Forum Topic

Does anyone belong to a Car Club?

This appears to be a growing thing.  There seem to be more companies than before and it may be particularly good if you want to reduce the number of cars in your family.Although we reduced our car ownership we have shared cars better, used more public transport and walked more and never joined a car club.(I know there is a car club space near South Ealing Station so am constantly reminded about them!)So are you a member and does it work for you?

Philippa Bond ● 4240d24 Comments

Harjeet,Thanks very much for your post. Making us aware of a meeting that most of us wouldn't have known about is most thoughtful of you. If everybody in the council could communicate to local residents in a way that you have done by keeping us in the loop like you have done we would all be a lot better of.

Ben Owen ● 4221d

The Council’s newly established Ealing 360 Degrees Scrutiny Review Panel will review Car Clubs (the use, spread, different providers, etc.) at its first meeting on Wednesday 16 July 2014.The Panel will also review Halls Lettings(to assess how the projected progress of the Council’s Halls Lettings - Ealing Town Hall and Greenford Hall - is developing) that evening. The Panel is keen to hear the views of residents and representatives of local organisations on these topics.  The meeting will take place at 7.00pm in Committee Room 3, Ealing Town Hall, New Broadway, London W5 2BY.  Individuals can send in their comments to scrutiny@ealing.gov.uk by noon on Wednesday 16 July or ask to give their views at the meeting but public participation is at the discretion of the Panel Chair (Cllr Anthony Young).  So if you wish to speak then please let us know in advance.The agenda papers for the meeting are available on Ealing Council’s website at http://ealing.cmis.uk.com/ealing/Meetings/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/870/Committee/92/Default.aspxRegardsHarjeet BainsScrutiny Review Officer

Harjeet Bains ● 4221d

Here is an email that all City Car Club members will have received this morning. I have (mostly) copied it below:Prices as of the 1st August will be increasing, as a consquence of the usual excuses of inflationary pressures, higher insurance premiums and, what they say, is their increasing fleet of brand new vehicles - which I can tell you is true as they - for their own insurance - have to change their vehicles every three years.From 1st August some cars will be available for just £25 per day (which vehicles this applies to will change throughout the year to ensure as many of our members as possible have access to them). Their ‘Small’ category will remain the same at £4.95 an hour, and makes it one of the best value car club cars in the UK (This is true!). Their van pricing will also remain unchanged. ‘Medium’, ‘Large’ and ‘7 seat’ categories will all see a 25p increase in hourly rental price (the increase is also reflected in the daily rate).Mileage remains the same at 23p for cars and 29p for vans. You can find the costs of hourly rates of all their vehicles on their website.All car clubs sit in dedicated bays that have to be approved and licenced by the relevant local authority. You will see sign posts and markings on the road wherevever the car is.

Ben Owen ● 4226d

City car club cars sit in bays. I've had one instance where the vehicle had a puncture and one where a car didn't open. I was quickly switched to another car within walking distance and my account wasn't charged for the booking.I gather if a car is returned late and you've booked it they will get you a cab to an alternative vehicle, but that's never happened to me.

Paul James ● 4227d

I took out membership with Hertz just for emergencies; we have a car but thought there may come a time when we might need another. Our car broke down and we had to go on a hospital visit to Wales. I booked the car; the nearest was at South Ealing (I am in Boston Manor). As I waited for a train to go to South Ealing 15 minutes before pick-up I got a text telling me my car was waiting for me in Acton. I jumped in a taxi and when I got to Acton there was no car waiting. 2 hours later I managed to get a car and then started my drive to Wales. Not for me I'm afraid...

Maggi Howells ● 4227d

I had problems with the Yaris, also 6' 4" and was constantly banging my head.

Nigel Brooks ● 4228d

I'm 6'4" and easily fit in the Yarises, and the Fiat 500s.The corsa's were a problem for me, but they've got rid of those, the yarises are such brilliant cars (as is the Auris)!More people need to write to car club firms to tell them they'd like one near them.The usual complaint is that they take up a parking space, but of course, that's entirely specious.

Paul James ● 4228d

I think car clubs are a great concept but not, if like me, you need an automatic vehicle due to disability.The nearest automatic I could find on Zipcar was in Wimbledon and City car only offer the Toyota Yaris auto which I would need to be at least four inches shorter to drive or the Auris Hybrid at £60.00 per day.Shame really.

Nigel Brooks ● 4228d

Everybody used to aspire to owning a car.  I don't think that they do now.  In any case I hope they don't. There isn't room.There is another website like www.fixmystreet.com called www.fixmytransport.com which is fairly new in comparison.  I think this ought to be something that would help people to discuss various issues concerning transport.  I know there are users' groups but sometimes you just want to ask why something doesn't go somewhere or say why it doesn't work for you.

Philippa Bond ● 4228d

Most car clubs and Liftshare type schemes seem to be excellent facilities. I wonder why more people don't make use of these sensible, cost effective and convenient schemes.

Gerry Tan ● 4229d

If you are interested City Car Club offer free membership for the first year if you are already a member of another car club. I happen to be a member of City Car Club and Hertz 24/7. The theory is that belonging to two car clubs gives you more locations and more availability, but it is not much use now when Hertz has pulled all their cars out of Ealing! Still, getting free membership of City Car Club is value for money! I have also used City Car Club cars in Nottingham. Your membership allows you to use any of their cars in any city.As a Hertz 24/7 member I also get a 15% discount on their normal hire car rates. If I am going long distance, hiring a car with unlimited mileage and unlimited hours makes much more sense as it is 100 times more economical. One tip on Hertz hire cars. Always pick up from their Uxbridge HQ office. Rates are massively cheaper than anywhere else as it is not a premium location. The 207 and 607 bus is super handy to get to and from there!Tom mentioned Liftshare. It is a great way of cutting your petrol costs. I used it last week to take someone up to Parbold in Lancashire in the hire car. I picked up a girl (!) from Ealing Broadway station and dropped her at junction 27 of the M6 for £20. Liftshare suggest a price for the journey, but it is left to both parties to negogiate. For insurance reasons, the driver is not allowed to make any profit from offering lifts.

Ben Owen ● 4229d

Also, since my wife and I gave up owning a car each two years ago, we've saved a fortune and we walk as much as we are able for shopping etc.

Gerry Tan ● 4232d

I think it is because some of us are so cautious about something that is a new idea to us.I expect they will have made some changes since they were first introduced to make them easier to use.  I also remember hearing about people renting out their own car on the radio.  It seems that there must have been some change in insurance rules to make this possible (and someone has mentioned liftshare on here.) Car clubs certainly seems a very good way to avoid having a second family car just in case you need it.  It seems such a shame to have all these cars parked in our streets which are just parked there all the time - just in case.Someone in the office who now commutes in from Kent by train uses a car club car when he needs to go to site meetings on the other side of London.

Philippa Bond ● 4232d

This seems an ideal solution to car use. There are many car available in Ealing - so useful and inexpensive and above all so sensible with Zipcars and other brands - I don't know why more people use these readily available and inexpensive cars.

Gerry Tan ● 4232d

I'm a member of Zipcar and think they are absolutely brilliant. The customer service is first class and there are plenty of cars dotted around the place (there are 3 within a 5 minute walk of  my place in Brentford).It is £6 per month to be a member and the hourly charge for the car depends on when you use it (weekends are generally more expensive) but the fuel and insurance are free.http://www.zipcar.com/

Andy Ryan ● 4232d

Slightly different but still useful is liftshare.comIf you make a regular journey you can put it on here and anyone who does a similar journey can get in touch to arrange a car sharing arrangemment.Alternatively if youre look for a lift somewhere you can log on and search and some nice sould may just come to your rescue :O)

Tom Clifford ● 4235d

Pleased that the car club works well for you. My wife and I gave up owning a car each, so we gave them away to children and friend and we walk and use buses and if its urgent we hire a minicab - we've each saved a fortune since carless. And we feel healthier! Its win win for us.

Gerry Tan ● 4238d

Yes I belong to City Car Club. Its brilliant; plenty of cars around Ealing, easy booking system, telephone help is fantastic if there is a problem. I have found it a great,cost effective solution.

Mary MacInnes ● 4238d

It suits me very well.I use a car very occasionally (once or twice a month), it's £6 an hour, or £50 a day, with a 28p per mile milage charge to cover the fuel. I sometimes get stung with a bill for a hundred quid or so if I take one away for the weekend, but that's nothing to getting stung with a bill of a few hundred for new shocks or tyres.I usually use a little hybrid toyota parked outside Hanwell station, which is v nice, I also have access to a van, and a people carrier which is very useful sometimes.It's a slight pain having to walk 10 minutes to get to it, but it's got it's own parking space, so I drive straight into it when I return it.I have to pre-book, and you've always got to bring it back to where you got it, and you can't really be late bringing it back, which can be a worry sometimes, especially as it's hard to judge London traffic.I love not owning a car though!

Paul James ● 4238d

Thanks Philip. A good idea are car clubs.

Gerry Tan ● 4238d

http://www.which.co.uk/cars/driving/car-hire-and-car-clubs/car-clubs/how-do-car-clubs-work/

Philip Coe ● 4238d

Please explain how a 'car club' works and what are the main reasons to belong to such a club.  Thanks.

Gerry Tan ● 4238d

I do.I think if we installed meters in cars that showed their owners how much they cost per mile to drive (adding in everything, maintenance, insurance, fuel, depreciation) many many other people would be members too.

Paul James ● 4238d

http://www.carplus.org.uk/projects/developing-car-clubs-in-london/

Philippa Bond ● 4239d