Zipcar - good for gaining driving experience?

Sharon87

I passed my driving test in March this year and have only driven a little bit since then for work. I am wanting to gain more driving experience in London to make me more confident on the road. I can't afford a car or the insurance. I was looking at zipcar and it seems affordable, but what happens if I have a scrape? Will they charge extortionate amounts? If I hire a car from somewhere like Enterprise I can take out an excess waiver, so if I do have a scrape I wont have to pay the excess.

Will I be able to do this for zipcars? I like the idea of zipcar, but don't like the idea of being charged hundreds if I have a scrape.

vikingaero

You can get an annual policy from companies like insurance4carhire for around £40-£50 that will reduce your Zipcar excess.

Unfortunately as you only passed your test in March I don't think you can hire from them:

Who is eligible to become a Zipcar member?


To be eligible, you must:

1. Be at least 21 years old or be joining an affiliated Business or University and be at least 19 years old
   • If under 25 years of age have held a full licence for at least 2 years with no convictions or accidents
   • If under 25 years of age and in posession if non-EU licence, issuing country must be either be USA or a designated reciprocal country
   • If over 75 years of age have two years driving experience in the last 5 years with no accidents or claims in that time
2. Have a driving record that meets the following requirements
   • Have held a full driving licence for a minimum of 12 months
   • Have no more than 6 penalty points on driving licence
   • If under 30 years of age have no more than 3 penalty points on driving licence
   • Have had no more than 1 accident claim in the last 3 years
   • Have no major convictions

MX5huggy

You don't meet the licence requirements of zip car or most other hire companies.

http://members.zipcar.co.uk/how/faqs/one-faq?faq_number=1

newfoundglory

Enterprise may hire you a car with less than 1 years driving experience. They did 2 months after I passed my test, but that was almost 3 years ago - things may have changed - so give them a call. If you are over 25 you should be okay on the fees front.

As a side note, Enterprise were the ONLY company at the time I found that would do this. So i'd be surprised if you managed to find anywhere else.

All others required at least 1 year.

Sharon87

That sucks then. Will have to do it in March. I'm 25, so the top part isn't an issue. I was thinking of doing it in a couple of months, but I guess I'll have to wait a bit longer!

Thanks for the info, I read most of their website, but seemed to have missed that part lol. I thought I'd be eligible because I'm 25 and over. I've driven people carries and big cars from hire companies before so didn't think this'd be an issue!

Oh well. Looks like I'll just hire a car for a day when I've got some time spare and practise in that, and take out an excess waiver

Sharon87

newfoundglory wrote: »

Enterprise may hire you a car with less than 1 years driving experience. They did 2 months after I passed my test, but that was almost 3 years ago - things may have changed - so give them a call. If you are over 25 you should be okay on the fees front.

As a side note, Enterprise were the ONLY company at the time I found that would do this. So i'd be surprised if you managed to find anywhere else.

All others required at least 1 year.

I am eligible for Enterprise, you just have to have a drivers licence and meet the age requirement of the vehicle you wish to rent. So because I'm 25 I could get a large car, but probably not a van lol.

newfoundglory

well there we go - get one of the weekend specials and buy damage waiver if you are concerned you might have an accident.

neilmcl

Sharon87 wrote: »

I am eligible for Enterprise, you just have to have a drivers licence and meet the age requirement of the vehicle you wish to rent. So because I'm 25 I could get a large car, but probably not a van lol.

You sure about that, a quick search revaled the following on their website, although it doesn't state whether it's specific to the UK:

In most locations:

The driving license must have been issued by authorized authorities at least 12 months before the date of the commencement of the rental.
We reserve the right to request additional ID or conduct further identification checks if needed.

Sharon87

Yep I'm sure, I've been on the insurance of an Enterprise car at work before.

neilmcl

Sharon87 wrote: »

Yep I'm sure, I've been on the insurance of an Enterprise car at work before.

That's slightly different to actually hiring the car yourself under your own insurance.

Sharon87

It's a bit silly really if you need to wait a year after passing your test, how are you suppose to get experience! I could do a couple of refresh lessons, but I need to learn how to drive on my own! Surely it'll be safer for someone to drive not long after passing their test than not driving for the entire year after passing their test, then drive.

I guess I've just been lucky I've had some experience because of work. One of them was a people carrier as well, which I drove 2 weeks after passing my test! I was thrown in the deep end a bit there lol. (well it was only automatic I guess).