Zipcar is a car-sharing firm owned by car-rental company Avis. The College has partnered with the cities of Champaign and Urbana, in addition to the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District to deliver self-service, on-demand automotive sharing to campus.
There are 10 Zipcars situated within the Champaign-Urbana space. As soon as signed up with a Zipcar membership, college students want to position a reservation, unlock the automotive with a particular card distributed by Zipcar, discover the important thing within the car and hit the street.
Shannon Hurd, freshman in Engineering, was launched to the Zipcar by her boyfriend. She first drove a Zipcar in September 2022 and stated she has had expertise thus far.
“I believe Zipcars are very handy, in case you’re keen to pay the value,” Hurd stated. “It’s choice to have. However folks would want to weigh the professionals and cons of it earlier than shopping for it. Perhaps a gaggle of mates may purchase a membership collectively.”
Shreenija Daggavolu, freshman in Engineering, stated that when she discovered about Zipcar, she thought that such a service could possibly be helpful for college students who dwell distant and don’t have vehicles on campus.
“I’m undecided I learn about quite a lot of automotive rental companies,” Daggavolu stated. “I do know Hire-a-Automotive, however I don’t know if college students can lease it. I dwell shut by, so it’s not an issue for me, however I believe that Zipcar is perhaps choice for out-of-state college students who would in all probability want to make use of a automotive someday.”
The authorized age to lease a automotive in Illinois is 21. Nevertheless, Zipcars could be rented by anybody who is eighteen or older and has a driving license. Membership prices $9/month or $90/yr, however as a result of College’s partnership with Zipcar, school, workers and college students can grow to be members for $35/yr.
Members can entry Zipcars 24/7 with an app obtainable for Android and iPhone, or on Zipcar’s web site. They’ll then lease vehicles on an hourly or every day foundation. If a member exceeds 180 miles in a day, they have to pay further for each further mile.
Sanji Lee, freshman in Engineering, is a world pupil. He heard about Zipcar from a buddy who used it.
“I may see myself utilizing it, however I don’t have a license,” Lee stated. “I’ve a optimistic feeling about Zipcar, and I do know I may use it sooner or later. If I can’t get a automotive and it’s not an excessive amount of of a trouble, I’d pay for Zipcar’s membership.”
When requested about insurance coverage, Lee stated that he was unaware of the insurance coverage insurance policies for any automotive sharing service, not to mention Zipcar. Totally different states could have barely completely different phrases of insurance coverage, however for essentially the most half, Zipcar gives insurance coverage.
Gasoline and insurance coverage are included within the value of the membership. For members beneath the age of 21, Zipcar gives insurance coverage at state-mandated ranges. For members who’re older, insurance coverage covers bodily harm and property injury.
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