Car hire and car clubs How to join Streetcar Feb 2010
- All you need to know about Streetcar, the UK’s biggest car club
- How the recent acquisition of Streetcar by Zipcar affects existing and new customers
- How you could save money by joining Streetcar and other car clubs such as City Car Club and Zipcar
- The whole sign-up process explained
- Find out which cars you can drive
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As motoring costs continue to rise, car clubs are enjoying something of a boom. And if you don’t drive very often, you could save thousands by joining one.
Streetcar is the UK’s biggest car club with more than 70,000 members. In April 2010, the company was acquired by rival car club Zipcar. Zipcar has a massive international presence and the plan is to consolidate Streetcar vehicles and customers into its own company by the end of 2010. Currently, all prospective UK car club customers are advised to continue using the Streetcar website.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to join Streetcar. But if you want to find out more about car sharing in general, read our guide to car clubs.
How does Streetcar work?
Streetcar vehicles are parked in designated bays
Streetcar and other car clubs such as City Car Club and Zipcar aim to make it easy for you to drive a car or van whenever it suits you, for anything from one hour to a month at a time.
There are around 1,000 Streetcars parked in designated spaces across London and other UK cities. You can reserve one by speaking to Streetcar on the phone, using the Streetcar website or via the Streetcar iPhone app.
The car unlocks when you place a special smartcard – or Streetcard – on the windscreen, and the keys are left for you in a Pin-protected glove box.
You can then drive the car away and you will be charged a set fee based on how long you have the car for, starting at £4.59 for one hour in a small car (£49.50 for a day), or £5.95 an hour (£59.50 a day) for the more numerous medium cars.
Car insurance and breakdown cover are included and there are no car maintenance fees to worry about, which makes Streetcar attractive to those who rarely use their cars.
Can I find a Streetcar in my area?
Streetcar currently has vehicles in more than 1,000 locations around the UK, with London, Brighton, Guildford, Maidstone, Cambridge, Oxford and Southampton all covered.
Car clubs work best in cities because you will generally have to walk to reach the car you have booked (or rely on public transport). The cars are located so an alternative should be available five to 10 minutes away if your first choice is not available.
You can search for cars near you on the Streetcar website. Just enter your postcode and it will tell you whether the scheme is operational in your area.
If it isn’t, try this car clubs website, which lets you search for cars near you from other pay-as-you-go car clubs such as City Car Club and Zipcar, as well as many not-for-profit, community-based car clubs.
Who can join Streetcar?
Car clubs like Streetcar let you drive when it suits you
To join Streetcar you must be between 21 and 75 years old, and have held a valid driving licence for at least a year. Those aged 19-21 can join if they've held a valid licence for at least two years.
Inexperienced drivers – those aged 24 and under – must pay an extra charge of 9p per mile. This charge is waived if you have two years of no-claims bonus from a previous insurer, or 20 damage-free trips in a Streetcar.
Streetcar also imposes restrictions based on previous convictions; if in doubt call them on 0845 644 8475 to find out if you are eligible to join.
Signing up
Once you’ve filled in your details on Streetcar.co.uk, you’ll receive a phone call.
The company will check your driving licence details with the DVLA and you will need to pay an annual registration fee. At the time of writing, this was £59.50, or £99 for two years' membership.
Your Streetcard (which you use to access the vehicles) will be sent to you in the post, while your registration details will be emailed to you.
Which cars can I drive, and how much do they cost to use?
The Streetcar fleet is made up of the brand new Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion cars, both of which we've reviewed. If you need to take lots of gear from one place to another, it is also possible to hire VW Transporter vans (Streetvans).
Different daily and hourly fees apply for each of these vehicles and, following changes to its pricing structure, Streetcar claims it will be able to charge less for longer periods of hire than traditional car rental firms such as Avis, Hertz and EasyCar.
A VW Polo costs £4.95 for an hour, £49.50 for 24 hours, or £245 for a week; a Golf costs £5.95 per hour, £59.50 per day, and £295 per week.
Streetcar absorbs all congestion charge costs, and there is no charge for petrol on rentals lasting 72 hours or more. For shorter journeys, drivers are given 30 miles worth of free petrol per day, before being charged 23p per additional mile.
It's also possible to hire Streetcars one way – this costs an extra £24.50 between any two points within a specific London coverage zone (roughly Zones 1 and 2). On-way rentals beyond this area are available, but cost more.
See the Streetcar website for more detailed information on pricing.
