Local Zipcar experience

We JUST joined Zipcar (found ourselves in a tight spot when we thought we had a car but didn't). It worked out great! We had to borrow the car for an entire weekend but didn't have any trouble - even with the last-minuteness of the request.

We had to go to Williamsburg to get the car but sersiously, that was easy now that the G is extended.

I just put in a reservation for this Saturday and again had no trouble. Since the time was way less, we were able to get a car that is right up the street from where we live. So far we are fans. Having a car in the city was HORRIBLE. We had one for months at a time (long story) and when we had it we definately paid the fees from zipcar ten-fold if we missed alternate side parking or if some metermaid decided that despite being 2 car-lengthes away from a hydrant we were somehow too close anyway.

Plus, we were always slightly nervous about it getting stolen, had to pay for repairs, things like that. Zipcar = no upkeep and no worries about bitter meter maids just doing their jobs about as well as I do mine (snicker).

I've had a few small problems, but I'm happy with them. The real problem is when someone else returns their car late and there's not another one in the garage they can give you (keep the zipcar # in your phone).

Be warned that they can keep the car from starting remotely. Once we were getting really frustrated b/c our car that we had for the day wouldn't start after we'd parked it for a while. After a call to zipcar it turned out that they had mistakenly made this happen by deleting our reservation, but they did then fix it.

Also, make sure to inspect the car when you get it and report any problems--dirt, dings, etc. I've gotten a "strike" on my account b/c I didn't notice a bunch of pet hair in the back (supposedly) and someone after me reported pet hair so I was fined and slapped on the wrist (I'm one strike away from loosing my membership, long story). I call about any problem now and I could imagine someone being a jerk and reporting a problem they plan to create. For example if someone plans to take a pet in the car, loose, they might report that the car already had hair in it so they couldn't be blamed.

I like to try to always use the same car (I just use them for errands) so I know what dings are new and need to be reported.

For gas, there's a credit card in the car that you use (along with other info like the mileage and your card #) so it's pretty easy.

Subject: Re: zipcar

flaco wrote: [...] insurance is included in the price, but it's 500 deductible, and unlike other rental cars, credit card won't cover you, as it is technically not a rental car. (maybe you will keep your insurance though)

Not necessarily.

Some credit cards, like American Express or MasterCard, include rental car insurance, which covers you when you use a rental car. And while we're definitely not a rental car company (in fact, R*NT is a four-letter word around the office) sometimes Zipcars fall under this coverage. Give them a call to see if they'll cover you in a Zipcar.

(from "http://www.zipcar.com/help/generalinfo#creditcard")
We use it almost exclusively for 2- or 3-day trips out of the city. Works for us. With the gas, it's cheaper than all but the lousiest rental car places, and much more convenient. We do the $75 per month option, which precludes the yearly fee, and it rolls over one month, which means we basically have to use it for one weekend every 2 months and we save 10% off the "base" day rates.

(Actually, even if we have to eat a $75 credit every once in a while, we still save money because we have used it for more than $750 worth.)

Definitely cheaper and more convenient than owning a car (for my family).

we are a one-membership household. (long story, mostly about sloth.) i never drive the cars, because while they'd never know if everything went according to plan, if there was an accident, i would not be covered.

OpossumQueen wrote: [quote=Old Time Brooklyn]Do myself and my wife have to join so each can drive? Is that how it works? Or do most couples --- just one joins?

You can add household members to the account for a reasonable fee. From what I was told when I asked about driving and coverage, even if I make the reservation, my bf (on the account) is covered to drive during my reservation.

You each get your own card and can make reservations.

You can add household members to your account, but each needs to be a Zipcar member in order to drive.

stjohnsatwash wrote:

Also, I called recently and was told that any Zipcar member is covered in any Zipcar, regarded of who rented it. Is this not true? Perhaps I didn't phrase the question clearly enough, but that is what the service rep told me last week. So even if I rent the car, my boyfriend can drive it (we have separate accounts).

Yes.