When it comes to going car-less, there are a number of options. Biking and walking can be painful over long distances and impossible for commuters or the disabled. Taxis and other taxi services can be helpful, but they can eventually become expensive or dangerous for the lone passenger. Renting a car is the easiest option, there are a number of services for the modern car-renter to choose from. Over the past few years, many innovative services have come out of the woodwork to fill the rental-car niche.
However, many avid car-renters are beginning to wonder what service is superior. Should they cash in and invest in newer services like Zipcar, or continue using traditional services? Here is some insight on the advantages of car rentals, and why long-term renters should stick with trusted rental services.
No Membership
Zipcar requires members to make an account, with a $25 activation fee and a yearly/monthly fee for their services. Even if you don’t use a Zipcar, you still have to pay the membership to continue using their cars in the future. If you only need a car for a short period of time, you’re better off just sticking with a traditional rental service.
Cleaner cars
Because they aren’t being passed off immediately to the next user, there’s time to clean and disinfect rental cars before giving them out to the next customer. A common complaint among Zipcar users is the poor treatment of the cars by other customers, and no-one wants to use a car that has three-day-old food wrappers in the backseat.
Better for long-term rentals
If you need a car for several days or a week, Zipcar can kill your budget. Zipcar is meant for short-term rentals, and a one-day Zipcar rental can quickly become more expensive than just renting a car for the day. (Zipcar’s one-day rental comes out at $70-$100, depending on the vehicle, where many rental services can offer better deals.) When it comes to a week-long rental, Zipcar can cost you over $600, which can break many renter’s budget. It’s better to discuss rentals with a trusted rental car service and save yourself the trouble of calculating a long-term Zipcar rental.
Better service
With a car rental service, you’re almost guaranteed to get better customer service than a phone-call with a Zipcar employee. Zipcar is a large company, they deal with hundreds of customers every day. When you rent a car from a traditional rental service, their car is being rented out to you, not you and several other card-carrying members. Because of this, they already have more investment in your experience.
Less fine print
Believe it or not, but a membership with Zipcar boasts quite a bit of fine text. Much of the important information regarding your membership, insurance policies, and other legal matters is left unmentioned in the fine text. This can cause some unpleasant situations, especially if you find yourself at the scene of an accident. Car rental services are usually more up-front about their policies since cars are rented out on a case-by-case basis and not passed around membership holders.
No limited mileage
With Zipcar, there’s a limit to how much you’re allowed to drive during your rental period. While they are paying for your gas, this can be a turn-off for any customer who has to drive long distances. When you rent a car, you pay for the gas you use, and you’re not held back by mileage allowances. If you’re planning a road-trip, you’re better off sticking with a traditional car rental.
Fewer insurance concerns
A big advantage of car rental services is the insurance. For both drivers below and under 21 years of age, most car rental services have better liability coverage than Zipcar, which has notoriously slim coverage. From a safety standpoint, the better option is obvious. (In one comparison, Zipcar’s insurance and losses scored a 1.7 against a rental car services 4.3. Talk about a drastic difference.)
While many city-dwelling motorists may prefer Zipcar for their day-to-day commutes, keeping up with the service can be difficult for those who don’t use it religiously. Most car rentals last for days or weeks, and borrowing a Zipcar for these events can be unreasonably expensive. For those who want a hassle-free, safe car rental, most traditional services can offer that without membership fees. If you’re looking for a car rental in your area or near your vacation destination, try checking for local car rental services for better deals.
