Would I benefit from joining a club?

Car club members fall into the following categories:

• People who do not currently own a car, but would like to have access to a car for occasional use, perhaps two or three times per week for social or business trips.
• Two-car families, who would not need their second car as a result of car club membership
• People who currently run a car and are doing a low mileage - e.g. less than 8,000 miles per annum 
• People who own an older more unreliable vehicle, or whose finances are stretched by car ownership could find car club membership an attractive alternative.
• Businesses who use pool cars or staff's own vehicles for business trips could use car club vehicles instead.

Will a car be there when I need it?

Operators are keen to ensure there is always a vehicle available when needed by ensuring the right number of stations in each area. Experience shows it is rare to have a failed booking. If a car is not returned on time, the operator will try to provide a replacement car or offer a taxi and the late driver will pay a fine.

How do I make a booking?

In most schemes, members have the choice to book online or by telephone. A central computer allows the member with the right smart card to open the right car at the right time, and after entering a PIN they can begin their journey. Many cars now have an on-board computer which can also be used to book the car on the spot.

Cars can also be booked up to 3 months in advance to ensure peace of mind for important engagements or regular trips.

Where are the vehicles based?

Convenient locations will be chosen throughout the club catchment area, and should meet the following criteria:

• Located to ensure the maximum number of people can access a vehicle within a five to ten minute walk.
• Marked parking bays specially designated for car club cars; this ensures a guaranteed parking space - a particular advantage in areas with parking problems.
• Well lit and overlooked, and with good access routes to ensure personal safety.

Will I be able to use the car club to book a car for longer periods, e.g. to use on holiday?

Most clubs will have negotiated a special rate with a car rental firm for members who want to book cars for a longer hire period so that the car club vehicles are still available for short-term use. You will be able to book the car to be delivered to your home or to your holiday location. Some operators allow members to book cars at any of their clubs, so you can travel by public transport to your holiday location and make use of car club vehicles when you arrive.

Can a car club provide a range of cars to choose from?

This will depend on the size of your local club but even a club with 2 cars could offer a city car and an estate. As clubs grow they should be able to offer a greater choice; continental car clubs offer a range of vehicles including cabriolets and minibuses. The link with the car rental firm mentioned earlier could also allow members to hire larger vehicles, such as vans for moving furniture.

How does the insurance work?

As a car club member, you will sign a contract to join the car club’s insurance scheme. Following address and credit checks, you will be covered for driving cars booked through the club. Membership is only available to people with a fairly clean driving licence, usually over 21 years old, depending on the insurer. There is sometimes an upper age restriction.

What happens if I have an accident in the car?

You will be made aware of the procedure on how to report any accidental damage. The police must be informed if you are involved in anything other than a minor accident, or if anyone is injured.

What happens if the car breaks down?

Car club vehicles will have breakdown cover (e.g. with the Environmental Transport Association, AA or RAC).

Don’t car clubs just reduce the number of cars not the number of journeys?

Most trips by car are local journeys of less than 5 miles. When you own a car the majority of your costs are fixed and petrol costs form a low percentage of your overall car costs. Therefore, especially with the car parked right outside the door, the temptation is to use the car for journeys that could be made by public transport, walking or cycling.

Members of a car club have low overheads and pay the full cost of car use each time they use the car, so the temptation to use a car unnecessarily for short journeys is removed. Research shows that in Europe, on average, one car club car replaces five privately owned cars, and members who previously owned a car cut down on their overall travel, reducing their car mileage over 50%.

How will I be charged?

Some schemes charge a monthly fee, whereas others roll all the costs into the hourly user charge. On top of being charged per hour, users may pay per mile driven, alternatively a certain number of miles are included in the hourly rate and beyond that the driver pays by the mile. Operators often have different 'tariffs' for different levels of use in a similar way to mobile phone providers.