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Car clubs
Car clubs provide vehicles (usually cars and vans) to members on a pay-as-you-drive basis. Clubs tend to be organised on a community basis with cars being located as close to a cluster of members as possible – members typically live within 10 minutes walk from the nearest car station. A car club gives people the choice of a fleet of vehicles parked in their neighbourhood and gives them access to a car whenever they need it but without the high fixed costs of individual car ownership. Car club members are able to mix and match their travel, using a car when that is the best option but travelling by public transport or cycling or walking at other times.
A large city may operate several car stations as part of one scheme. Vehicles are usually owned by the company 'service provider', but in some cases are owned by members of the club. According to Transport for London, joining a car club could save you nearly £2,000 a year.
There are currently five main car club operators in the UK: City Car Club, Zipcar, Streetcar, Connect, and Whipcar.
Members of a car club usually pay an annual fee of between £100 and £200 plus a charge for each mile and hour they use a car. The total annual cost for members is usually less than that of buying and running a car. Membership of a car club may also replace a second car.
See the Department for Transport’s ‘Making Car Sharing and Car Clubs Work’ best practice guide for more detailed information.