Category Archives: Car Rental Tips

Get in a Zipcar and save money?

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zipcar

Join Zipcar and get $25 in free driving!Zipcar is one of the largest “car club” or “car sharing” style rental agencies in the world.

Essentially if Zipcar is in your neighborhood (like it is here in Vancouver) then Zipcar will have cars that you can “rent” spread out all over town in sometimes convenient (and other times not so) places.

You sign up online, and they give you a “Zipcard”. This card is used to access the cars that are on the street and keeps track of how long you’ve used the car. But what if someone else wants to use the car too? Well of course you have to reserve the car for the time that you want to use it. But this couldn’t be easier. You can either reserve the car through an app on your iPhone (I don’t have one so I didn’t get to use this feature) online at home, or through their phone reservation service.

Each of the cars has a funky name that I guess is supposed to add fun to the whole experience, and once you’ve reserved your car you can literally just walk up to it and scan your card to gain entry. The keys are always in the vehicle and once you’re in you just go.

I’ve had the chance to use Zipcar off and on now for about 2 years and I can say that I definitely like the service. The cars are clean, reliable, and most of the models are pretty decent cars. I preferred to rent the Mini Cooper when I could and they even have a convertible option in Vancouver… which I’m sure is not so popular for 9 months out of the year. Continue reading →

The modern, green and economical way to rent a car

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whipcar

Ever thought you needed a car for a day but didn’t want to go through the hassle of renting?

Zipcar and the Coop Auto Network are a few car club options that let you do just that, and they generally have cars parked in a neighborhood near you.

But don’t we need less cars on the road nowadays? So what about all of those cars that are parked around town that are just sitting for most of the day?

These were the questions that a smart group of entrepreneurs in the UK have asked, and the result is Whipcar.

Whipcar is a very cool idea that allows car owners to rent out their unused vehicles for money. After a quick 5 minute setup you’re able to list your car for rent during the times when you do not use your car.

It’s really a win-win… the car owner gets to make some cash on the side, and the person seeking to rent a vehicle is able to do so without clogging our streets with more cars. Continue reading →

Rent a Truck and Go Off-Roading

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offroading

For anyone familiar with off-road driving, an explanation is hardly necessary. For everyone else…here goes.

It is essentially the practice of driving a specialized vehicle along unpaved areas, as opposed to traditional roadways. This includes sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and any other kind of natural terrain.

The practice has garnered almost a cult following, once an off-roader always an off-roader. But whether you’ve never tried it or you’re a seasoned professional—it simply can’t happen without the necessary apparatus. And that is where trucks and SUVS come in. Not just any truck or SUV, but a specialized vehicle geared toward life on the off-road. If you’re looking to rent or lease one, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Off road terrains are often only traveled upon by specialized trucks or vehicles designed for such an experience, these include heavy-duty trucks with necessary equipment, SUVs, ATVs, motorcycles, mountain bikes, or even snowmobiles. It’s also ideal if the vehicles have extra ground clearance, sturdy tires, and front/rear locking differential. All of these things combine to make the best possible off-road driving  experience. Due to the practice’s cultural significance, there are several vehicle manufacturers to produce off-road vehicles, or ORVs, including AM General, Land Rover, and Jeep. But if those aren’t for you, it’s not unlikely that you’ll find a vehicle not necessarily marketed as an ORV that could also do the trick. In fact, many trucks are packed with features by default that will assist your off-road endeavors. Many military vehicles are also constructed with off-road travel in mind, so cars like the Jeep or HMMWV would be ideal. Continue reading →