Zipcar in London
Zipcar in the city
Join now

Zipcar or Ubeeqo: Which car sharing provider should I use?

 

Car sharing is an easy, affordable way to access wheels when you want them.  Our vision is a world where car-sharers out number car owners, because that’ll lead to huge, positive environmental impacts . Whilst Zipcar is the UK’s biggest and most popular car-sharing service - with the most generous inclusions and largest fleet - we’re not the only option . Here we take a look at the biggest providers in the city: Zipcar and Ubeeqo.

 
Zipcar or Ubeeqo comparison table

Zipcar or Ubeeqo

 

We've put together a table to summarise the two services side by side. 

Roundtrip

zipcar roundtrip

Roundtrip

Both companies have a roundtrip service, which means you pick it up and return it to the same spot. The only major difference is that Zipcar has dedicated bays marked for car clubs, which means every car has its own guaranteed parking spot. Ubeeqo have zones where you can leave the car after your trip where you find a space on the street.

Flex

zipcar flex

Flex

Flex is our one-way service. Zipcar is the only car sharing company to offer this service in the UK. Think of it like a self-drive taxi; you reserve your nearest one when you’re ready to head out (we’ll hold it for 15 minutes), you drive and drop it anywhere in our Zipzone (most of London). Ideal for getting to that party, quick trips to the shops or popping over to see some mates.

Electric

electrc cars charging

Electric

Zipcar has 500+ electric cars and whilst there are other electric car clubs out there, Ubeeqo don't have any in their fleet. Sustainability is at the core of our mission, and our vision is to go fully electric by 2025.

 

Membership costs

people walking up to a zipcar

Membership costs

You can join Zipcar for a small application fee, and just drive when you need to. But if you're going to use the service more often it's worth considering how you might be able to save on one of our paid plans – they’re either £6 or £15/month, you get cheaper rates and you get the fee back in credit! 

Congestion charge

congestion charge

Congestion charge

With the increased cost of the congestion charge lots of car owners are looking at ways to avoid paying it. The real answer? Car sharing. Both Zipcar and Ubeeqo include congestion charge as part of the rental. One less thing to thing of as you travel.

Fuel

topping up a car with fuel

Fuel

Both Zipcar and Ubeeqo include fuel as one of the benefits of service, so no need to worry about having to fork out for it. There’s a fuel card on the driver’s side of every Zipcar, if you need to top up (e.g. if your Roundtrip car is less than 25% fuel), just use that to pay!  

Insurance

looking at a computer zipcar

Insurance

Insurance – we all need it, but don’t want to think about it. It’s also a major cost of owning a car. With Zipcar we take the hassle away, and insurance is covered in both car sharing services. If you do want extra piece of mind, we also offer insurance waivers to reduce excess costs. That’s another thing you don’t need to worry about.

Number of vehicles

zipcar car club bay

Number of vehicles

Having cars nearby is really important to ensure car sharing is simple and accessible. Zipcar has over seven times more cars than Ubeeqo across London, and on average the nearest Zipcar is 10 minutes away, so it’s more than likely there will be a Zipcar within a few minutes of your front door or office. 

What's the verdict?

Car sharing is built on convenience so whichever you feel suits you best your need is important, but with thousands more cars, double the mileage and a wider variety of vehicles and inclusions it’s hard to look past Zipcar.  

More from the blog

To stay up to date with the latest news, advice and tips from Zipcar visit our blog.

Food truck for Immersive & Unusual Dining Experiences in London

Immersive Dining Experiences in London

 Discover the most unique London restaurants to suit every budget, from immersive eateries to non-traditional dining experiences.

zipcar electric flex

Trying an EV for the First Time with Zipcar

Thinking of renting an EV? Find out more about how an electric car works and how to try one out with our electric car hire services.

zipcar next to park

LTN's in London

LTNs are designated areas that reduce traffic, noise and air pollution through physical changes to street access or by enforcing fines for unauthorised access.

Cheese selection

The best cheese shops in London

During the winter months, is there a more indulgent way to enjoy a night in than with a cheese board?

Click here for more