ZipCars at The Silo
| Phone |
| 1-866-4ZIPCAR (1-866-494-7227) |
| Website |
![[WWW]](http://wikispot.org/wiki/eggheadbeta/img/sycamore-www.png){kind=small} http://www.zipcar.com |
| Established |
| 2009 in Davis |
| Payment Method |
| Membership required |
Zipcar is a national car rental service for people where they live, versus a rental service for travellers. Zipcar differs from traditional renting in that 1) it's a membership service, 2) the cars are parked at sites near where people need them (and likely in high visibility areas too). Members unlock these special cars using their RFID proximity key. Note that these cars are allowed on-campus, unlike most cars. Membership is $50/year, plus a one-time $25 fee (they do have a 30-day trial period though). Driving is $8-$9/hour or $66-$72/day. Gas is INCLUDED. There are stiff fees for returning the car late ($50/hr.) To be eligible for membership you must have had a drivers license for at least one year. All application is online, from their website. Cars must be reserved before they can be used (you can't just walk up and wave your ID). If you cancel a reservation on short notice, you will be charged (like the airlines do). Smoking in cars is not allowed, nor are pets. Other penalties for returning a car with less than 1/4 tank of gas, returning to wrong spot, forgetting to turn off headlights, etc. Zipcar may work out well for Davis, since so many people live car-free.
According to http://www.zipcar.com/ucd, UC Davis students, faculty, and staff can join Zipcar for $35/year. You also get $35 in free driving to use your first month.
Car Locations
Their map (http://www.zipcar.com/davis/find-cars) shows cars in three locations in Davis, all in the UC Davis core area.
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2009-09-28 19:10:20 This is a very popular service in areas of the country where people can walk, bike, or take public transit most of the time, and need a car only for occasional use. When you factor in the costs of maintenance, insurance, and vehicle purchase price, this may be a significantly cheaper solution for many students than owning their own cars. It's also environmentally positive, because it reduces production of new cars for students (including the energy usage and pollution associated with that production), and because many people share the use of a single car rather than taking up space and energy with their own. —IDoNotExist
