What is Carshare?

How would you like to have a car you didn't have to tax, service or maintain, where all the bills were sorted for you and was capable of being transformed from a hatchback to run-around whenever you wanted?

This is not fantasy, this service it is already available. It's called Car Sharing. Car Share is a friendly, local way to have access to a car without actually having to personally own it. Not only is it an easy and convenient service to use, but also there is a range of vehicles you can choose from and above all, it can save you money.

• Do you occasionally need a car but don't want to own one?
• Are you running two cars but could manage with one most of the time?
• Do you have a small car and could use an estate now and then?

Then Car Sharing may be the answer.

Car Sharing is convenient -

• Using a car share vehicle is very easy and is a lot less hassle than owning a car.
• A car can be booked over the telephone or at anytime over the Internet.
• Cars can be hired 24 hours a day, as often as you need or from as little time as half an hour.
• Cars are located at designated parking bays close to where you live or work.
• Keys are kept at a nearby key safe.
• Drivers pay a monthly fee and are billed for hours hired and miles driven
• Servicing and maintenance are taken care of for you.
• Out-of-hours support is provided by a mobile phone in each vehicle which can be used to contact emergency support.
• Full nation-wide breakdown and recovery service.
• Comprehensive insurance.
• Access to a local members-only ride-share scheme either as a driver (to share the cost of the hire) or as a passenger.

Car Sharing offers you choice

A great benefit of Car Sharing is choice of vehicles. You can use a smaller car for city trips, an estate for removals, or a people mover for outings with the family.

Car Sharing saves you money

Members of pay lower fixed costs than car owners. The joining fee is a one-off payment of £25 and annual membership typically come to £100, which is less than a tax disc. After that you pay as you drive.

Benefits to the community and the environment

Car clubs and car sharing have played a vital role in reducing society's dependence on the car by giving members access to a car for essential journeys without the need to own one. Car clubs have been operating successfully in mainland Europe since the early 1990s. Research has shown that one car share vehicle replaces between four and five privately owned vehicles, and members make significant changes to their travel behaviour. For example, in Berlin, the members of one scheme discovered that:

• Members reduced miles driven by 53%
• Walking and cycling increased by 28%
• There was a 35% increase in public transport use

This, in turn, leads to the following benefits:

• Reduced congestion / parking problems
• Reduced local pollution
• Improved road safety
• Increased viability of low-car housing and 'Home Zones'

With thanks to CarPlus for the information quoted above