Over the weekend I had the pleasure of visiting with a friend who lives in the city. She made it out to the suburbs for a visit with another friend. She didn’t take the GO-train. She didn’t have to take a bus. She didn’t show some leg and hitch a ride. And…she doesn’t own a car.
How did she get here, then?
My friend is a member of a car co-op!
I had no idea such a thing ever existed, but apparently, this system is so much more desirable for city dwellers who need to drive for personal reasons. I’m guessing that shopping excursions to purchase Swedish furniture are high on that list of reasons.
Car co-ops are terrific because they allow responsible adults who need only occasional use of a vehicle, to drive every once in awhile, without worrying about paying for a parking space at their residence, or ongoing car maintenance or monthly payments.
In Toronto, Zipcar is one of the major auto co-ops in operation. Their rates vary, depending on which plan you join. All thing considered, joining the co-op seems like one heck of a deal. There are no extra, hidden fees for parking, insurance or—get this—gasoline. Yep, the cost of gas is included. And, unlike renting a car from a traditional car rental franchise, you can rent a vehicle from Zipcar by the hour.
Another option for renting cars in Toronto is AutoShare. AutoShare imposes a membership fee upon joining. Members can pay-as-they-drive or choose to receive a monthly invoice. Like Zipcar, you save the cost of insurance, parking and fuel when you rent one of their vehicles.
Both of these options sound pretty good, but what are the disadvantages hidden in the fine print?
The only major drawback I could find was for younger drivers. If you’re between the ages of 21 and 23, AutoShare doesn’t want much to do with you. You must be 23 years old and have had a valid driver’s license for at least three years, and that license must be a full “G” license. At Zipcar, however, drivers must be 21 years old, and submit to a check of their driver’s abstract before being permitted to rent.
Also, AutoShare seems a little bit more stringent about the history of drivers renting with them than Zipcar does. Zipcar offers a family plan, accomodating multiple drivers in one household, but I didn’t find one offered by AutoShare.
The other thing to consider is that while vehicle sharing services are great for residents of metropolitan areas, there really isn’t a comparable option for those of us who live out in the ‘burbs.
Have any of you used either of these rental services? We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment detailing your experience with a car co-op and you’ll be entered to win a draw later this month.
Until then, keep up the good work reducing your auto footprint!