WhipCar – a new way to hire a car

WhipCar is a new type of car rental which aims to bring short term renters and car owners together.  WhipCar doesn’t own any vehicles itself, but acts a go between for car owner and potential renter.

This is a way to make some money out of your car and help pay for its running costs and depreciation.  If you’re looking to rent, then this is a way to negotiate a lower rate for yourself and it may be that the pickup is more convenient than hiring from a chain.  Either way, it’s free to join and there are safeguards built in.

When an approved WhipCar driver in your area wants to use your car, you will receive text and email alerts with a booking request. Before the driver can ask to book your car, WhipCar will have checked their driving record with the DVLA. You can choose how often you rent out your car and can always turn down a booking. There’s a WhipCar insurance policy that sits on top of your existing insurance cover for the duration of hire. Renters can be reassured because all cars will be screened by checking to a third party database that the age, make, model and accident history of a vehicle are satisfactory.

WhipCar make their money by charging a 15% commission to the owner and they charge a £2.50 booking fee payable by the hirer.  My small family car is at the older end of WhipCar’s 8 years or newer criteria and I found that WhipCar suggest I charge £27 per day or £6 an hour.  Newer and more desirable cars can command higher rates.  So it’s a way to make use of an asset that might spend a lot of time sitting idle on your drive.  You’d probably struggle to hire a car at that sort of rate from a hire firm and this is an alternative to consider for those who find that car clubs just don’t cover their area.  If you want to learn more about car clubs, TGF covered them a few months ago.

Related posts:

1. UK Car sharing clubs
2. CAR SHARING – A PRACTICAL WAY TO REDUCE EMISSIONS
3. The Electric Car Revolution
4. Guest Post: Government set to assess UK Plug-in Car Grant
5. Give a Car with ‘Give a Car’

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