Whats a zip car

Personally owned cars. Gallons saved. Go beyond public transit A perfect complement to the bus and train, Zipcars help you cart shopping bags, haul furniture, or skip town for a few—on your schedule.

Unlock a variety of cars Zipcars come in all shapes and sizes—compact sedans, luxury SUVs, spacious vans, and more. Zipcar vs car ownership Lose the payments, keep the car. Lose the payments, keep the car. Owning a car:. Filling it up every week really starts to add up. Overall cost. Zipcar vs car ownership: FAQ. Is gas included? How do I use my Zipcard? How long is the application process?

More questions? Book a round trip car Once you receive and activate your Zipcard, you can book round trip Zipcars immediately on our website or through our app.

Download our app Book Zipcar trips on the go with our app. Booking a Zipcar: FAQ. How do I book a trip? How do I cancel or modify an existing trip? Where do I return my Zipcar when my trip has ended? Starting your trip Use our app to unlock and lock during your trip. We'll also send you a Zipcard. Remember, the keys to the car should stay in the car at all times. View pricing. Starting your trip: FAQ. How do I find my Zipcar? How do I get into my Zipcar? What if I get into an accident or need roadside assistance?

Where is the gas card located? Who can drive my Zipcar? Our community rules When you share a Zipcar, you also share responsibility.

These rules make sure every member enjoys their trip. If we see a pattern of rule breaking, we may close your account. Portland, Oregon is a city known for its eclectic culture, vast number of breweries, and mild weather. Going without a car in Los Angeles, a city known for its car culture and freeways that back up for miles during rush hour, seems kind of crazy. After all, Miami-Dade County has the 14th largest public transit system in the United States, as well as the largest in Florida.

One of the gems of California, San Diego is a city of rich history, award-winning breweries, and proximity to some of the greatest natural beauty on the Pacific Coast. With a bus system and lots of well-planned, bikeable neighborhoods, you can get around San Diego without a car. For the times when you want to drive out to La Jolla or up the Pacific Coast, however, Zipcar can be your transportation. Zipcar bills itself as both an alternative to car ownership and to traditional car rental services.

Note that the Zipcar membership fees cover the cost of gas and insurance, so make sure to take those into account when figuring out if Zipcar is worth it. Zipcar also offers a calculator on their website to help you estimate if using their service would be cheaper than owning a car. To sign up for Zipcar, visit the official application page and select a pricing plan monthly or yearly.

The Zipcard is what you use to lock and unlock Zipcars, and it typically arrives within three to seven business days. Once your Zipcard arrives, you can activate it at the Zipcard activation page. You can also select the type of cars you want to see by default, Zipcar will show you all available types of cars. To see a visual demonstration of this process, check out our complete guide to renting a Zipcar , or watch the video below:. To use a Zipcar, simply walk up to the vehicle and hold your Zipcard up to the card reader in the corner of the windshield to unlock it make sure the number on the Zipcar matches the number on your reservation.

Download Maven on iPhone or Android. Enterprise is best known as a traditional car rental company but recently joined the car share space as well. Enterprise CarShare connects drivers to its trusted fleet of newer, well-maintained cars, which range from electric sedans and fuel-efficient SUVs to cargo vans and luxury cars. Much like Zipcar members, Enterprise CarShare users both unlock their vehicles and end trips by scanning their membership cards.

This car share brand is most prominent in the United Kingdom, but it is available in nine cities across eight U. SHARE NOW functions much like a scooter-share service with free-floating vehicles that can be dropped off at legal on-street parking spots in the operating area. Dropping the car off at streetside parking or parking garages makes it perfect for both one-way and roundtrip commutes. Mileage does affect your price, but you will receive free parking, gas, and insurance with your purchase.

Currently located in Sacramento and soon expanding to Seattle, the company tries to help you reduce your carbon footprint by connecting you to hybrid and electric vehicles as well as making a largely car-free lifestyle possible. Cars are unlocked via smartphone, but you can also request a membership card if you want back-up.

As car sharing grows even more widely available, purchasing a vehicle will become optional for more and more people in the United States and beyond. Plus, some car sharing companies add their own logos to their fleet, which is against Uber and Lyft cosmetic guidelines for vehicles.