Hey, what about "ZipCar"??

[Duer 157099]

I just heard a commercial on the radio for this company, and the concept (car sharing) intrigues me.

Anybody have any experience or info about this?

http://www.zipcar.com/

[izzybeans]

1. They have it here in Chicago and the people I know that use it, love it.

Thinking about it myself. I-Go is 30 per month membership for $7/hr. $15 per month membership. for 8.50 per/ hour tiered up for SUVs. If you can't afford a new care and only drive a few times per week or month it makes sense.

I-GO ties into our public transit system too.

[rox63]

2. They have it in Boston

I see ZipCars on the road with some regularity. It's mainly found in urban areas with good public transit, where people are less likely to own a car. So rather than owning a car, they can use a ZipCar for the rare occasions when they actually need a vehicle.

Edit to add: I guess they are also on various college campuses around the country.

[tech9413]

8. I like your miss speak "owning a care"

Definitely owning a car is mandating a level of care that most people never come to grips with. I've almost never lived where a car wasn't the most reasonable if not only means of transportation.
If I didn't have to pay for insurance, registration, repairs and such my bank account would be a lot fatter today.

[rox63]

9. I just made the spelling correction

But I didn't see your response until afterwards.

[taterguy]

3. Depends on your individual circumstance

If you're someone who only needs a car occasionally it's a great deal.

One of my friends only needs a car a few times a month and loves it.

[Luminous Animal]

4. I use City Car Share in San Francisco

http://www.citycarshare.org/

I love it. It took me a couple of years but I finally convinced my husband to get rid of the car and join up. We've been members for a couple of years and we've had no problems. If we want to drive out of town for the weekend or more, we just rent a car from a regular rental company.

[Ratty]

10. Me too, but I'm gonna switch to ZipCar

Mileage is a bit more but for me it's cheaper to pay $50 a year than $10 a month.

[Luminous Animal]

14. City Car Share has a cheaper plan than that.

It's called Share A Little and it is $45.00 a year. And, of course the mileage is more than the $10 a month plan.

http://www.citycarshare.org/sharelocalplusalittle.do

[Ratty]

15. Thanks for the info

I didn't know about that. Sounds like a good deal for me.

[Luminous Animal]

16. I didn't know either until you posted about the Zip Car's plan.

I said WTF! And immediately went the City Car Share website and saw that they had a comparable plan. I'm going to do a cost analysis but I suspect I'll switch from their $10 a month plan. We only use their cars about 4 times every 3 months.

[uberblonde]

5. It's here in Philly.

But we also have PhillyCarshare, a non-profit that's a little cheaper.

[demokatgurrl]

18. and Phillly Car Share is local-

and I love their logo.

[Luminous Animal]

19. That is why I like to use City Car Share instead of ZipCar.

City Car Share is a San Francisco Bay Area company and a non-profit. Also, members can volunteer to earn credits.

[handmade34]

6. burlington, VT

http://www.carsharevt.org/

[BlooInBloo]

7. It was a different company/name like a year or so back. It was really awesome...

I seem to recall that they raised their rates quite a bit though, so I don't use them. It might be good for others, though.

[SeattleGirl]

11. We have the ZipCar program here in Seattle.

It seems to be pretty popular.

[Staph]

12. At West Virginia University,

they have a similar program called WeCar. Students, faculty and staff can rent one of the five hybrid cars for $9 per hour, after paying an annual fee of $50.

Parking in Morgantown (like many other college towns) is nearly non-existent. Having access to a car for very occasional use would have been wonderful back in the day.

[Greyhound]

13. It works(ed?) great in Portland, but then they also have a good public transit system.

:kick: & R

[grantcart]

17. In Chicago it works great