Flexicar

Carsharing members have access to cars on demand for rent either by the hour or by the day. What is Flexicar? Flexicar is a membership based car sharing service, with over forty cars parked on the streets in inner-city Melbourne and Sydney. It’s the answer for anyone who wants the freedom of a car, without the costs and hassles of owning one. Since inception, Flexicar’s membership base has grown to over 1500. Flexicar operates in partnership with local councils: Melbourne, Port Phillip, Yarra, Moreland and Manly, to name a few.

How does it work? You become a member of Flexicar and receive your own Flexicard. You make bookings online or over the phone on an hourly or daily basis. Then just go up to the car. Swipe your Flexicard across the windscreen. The doors will open and away you go! When you’ve finished just return it to the same reserved parking space. No hassles. And no hidden costs. Petrol, registration and insurance are all included in our low rates. Why join Flexicar? If you drive less than 10,000 km a year, Flexicar is much cheaper than running your own car. You pay a low monthly access fee and then a flat hourly or daily rate when you drive.

So, while car owners are being hit with rising petrol prices and costly upkeep, with Flexicar you get the flexibility of driving the car of your choice, whenever you want, wherever you want, and only paying as you drive. Car sharing is better for the environment Less emissions. Less pollution. Less congestion. And Flexicar’s fleet has been chosen for its fuel efficiency, low emissions and compact size. Every Flexicar car replaces 6-10 privately owned cars Many Flexicar members either sell their cars or avoid buying one altogether. Some couples and families choose Flexicar instead of buying a second or third car. This Means: Older, more polluting cars are replaced with new, more fuel efficient vehicles; Less space is taken up for parking as fewer cars are needed to meet the driving needs of the same number of people; Existing parking spaces are used more efficiently; The environmental impact of car production is distributed over multiple users.

Car use of individuals is reduced by up to 50% Flexicar is a pay-as-you-go service, so members choose to use a car only when necessary. Driving only when you need to reduces traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. Flexicar members also make smarter choices about modes of transport. Instead of jumping in the car every time you need to go somewhere, our members choose the most efficient way to get there. Whether that be walking, cycling, public transport or Flexicar. Frequently Asked Questions Are there age restrictions? No. Flexicar is a great option for inexperienced and young drivers. Unlike car rental companies, we also welcome people on their P-plates. (Flexicar’s standard insurance excess, the excess reduction fee and the reduced excess do differ depending on age and driving experience.) Can I join if I have a foreign driver's licence? Yes you can. We accept drivers from any state in Australia and any country. However, for insurance purposes, you will be treated as a driver with less than two years’ driving experience. How does insurance work? Our membership includes comprehensive insurance cover while you’re driving our cars. There is a standard excess which varies depending on your age and driving experience. Our excesses are similar to regular car insurance, and a lot less than car rental companies. Even if you are a young or inexperienced driver, with Flexicar you get an extremely low standard excess. Plus we offer you the option of paying a small annual fee to reduce the amount of excess you pay in the event of an accident. And remember it's for a whole year's driving, not a single trip like with car rental companies.

Does Flexicar provide child seats? We aren’t able to provide a seat that would be right for every small child, so you will need to provide your own. But all our cars (except for the Smart ForTwo) do have hooks for fitting child seats. How long beforehand do I need to book? You can book whenever you like. Either for immediate use or up to a year in advance. Obviously the earlier you book, the greater the certainty that your chosen car will be available. If your favourite car isn't available, there will be another one around the corner. Will a car be available when I want one? If your chosen car isn't available, there will be another one around the corner. We want our members to be able to rely on our service for their car needs. So we have planned for a ratio of members to cars that is low enough to ensure a car will be available when you want it, almost all of the time.

Who pays for petrol? We do. You just need to refuel using one of the fuel cards located in the in-car folder if the petrol gauge falls to a 1/4 of a tank. We have fuel cards for BP, Shell and Caltex. Who pays for tolls? You do. Our cars are equipped with eTAGs, and toll charges incurred during your bookings will be charged to your account at cost. What if I’m running late/get caught in traffic? Give us a call at least 15 minutes before the end of your booking. It is crucial that our members have the car back on time. Everyone relies on the car they have booked being in its parking space at the beginning of each booking. Cars dropped off late mean the next user is inconvenienced. If you have any doubt about getting the car back on time, the answer is to book the car for an extra half-hour or hour. If you advise us at least 15 minutes before the end of your booking that you will be late and there is no other booking immediately after, we can extend your booking without penalty. If you return the car late and there is another member waiting and/or if you fail to let us know that you will return the car late, you will incur a penalty. And, if necessary, you will have to pay the reasonable costs incurred by the inconvenienced member (which may be the cost of a taxi).