Car sharing clubs (all the perks, no paperwork)
Car-sharing clubs give all the benefits of driving a car, without the hassle of owning one. Ideal for those who prefer to drive alone, just join your local club and rent modern serviced vehicles by the hour.
Most car-sharing clubs have discounts if you rent for 24 hours, and grace periods if you get stuck in traffic.
Co-Wheels is the main social enterprise that has hubs nationwide. It pays for the car, maintenance, cleaning, raod tax, insurance and even has prepaid pre-paid fuel & breakdown cards – you just pay extra if you drive a long way.
Most car-sharing clubs don’t allow pets. If you do drive with animals, never leave pets in warm or hot cars. And wait at least 2 hours after long drives (or meals) before allowing runs, to prevent bloat.
If you lift-share, read tips to keep safe (including not sharing your full name and address before meeting in a public place, and letting others know where and when you are going).
Save money on driving cars
Car-sharing clubs save money if you drive less than 10,000 miles a year. You rent by the hour but don’t have ot pay for anything else, other than extra fuel if you drive a long way.
Most people use them for short or occasional journeys, then walk, cycle or take public transport the rest of the time. Or even the occasional taxi. It still saves a fortune on the cost of owning a car.
Reduce your carbon footprint
Fewer cars on the street means fewer climate emissions. Each modern car (which itself is a bit greener as some tend to be hybrid electric) is used by around 20 people, so that’s 19 less cars on the road.
This helps ease congestion in busy areas, making roads safer and more pleasant for everyone. And makes roads safer for children, pets and wildlife.
Most people as mentioned above, also tend to use public transport the rest of the time. And save driving for when it’s actually needed.
Enjoy flexibility and freedom
Good car-sharing clubs offer various vehicles, from small cars to larger hatchbacks. You can book instantly with an app. Then drive for an hour, or hire at a discount for a whole day or overnight.
No maintenance hassles
Forget about breakdowns, flat tyres or routine servicing appointments. Car-sharing clubs take care of all of that. If there is some issue, just report it.
Cut down on parking problems
Parking fees and permits are a major headache in cities. Most car-sharing clubs have reserved bays in convenient locations. You can collect and return cars there without searching for a space. This makes trips into town or to busy events much less stressful.
As the cars are in use for most of the day, it also helps to free up parking spaces for everyone else.
More space at home
If you don’t own a car, you free up valuable space. No more fighting for a spot in a crammed street or squeezing your car into a tiny drive. For many, this means an extra parking space or even a clutter-free front garden.
Another advantage is that you can rent out your unused parking space (either in a drive or in an office or hotel car park) to private drivers, for passive income (so they don’t have to pay large fees in parking lots or multi-storey car parks, including if they leave their car while on holiday).
This helps ease congestion in busy areas. And makes roads safer for children, pets and wildlife.
Peer-to-peer car sharing
Peer-to-peer car-sharing is when one person shares their car with others, without need for a company to run an official fleet. Usually you do this with a company who can take care of all the legal details.
Hiyacar is the main player in this niche. Insurance costs are covered in the price, so members on subscription get lower rates, and a higher mileage allowance. It operates in many towns and cities.
Some car owners (who are fully vetted) are earning around £650 a month, when their car may sit on the drive all day, when they are not working (or at work). Members who lease cars also benefit from AA Breakdown Cover and discounted services at Kwikfit.
The company uses a unique quick-start system, so people can unlock your car using an app. These are deleted after each hire.
People in the community can also ‘adopt a Hiyacar. For less than a tenner a month, it will put one of its cars on your street, and refund the cost of parking permits. Then the car is there for all members to book. Businesses can also get involved to hire a fleet car.
All cars are regularly cleaned by the in-house team, using waterless products. This is good, as water-based car washes tend to send untreated oily water down drains, and out to sea.
