man using the zipcar app to book cars

How Zipcar Works

Find, book and unlock your Zipcar all using the app. Book Roundtrip cars and vans up to a year in advance, perfect for longer trips. Or just reserve a one-way Flex car when you’re ready to go – we’ll hold the car for 15 minutes.

There's two ways to drive: Flex or Roundtrip

Join online and you'll get access to thousands of our cars and vans throughout London. How you use them is up to you – we have two options to choose from.

Roundtrip and Flex

Flex - our one-way service. Just look for the blue pin in the app, reserve and drive then just drop in our Zipzone across London. Perfect for spontaneous one-way trips around the city, starting from 32p per minute.

Roundtrip - pick your car up from its dedicated bay – you’ll find them all over London. Use the app to find any green pin near you, book and drive by the hour or day - starting from £6 per hour or from £60 per day. Park in the same bay you picked your Zipcar up from.

Becoming a Zipcar member

Valid driver’s licence? Over 25? Just pick a plan and join online. International drivers can apply too. Run a business? Check out Zipcar for Business

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Pick a plan

You’ve got a choice of 3 plans: Basic has no monthly fee, Smart is £6/month and Plus is £15/month. Just pick whichever suits how often you need wheels.

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A few checks

To keep our Zipcar community safe, we check your driving record and verify your identity. This normally takes as little as 2 hours, but in some cases can take a couple of days.

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Hit the road

Once you’re approved, you can start searching for cars and book straight away with the Zipcar app.

What you will need:

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  • A clear selfie holding a valid driver’s licence
  • Valid debit or credit card

International driver?

Behind the scenes at Zipcar

Find out how our team keeps Zipcar moving, from electric vehicle charging to car re-location!

Find out more

Our Community Rules

Before you hit the road, read our community rules of car-sharing.

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Return it right

Return a Roundtrip on time, or you can extend your booking. Drop a Flex in our Zipzone.

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Keep it clean

Clean up, don’t smoke and take everything with you. Don’t forget to recycle your rubbish!

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Fill ‘er up

If fuel is below ¼ tank at the end of your trip, fill up before you return to it’s bay. Fuel's on us!

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

What do I do if my Zipcar is damaged?

Before you start driving, inspect your Zipcar inside and out. While we expect the person before you to leave the Zipcar in good condition, it’s important to let us know any issues before you drive. Learn more

What happens if I return late?

The key to car-sharing success is returning Roundtrip cars and vans on time. If you’re late returning a Roundtrip vehicle it impacts the members who have booked it next - and no one likes that. Book for the time you need and extend it in the app if you know you won't be back on time. We charge a late return fee starting at £35 per hour (up to 3 hours max), plus the additional usage.

How do I book?

Find and book your Zipcar using the app or website. Book Roundtrip cars and vans up to a year in advance, perfect for longer trips. Or just reserve a one-way Flex car when you’re ready to go – we’ll hold the car for 15 minutes. When you’re ready to drive, use the app to navigate to the car and just tap the app to unlock it. You’ll also use the app to lock and end your booking.

How do I extend my Roundtrip booking?

As long as there’s not a booking right after yours, you can extend your trip using the mobile app or by texting us. Learn more.

How do I make a one-way reservation?

Zipcar Flex is our one-way drive-and-drop service – ideal for shorter, last-minute or spontaneous trips. Pick up and drop off almost anywhere within the Zipzone, as well as Heathrow T5. Reserve via the app and we’ll hold your car for 15 minutes. Learn more.

What if I have an accident or need roadside assistance?

Your Zipcar membership includes roadside assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need help just call us on 0333 240 9000 and we’ll take care of the details

Where will I find my fuel card?

It’s tucked on the side of the dashboard when you need to fill up. You’ll need your mileage and Zipcard number when you go to the pump. Remember to return your car with at least ¼ tank of fuel to avoid any additional fees.

Who can drive my Zipcar?

Active Zipcar members (other than you) can drive your Zipcar, but you must be in the car if you booked it. Anyone that’s not a Zipcar member can’t drive your Zipcar – friends, husbands, girlfriends - no exceptions. Those are the rules!

Where do I drop off my Zipcar?

If you drive a one-way Zipcar Flex, you can return it almost anywhere in our Zipzone. With Roundtrip just return your Zipcar to the same bay you picked it up.

How do I cancel or change a booking?

When you reserve a Zipcar Flex we hold it for 15 minutes. Roundtrip bookings can be cancelled or changed up to 30 minutes before. Reserve via the app or online under My Account > My Reservations. Learn more about the rules on cancelling before your booking starts.

How many miles are included?

60 miles each day (both Roundtrip and Flex) – no matter where you drive. Extra miles cost £0.29 per mile. And all our vehicles are ULEZ compliant – so that’s one less thing to worry about! Learn more

Get to know more about Zipcar

We've put together a list of useful topics to help you understand more about how Zipcar works, whether it's more info on pricing or how to unlock the cars we have it covered below.