Uber is making it easier to rent a car for just a few hours, which could be especially useful for travelers who don’t need a traditional full-day rental.
The company announced that it is integrating Zipcar into Uber Rent, allowing customers to find and book Zipcars directly through the Uber app. Perhaps most importantly, you won’t need a separate Zipcar membership to use it.
The new option is designed for everything from running errands to taking a day trip or simply getting around when an Uber ride isn’t quite enough but renting a car for an entire day feels like overkill.
How Zipcar rentals through Uber will work
To find a car, open the Rent section of the Uber app, enter the time you need the vehicle and browse available Zipcars nearby.
Rentals can be as short as one hour or as long as 14 days, and Uber says bookings can be made as little as one hour before the trip.
Once you find a car, you’ll be able to review the vehicle and rental details, complete the required identity verification and book and pay through the Uber app. There’s no need to sign up for a separate Zipcar membership.
When it’s time for your rental, you’ll go to the vehicle and unlock it using your phone. Gas is included in the rental.
Where will Zipcar on Uber be available?
Uber says Zipcar rentals through Uber Rent will initially be available in select U.S. and Canadian markets, including:
Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, New Jersey, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Washington, D.C.
Uber One members can get 10% back
There’s another potentially valuable perk for Uber One members. Members will receive 10% back in Uber Cash on Uber Rent bookings, including Zipcar rentals.
Uber is also offering a launch promotion: The first 1,500 customers to rent a Zipcar through Uber will receive an additional $20 in Uber credits.
Uber is expanding rental car delivery, too
Uber also announced that it’s expanding its rental car delivery service to Nashville and Jacksonville.
Instead of going to a rental car location to pick up your vehicle, an Uber driver delivers the rental to your home, office or hotel.
When the car is on its way, you’ll receive a notification through the Uber app. You’ll inspect the vehicle for damage, give the driver the safety PIN displayed in the app and then you’re ready to go.
At the end of the rental, a driver will pick up the vehicle at the time and location specified in your reservation.
Uber says rental car delivery is now available in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, St. Louis, Tampa Bay and Washington, D.C.
George Gordon, Uber’s Vice President of U.S. & Canada Mobility, said the Zipcar partnership is part of the company’s effort to make Uber a “one-stop shop for everyday travel needs however you want to get around.”
My take
I think the Zipcar integration could be a game changer, especially if the prices are reasonable and there are plenty of cars available nearby.
There have been so many times when I’ve wanted to rent a car but only needed it for an hour or two. A traditional rental usually doesn’t make much sense in those situations, especially when you factor in the time it takes to get to a rental counter, fill out the paperwork and return the car.
Here’s a perfect example: When I’m in New York City with my wife and kids, I sometimes want to visit my siblings in Connecticut, about 40 miles away. Depending on where we’re staying and where we’re going, taking trains can be time-consuming, especially when we’re traveling with luggage and two kids.
If I could open the Uber app, find a reasonably priced car a few blocks away, unlock it with my phone and drive directly to Connecticut, I’d definitely do it. For a family of four, it could potentially be cheaper than four train tickets and certainly more convenient in some situations.
I’m especially curious to see how much these hourly rentals cost, what kinds of cars will be available and how plentiful they’ll be in major cities. I’d also love to see Uber and Zipcar eventually make one-way rentals widely available so you could pick up a car in one location and leave it at another. That would make the service even more useful for travelers.
Either way, I like where this is headed. Giving travelers another transportation option without requiring a separate membership or app makes a lot of sense, and I can already think of plenty of trips where I would have used it.
