With petrol prices in Britain at record levels, it is with impeccable timing that WhipCar, a neighbour-to-neighbour car rental service, has launched in London.
WhipCar acts as a mediator between car owners wanting to reduce their running costs and people who want to borrow a car for hours or days at a time.
Need a car? Rent the one next door
The WhipCar model bears a similarity to eBay; those wishing to offer their car for rent set the price themselves and advertise it online, leaving and receiving feedback at the end of the transaction.
WhipCar screens all cars and drivers and provides a fully-comprehensive insurance policy that protects both the owner and the hirer’s no-claims discount in the event of a crash. It makes its money by taking a 15% commission from the rental price.
A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “This will be an environmentally-friendly alternative to car ownership for some, and with running costs running to thousands of pounds a year it makes financial sense for existing owners, too.”
How does WhipCar work?
WhipCar is free to register. The service notifies owners by text and email when there is an approved driver in their area who wants to use their car. All cars and drivers are screened by WhipCar before a booking is completed, and each journey is fully insured through a comprehensive insurance package that temporarily replaces the owner’s existing insurance for the duration of hire.
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