London - May 02, 2007

Zip Up

Zipcar

Your friends are always ready to give you a hand or lend an ear.

But ask for something bigger — like the use of their car, for example — and suddenly they’re not so willing to share.

Discover the art of borrowing with Zipcar. New to London, the membership service keeps customer-ready cars (e.g., Mini Cooper, Honda Civic Hybrid, BMW) all over the city for you to drive whenever you want.

After paying a £50 annual membership fee, you reserve the motor of your choice, receive the address of the nearest available vehicle (i.e., in a car park or on the street), press your Zipcard against the window and, hey presto, it’ll unlock for you. Drive it from £4.95 an hour and deliver back to the same location when you’re done.

And what do you owe for fuel, insurance and the congestion charge?

Precisely zip.

Zipcar (08000 112555 or zipcar.com).