Meet Ben
I fix things. SHYFT grew from there.
Your car. Your month. Your schedule.
Affordable Seattle-area car rentals for 30 days or longer. A car for the in-between. Built around proven cars, hands-on care, straightforward pricing, and a real person you can reach.
The long version
I've been taking things apart, fixing them, and putting them back together for more than 30 years.
I studied economics at Claremont McKenna College and chemical engineering at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Since then, I've worked in purchasing, production, inventory, data analytics, and project management, but working on cars has always been a constant.
My parents bought our 2002 Honda CR-V new, and I still have it. Twenty-four years later, I bought an almost identical 2003 CR-V because apparently owning just one wasn't enough. I love this generation, know it well, and genuinely enjoy keeping it on the road.
My 2004 Prius has an even longer family-and-friends history. I've done just about everything possible to keep it going, including reconditioning the hybrid battery, replacing the catalytic converter, and rebuilding the entire front end. In the meantime, I've lent it to friends who needed to travel for gigs. With gas prices where they are, an efficient car can make a real difference.
The family's 2002 CR-V. It is not the rental; it is the car that explains why I came back for the nearly identical 2003.
Cars, with Ben
One take. Real work. Cars get fixed.
During COVID, I started filming Cars, with Ben: one-take videos of me working on cars, explaining what I'm doing, and making fun of myself along the way. The videos aren't polished, but the work is real and the cars get fixed. I've even inspired a few friends to pick up tools and discover the joy of turning wrenches themselves.
Why SHYFT exists
Keep useful cars on the road.
A good car shouldn't be disposable just because it isn't new. I find dependable older vehicles, mainly CR-Vs, put real work into maintaining them, and keep them useful. That gets more life from cars that have already been built, creates less waste, and keeps my costs low enough to pass the savings on to customers who need a car for 30 days or longer.
No car is impact-free, and an older badge is not automatically greener. Condition, maintenance, fuel use, and how long the vehicle stays useful all matter.
What SHYFT stands for
Known and maintained
Proven vehicles, hands-on care, honest descriptions, and attention to the small things before they become large ones.
Keep good cars useful
A carefully maintained car should not be disposable just because it is not new. Longer useful lives mean less waste and less pressure to replace what still works.
Pass the savings on
Lower vehicle costs and a small operation help keep rates practical without treating maintenance as the place to cut corners.
Disc golf comes with the territory
Borrow discs. Ask about courses.
When I'm not working on cars, I'm usually playing disc golf or running the numbers behind it. I serve as Board President and ratings guru for NW WA Disc Golf, a 200-person team league where I built the system used to calculate and publish live player ratings. I'm also President of Blyth Squad Disc Golf, a nonprofit dedicated to serving the Howling Coyote course in Bothell.
Being a-disc-ted to the sport and having too many discs creates a useful perk: SHYFT renters can request a complimentary loaner set. I'm happy to share favorite public Washington courses and road-trip ideas too. A few secret camping spots are staying off the internet.
The 299,999-Mile Challenge
Help answer a very Prius question.
Some 2004 and 2005 Prius odometers are known to stop displaying beyond 299,999 miles. I want to see exactly what mine does.
If it reaches that reading during your rental, safely take a photo while parked just before it happens and another parked photo at 299,999, then send both to SHYFT. The qualifying renter gets one free next base-rental month.
Taxes and extras are excluded. No cash value. Normal rental eligibility, availability, and agreement terms apply. Most importantly, this is never a reason to drive unnecessary miles or take a photo while the vehicle is moving.
Tell me what you need.
If your situation does not fit neatly into a booking form, reach out. I'll give you a straightforward answer and help whenever I can.