Return Zones for Car Sharing
Return zones define where customers are allowed to return vehicles at the end of a rental. During check-out, the system validates the vehicle's GPS location against your configured parking zones. If the vehicle is outside all return zones, the customer is prompted to move it — or an out-of-zone fee may apply.
How Return Zones Work
When a customer initiates check-out through the mobile app:
- The app captures the vehicle's current GPS coordinates
- The system checks whether those coordinates fall within any parking zone
- If the vehicle is inside a parking zone → return is confirmed, check-out continues
- If the vehicle is outside all parking zones → the customer is warned and may be charged an out-of-zone fee
- If no parking zones are defined → return is automatically confirmed (no restrictions)
Shared Zone System
Return zones use the same zone infrastructure as scooter and e-bike parking. A parking zone you create for car sharing also applies to other vehicle types unless you restrict it. This means your existing parking zones work for cars too.
Zone Types
The zone system supports several types, but for car sharing returns, the key type is parking:
| Zone Type | Purpose | Relevant to Returns |
|---|---|---|
| Parking | Designated areas where vehicles can be parked/returned | Yes — this is what return validation checks |
| No Parking | Areas where vehicles cannot be parked | Informational (shown on map) |
| No Go | Areas vehicles should not enter | Not directly relevant to returns |
| Speed Limit | Zones with enforced speed limits | Not relevant to returns |
| Bonus | Zones that reward parking (loyalty points) | Yes — incentivizes returns in preferred locations |
| Service Area | Overall operating area boundary | Informational |
| Charging | EV charging locations | Not relevant to car returns |
Creating a Return Zone
Navigate to Zones
Open Dashboard → Zones to access the zone management page.
Click Add Zone
Click Add Zone and select Parking as the zone type.
Draw the Zone Boundary
Use the map editor to draw a polygon around the designated return area. Click to place points and close the shape.
Name the Zone
Give the zone a descriptive name (e.g., "Downtown Garage", "Airport Lot A", "Office Park Return").
Configure Options
Set optional properties like preferred parking status and reward points.
Save
Save the zone. It takes effect immediately for all future check-outs.
Zone Configuration Options
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Display name shown to customers and operators |
| GeoJSON Polygon | Geographic boundary of the zone (drawn on map) |
| Is Preferred Parking | Marks this as a premium/preferred return location |
| Parking Reward Points | Loyalty points awarded for returning to this zone |
| Rebalancing Multiplier | Bonus multiplier for returning to zones that need vehicles (0.5x–5x) |
| Parking Reward Message | Custom message shown to customer when returning to this zone |
Out-of-Zone Fees
If a customer returns a vehicle outside all designated parking zones, an out-of-zone parking fee can be charged automatically.
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Out-of-Zone Parking Fee | $0.00 | Fee charged for returning outside a parking zone |
| Out-of-Zone Alert | On | Notify operators when a vehicle is returned out of zone |
Graduated Approach
Consider starting with alerts only (fee set to $0) so you can see where customers naturally return vehicles. After gathering data, add fees and create additional zones in popular but unauthorized areas.
Bonus Zones & Incentives
Bonus zones reward customers for returning vehicles to locations where you need them most. This is useful for rebalancing your fleet without manual intervention.
| Feature | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Reward Points | Customer earns loyalty points for returning to this zone |
| Rebalancing Multiplier | Multiply the standard reward (e.g., 2x points) for high-priority zones |
| Custom Message | Show a thank-you or incentive message when the customer returns here |
Example: You need vehicles returned to the airport lot before morning. Create a bonus zone at the airport with a 3x rebalancing multiplier and a message: "Thanks for returning to the airport — you earned triple points!"
How Zones Appear to Customers
In the mobile app, customers see zones on the map:
- Parking zones are highlighted in green — indicating where they should return the vehicle
- Bonus zones may have a special indicator showing reward availability
- No-parking zones are highlighted in red — indicating where returns are not allowed
- During check-out, if the vehicle is outside a parking zone, the app shows a warning with directions to the nearest valid return location
Zone Validation Details
The return zone check uses point-in-polygon detection to determine whether the vehicle's GPS coordinates fall within a zone boundary. A few technical details:
- GPS accuracy: Vehicle GPS coordinates from Smartcar are typically accurate to within 10–50 meters
- Buffer: The system doesn't add an automatic buffer around zone boundaries, so draw zones slightly larger than the exact parking area to account for GPS drift
- Multiple zones: If a vehicle is in multiple overlapping parking zones, the return is valid — the first matching zone is used
- No zones defined: If you haven't created any parking zones for your subaccount, the return zone check is skipped entirely and all returns are accepted
Draw Zones Generously
GPS accuracy varies by environment. In urban areas with tall buildings, GPS can drift by 20–50 meters. Draw your parking zone boundaries with extra margin so legitimate returns aren't incorrectly flagged as out-of-zone.
Managing Zones
Editing a Zone
From Dashboard → Zones, click on any zone to edit its boundaries, name, or properties. Changes take effect immediately.
Deleting a Zone
Delete a zone by clicking the delete button in the zone editor. Once deleted, the area is no longer restricted — vehicles can be returned there without being flagged.
Viewing Zone Activity
The dashboard shows zone-related events:
- Which zones vehicles are being returned to
- Out-of-zone return attempts
- Zone reward points distributed
Need Help?
For questions about return zone configuration or geofencing, contact us at support@levyelectric.com.