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The Dartmouth
March 29, 2024 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

Zipcar service expanded to include students 18 and over

1.29.14.news.zipcar
1.29.14.news.zipcar

Leaving Hanover to dine and shop became easier this winter for students 18 and older, who can now use Zipcars on campus. Few students, however, have taken advantage of the service since it was expanded to include students under the age of 21 last November.

Just 24 students under 21 have registered for a Zipcar membership, parking operations coordinator Robin Guay said.

While the Zipcar service has been available to older students since fall 2008, insurance regulations barred younger students from signing up, Guay said. Of students 21 and older, 474 have memberships, in addition to 151 faculty members and employees.

Though policies vary by company and region, rental car services in the U.S. often require a surcharge for drivers under the age of 25.

Zipcars were expanded to younger students following concerns that students were too confined and had difficulty exploring the Upper Valley.

“We received numerous complaints from parents that their child had no opportunity to use a vehicle besides the bus,” Guay said. “The College decided to go ahead with it as long as parents gave permission.”

In order to register for the service, students under the age of 21 and their parents must sign an insurance acknowledgement form.

Zipcar is a membership-based car-sharing service that allows students and faculty to reserve cars. The three cars on campus are located around main campus and by the Tuck School of Business.

Drivers must register online with Zipcar through the College, then they may reserve a car by hour or day. Membership costs $50 per year, plus a one-time $25 application fee. The price includes gas.

While not yet a member, Hui Cheng ’16 said she is excited to use the service.

“I tried to rent cars in the fall to get off campus and it was very frustrating because there were not services for 19-year-olds, but having Zipcars is super convenient,” Cheng said.

Emily Estelle ’15 said the equestrian team signed up for a membership last fall so that team members without cars could drive to the barn where they practice.

“I think it’s a good system, especially for people who don’t use a car very much,” Estelle said. “If I really needed to go somewhere, I think it’s a good option to have.”

Holli Weed ’14 said she and her boyfriend, who purchased a Zipcar subscription, use the service to take trips together. She said that in most cases, the cars were clean and returned on time. In one incident, however, the individual who had rented the car before her failed to return it on time and left the car in a disheveled condition.

The service, she said, has provided her with more freedom.

“If it were for something completely necessary, like a doctor’s appointment, I’m sure I would be able to find a ride or friend who would take me,” she said. “But having Zipcars definitely allows me to take more fun trips.”