Car clubs are an easy and affordable way for residents and businesses to hire a motor vehicle without the need to own one.
You can hire vehicles by the hour or day and they are typically available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Car club operators often provide a range of different vehicle types, from small cars and SUVs to vans. You can reserve car club vehicles via a car club app, online or by phone. You can do this in advance or just before your trip.
There is a variety of monthly and annual membership options available.
Car club membership, rental rates and mileage fees include fuel, servicing, MOT inspections, breakdown cover and damage protection.
Car club vehicles are hired from dedicated car club bays and must be returned to the same bay at the end of your trip. If the car club bay is obstructed when you are returning your vehicle, contact the car club operator for assistance.
You may also be able to access shared vehicles through peer-to-peer car sharing services.
Car club benefits
Research has shown that privately owned cars are typically parked and unused about 95% of the time,* representing a highly inefficient use of the kerbside.
By comparison, car clubs support a “car-lite” lifestyle when combined with efficient walking, cycling and public transport networks, giving members access to vehicles only when needed and allowing each shared vehicle to be used more frequently. This reduces the need for private car ownership while lowering overall motor vehicle trips, emissions and air pollution, ultimately helping to tackle the climate emergency.
There are financial benefits as well. For less frequent drivers, paying for vehicles on a trip-by-trip basis can be significantly cheaper than buying or leasing a vehicle and paying for insurance, servicing, MOT, fuel, parking permits and other fees. Research from CoMoUK outlines these car club benefits in greater detail: CoMoUK website - Shared cars: Overview and benefits.
Our Kerbside Strategy recognises these benefits and contains several actions to promote car club use.
*Source: USA Streetsblog website - It’s True: The Typical Car Is Parked 95 Percent of the Time
Car club operator
The current car club operator in Hounslow is Enterprise Car Club. Enterprise has operated car club vehicles in Hounslow for over a decade and has publicly accessible car club vehicles parked on-street, in car parks and in developments across the borough.
You can see vehicle locations near you on the Enterprise website and mobile app (Enterprise app for iPhone or Enterprise app for Android Google Play).
Enterprise Car Club members also have access to car club vehicles in neighbouring boroughs and beyond, including over 1,300 vehicles across the UK (see: Enterprise website - Locations).
To learn more about how Enterprise car club works, including details on driver eligibility, membership, and the latest pricing/promotions, visit the Enterprise website.
Zipcar was previously a car club operator in Hounslow, but they ceased all public operations in the UK as of 1 January 2026.
How pricing works
You can find pricing information on the Enterprise website. See: Enterprise website - Pricing and plans.
There are three main costs to consider when using Enterprise Car Club:
- Membership: Required to access the car club vehicles. Different membership plans are available depending on your age and how often you plan to travel. Membership typically requires an application fee and/or recurring payments. Until 1 March 2027, Enterprise's Switch Campaign offers discounted membership to anyone who has been member of another UK-based car club.
- Rental charges: These are for the time you book the vehicle. Pricing is shown upfront before making your booking. Rates depend on the type of vehicle, how long you book it for, your location and the membership plan you are subscribed to.
- Mileage: This is charged per mile and added to your rental at the end of your trip. Per mile charges depend on the vehicle type/size and the membership plan you are subscribed to.
Fuel, servicing, MOT inspections, road tax and breakdown cover are all included. Pre-paid fuel cards are provided in the vehicle.
Other potential costs to consider include:
- Parking: When parking outside the vehicle’s dedicated car club bay, you are liable for any parking costs.
- Third party liability, damage waiver/excess protection: All Enterprise vehicles include third party liability insurance and a damage waiver, which limits your liability in the event of damage or theft. Members can reduce the excess as part of their membership or on specific reservations.
- London Congestion Charge: If you rent a vehicle from a bay in Hounslow and enter the Congestion Charge zone as part of your trip, you are required to pay the charge directly. Failure to do so will incur additional penalties levied by Transport for London (TfL) for late payment and an administration charge. For more information regarding the London Congestion Charge, including the area that it covers, see: TfL website - Congestion Charge.
- Tolls and fines: Costs if you incur a parking ticket or traffic offence. There may also be an administration fee.
- Other penalty fees: See: Enterprise website - Membership Policies and Other Charges.
Request a car club bay
Depending on demand, more car club vehicles may be launched in the borough over time.
As a resident or business, you can request a car club vehicle bay near you. You can either:
- email: traffic@hounslow.gov.uk
- make a request directly to Enterprise: Enterprise Car Club - Request A Vehicle Near You
The requested location will be assessed by the car club operator and council officers.
Peer-to-peer car sharing
Peer-to-peer car sharing services allow residents to list their privately owned vehicles for hire by other residents (comparable to rental accommodation platforms like AirBnB). These services provide an additional option for residents who want access to a vehicle without owning one. Peer-to-peer car share operators in the UK include:
The council plays no role in managing or financing peer-to-peer car sharing services. These are private companies operating separately to our car club scheme.
