Car clubs & hire
Driving without owning
Want to use a car but without all the hassle and cost of owning your own?
Car clubs give you access to a choice of cars or vans, whenever you need one, with no need to shell out for an MOT, repairs or residents permit. Most car clubs even include fuel and insurance in the price of a hire, and some offer electric vehicles!
And if you want a car for the day or the weekend, you can always hire one. Some car hire companies even offer delivery to and collection from your home address.
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Co Wheels is Oxfordshire’s biggest car club, with many locations across Oxford. With a £5 per month membership, you can book a club car in any of the 60 cities in which they operate online or over the phone. You can book for as little as 30 minutes, right up to a few days; and you only pay for the time you have the car (from £5.75 per hour or £44 per day) and the distance you drive it (from 14p per mile). Better yet, insurance, cleaning, servicing, and refuelling is all covered in the service. So no more hoovering!
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You can also hire a car or van without joining a car club by using commercial car hire companies, which typically rent by the day and have a central location to pick up from. Just Google to find out what services are available near you. Unlike with car clubs, you will typically need to pay for refuelling and insurance.
Or why not try car sharing sites, such as Hiyacar or Turo, which let people who are not using their cars all the time hire those vehicles out to others?
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In case insurance is not provided when you hire a car, Cuvva provides short-term insurance for borrowing a car for as little as one hour.
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Looking to rent a wheelchair accessible vehicle for a trip? Whether you'd like to be the passenger or the driver, there are several companies out there to help in the UK, with WavsGB being one. Google to find options near you. The Accessible Planet and MotaClarity also provide more information about what kinds of vehicles are available and things to keep in mind when renting.
The Details
Benefits of car sharing
Cheaper. Tot up all your annual car costs, and you’ll find that’s a lot of car hire time!
Less stress. Car sharing relieves you of all the associated stress of maintenance, security and paying for a residents permit. You have a car when you need one, and don’t have to worry about it when you don’t.
Adaptable. A good option for when a trip would be too difficult by cycle or public transport, such as covering longer distances or carrying larger loads.
Updated September 2024