CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Zipcar, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZIP), the world's leading car sharing network, today announced the launch of a pilot program for a new monthly membership plan now available in Chicago. The new plan allows Chicago residents to pay for their Zipcar membership as they go, providing a new option for those who want to test out the service or who want access to car sharing for a few months without an annual commitment.

Chicago residents opting to join under Zipcar's new monthly membership plan will pay a $6 per month membership fee, in addition to the standard $25 application fee at the time of joining. Those who join under this plan also have the option to add an additional member to their account for just $3 per month. Members in Chicago can join for as short as one month and can switch to an annual plan at any time. As with all Zipcar driving plans, reservations under the monthly option include gas, reserved parking spots, insurance, roadside assistance and up to 180 miles of driving per day.

"We're very excited to introduce this new membership option just in time for summer, which is traditionally one of the most popular times of year for road trips and excursions," said Charles Stephens, general manager of Zipcar Chicago. "We know from conversations with our members that the up-front costs are sometimes prohibitive to joining a car sharing program, especially in today's economic climate. We hope that this will provide a more flexible option by allowing members to pay per month, and will also benefit those who may only need access to a set of wheels on a seasonal basis – for summer road trips to the beach in Lake Geneva, picnicking at Ravinia or for hiking at Starved Rock, for example – but don't want an annual commitment."

An alternative to car ownership, Zipcars can be reserved for as short as an hour or for several days, with rates starting as low as $8 per hour and $73 per day (24 hours) in Chicago. The new monthly membership plan is being introduced in addition to Zipcar's annual membership options, which start from $60 per year in addition to the $25 application fee. Extra value plans are also available. For more information about becoming a member of Zipcar in Chicago, visit www.zipcar.com.

About Zipcar

Zipcar is the world's leading car-sharing service with more than 700,000 members and 9,000 vehicles in urban areas and college campuses throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Spain. Zipcar offers more than 30 makes and models of self-service vehicles by the hour or day to residents and businesses looking for an alternative to the high costs and hassles of owning a car. More information is available at www.zipcar.com. Photos and b-roll footage are also available for media purposes.

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SOURCE Zipcar, Inc.

For further information: Colleen McCormick, +1-617-336-4342, [email protected]