, and it removes the daily rebooking problem entirely. Hertz Malaysia off ers monthly rental, long-term rental from 6 to 24 months, corporate leasing, and a subscription option.
Why Hertz Malaysia Is the Best and Closest Car-Rental Replacement for SOCAR?
Hertz Malaysia is operated by Sime Darby Rent-A-Car Sdn Bhd, which has been renting cars in this market since long before car-sharing arrived here — and which is still here now that the largest car-sharing operator has gone. That continuity is the diff erence that matt ers to a former SOCAR user: the fl eet, the branches and the support desk are not going anywhere.
| What you get | Detail |
|---|---|
| 18 branches nationwide | Including KLIA, KLIA2, Penang International, Senai, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Miri, Sandakan, Labuan, Alor Setar, Kuantan and Kota Bharu airports, plus downtown Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru, Lumut and Pengerang. |
| Airport collection | Collect at the terminal rather than travelling to a car-sharing zone. |
| Daily to 24 months | Daily rental, monthly rental, long-term rental from 6 to 24 months, leasing, and a subscription option. |
| Wider fleet | Economy cars, 7-seater MPVs, SUVs and electric vehicles. |
| Included cover | Basic insurance and 24/7 roadside assistance on every rental. |
| Corporate continuity | For businesses whose staff relied on SOCAR, corporate accounts and long-term leasing replace it without an app dependency. |
Disclaimer note: Hertz Malaysia does not rent by the hour. If you need a car for a two-hour errand, GoCar or a peer-to-peer platform will suit you bett er. Hertz makes sense from a day upward, and it makes most sense when you need a specifi c vehicle type, an airport pickup, or a rental that runs for weeks or months.
SOCAR vs Hertz Malaysia: Side by Side
| Comparison | SOCAR (closed) | Hertz Malaysia |
|---|---|---|
| Model | App-based hourly car-sharing | Fleet rental, one day to 24 months |
| Minimum hire | One hour | One day |
| Rate from | RM6 per hour | RM99 per day |
| Pickup | Designated SOCAR zones | 18 branches, including airport terminals |
| Fleet choice | Shared fleet, availability varies | Economy, MPV, SUV and EV, bookable by type |
| Long-term | Monthly passes | Monthly, 6–24 months, leasing and subscription |
| Status | Ceased 31 August 2026 | Operating |
How to Switch from SOCAR to Hertz Malaysia
| Step | What to do | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose your branch | Choose the airport you are landing at, or the downtown location nearest you. |
| 2 | Have your documents ready | Bring a valid driving licence, your MyKad or passport, and a credit or debit card for the deposit. |
| 3 | Pick your vehicle and dates | If you need a specific type — such as a 7-seater for your family or an EV — book ahead rather than waiting until you reach the counter. |
| 4 | Book online | For a faster collection, use the Hertz Malaysia app and the Contactless Rental option. |
| 5 | Collect the car | If you need the vehicle for more than a month, ask about long-term rates. The daily rate may not be the best price for a longer hire. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Has SOCAR Malaysia truly shut down?
Yes. SOCAR Malaysia ceased car-sharing operations on 31 August 2026, after eight years. The closure was confi rmed to users by in-app notice on 14 August 2026.
What happens to my SOCAR wallet balance?
A full refund can be requested. The off icial refund process opened on 1 September 2026, and instructions were sent to your registered email address. Check that the address is still current.
What is the best alternative to SOCAR in Malaysia?
It depends on the hire length. For hourly use, GoCar or a peer-to-peer platform is closest to what SOCAR off ered. For a day or longer — and especially for airport pickup, a specifi c vehicle type, or a rental running weeks to months — Hertz Malaysia is the closest fl eet-rental equivalent, with 18 branches nationwide.
Can I rent a car from Hertz by the hour?
No. Hertz Malaysia rents by the day at minimum, not by the hour. If you need a car for a few hours, a car-sharing or peer-to-peer platform will suit you better.
Does Hertz Malaysia off er monthly car rental?
Yes. Hertz Malaysia off ers monthly rental, long-term rental from 6 to 24 months, corporate leasing, and a subscription option. Long-term rates are lower than the daily rate.
Where are Hertz Malaysia's branches?
There are 18 branches, including KLIA, KLIA2, Penang International Airport, Senai Airport, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Miri, Sandakan, Labuan, Alor Setar, Kuantan and Kota Bharu airports, plus downtown Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru, Lumut and Pengerang.
Need a car this week? Book online with Hertz Malaysia and collect at your nearest branch. If you were a regular SOCAR user, ask about long-term rates — they are considerably lower than the daily rate.
