Why UK Citizens Are Switching To Car Clubs
To say the pandemic made us question car ownership would be an understatement. Our cars sat in garages, driveways, and street corners for months on end as COVID-19 spread rapidly across the globe.
Depending on where you lived, the work-from-home orders and requirement to social distance made it less likely for people to drive to a friend’s house or engage in family events or holidays near or far. Even trips to the grocery store were cut down in half with the rise of delivery services.
Still today, as the commotion of life takes over again, many civilians are holding on to their early pandemic lifestyle. In England, many sought an opportunity to part ways with their beloved or not so loved vehicle and take up a more unconventional method of transportation. Enter: pay per trip vehicles.
Discover the advantages of switching to car clubs and using pay per trip vehicles. Pretty soon you’ll understand why so many UK drivers are seeking this new mode of transportation.
How does switching to car clubs work?
The name speaks for itself. Car clubs are a members-based organization that provide vehicles to rent per hour or on a need by need basis. The best part about this service is the vehicles are located conveniently throughout the city. There is no centralized location that you have to pick up a vehicle from like a rental car service. Instead, car club members can enjoy the ease of simple access and little to no hassle at all times.
With Enterprise Car Club, you can reserve a vehicle and set time span by logging in to their website or using their mobile app. Unlock the vehicle with your mobile device, enter your PIN number into the PIN pad for key retrieval. Push to start and you’re ready to go. Perhaps the only drawback is that you must return the vehicle to the same location, which could pose an issue if you’re not planning a return trip.
Advantages of car clubs
According to comouk, a shared transportation service in England, the key advantage of a pay per trip vehicle is becoming less financially involved in driving a car. It just might be the wisest choice when the need for a vehicle is actually unnecessary in your town or city.
Pay per trip car clubs, sometimes known as car sharing allows individuals and businesses to have access to a personal vehicle without being tied to ownership.
On top of that, drivers of all sorts will enjoy the sustainable aspect of switching to car clubs. With eco-friendly vehicles available and low emissions at stake, it all makes sense. Why invest in a new car? Why overpay for a vehicle in 2021?With car clubs, you can drive only when necessary. So far, the results in the UK have been astounding.
Up to 25% of drivers sell their car
What’s working for UK car clubs is inevitable. Drivers are paying low fees for the use of a vehicle. In addition, these clubs are making a greater impact on our global carbon footprint. Research performed by CoMoUK suggests that 25% of patrons who are switching to car clubs have ditched their current vehicle. The push to sell becomes a lot easier when they see the advantages of joining a car club, especially in today’s sellers market.
Image source: BBC
Switching to car clubs is a more sustainable way to drive
While ride shares and electric mobility have become widely popular in the U.S., car enthusiasts still hold a special place in their hearts for car ownership. The idea of switching to car clubs is surely resourceful and a different way of approaching transportation, but it doesn’t work for everyone.
For so long now, Americans have normalized the idea of owning a vehicle. In fact, 91% of households have access to a vehicle in the U.S. Additionally, for many cities and towns across the U.S., it is nearly impossible to get around without sufficient public transportation. You could say we’re lacking in this aspect compared to our European counterparts. For these reasons, the need for car ownership developed over time from a luxury item to a necessity basically.
England’s successful integration of car club services is a healthy reminder that transportation has many forms. Whether you’re completely committed to your vehicle or enjoy the no-strings-attached mentality of a car club, there is definitely value in ride shared services. Both on an environmental and financial level.
Time to mobilize shared transportation
The trend toward shared transportation services is on the rise. While some drivers are more likely to partake in public transportation, Ubers, and other shared services, there is still a majority of drivers who have not fully immersed themselves in pay per trip mobility.
It is to be said though, with the favorable results of UK car clubs, maybe more countries and organizations will invest in shared transportation in the years to come. It gives drivers an chance to part ways with their idling second vehicles and hefty maintenance costs. As we all know, the real cost of car ownership is quite pricey.
To learn more about CoMoUK’s initiative to increase shared transportation nationally, check out their free 2021 conference coming this December.
🚨 REGISTRATION OPEN 🚨
The Shared Transport Conference 2021📌 Online
📅 7 & 8 December
🎟️ Free to attend – https://t.co/9WY2b5Seob8 carefully curated sessions, bringing you the latest developments in shared transport through a range of perspectives. 🚲🛴🚗🚌 #como2021 pic.twitter.com/B3H7TMqslL
— CoMoUK (@Como_uk) October 19, 2021
What is your reaction?
Very Cool! Wonder if there is Electric Vehicle Car Clubs?
This is great! I would be on board with this, but there is just something about being able to jump in your car and go without having to first reserve a car.