Zipcar

Wheels with no strings attached

Mount Holyoke has an affiliation with Zipcar to support student access to their self-service, on-demand car sharing in the area. To use Zipcars, simply register as a member, reserve a car online or by phone, use your Zipcard to enter the car, and drive away. When you’re done, return the car to the same location where you picked it up.

As a member you get:

  • Access to Zipcars 24/7.
  • Discounted hourly rates for faculty, staff and students age 18 and older.
  • Gas, insurance and maintenance are included for free!

Mount Holyoke College's contractual relationship with ZipCar allows ZipCar to place vehicles for community use on our campus in exchange for favorable membership and rental rates for members of the MHC community. MHC does not provide any insurance in excess of ZipCar's insurance unless the vehicle is rented for college business. MHC recommends that individuals read the membership agreement carefully as this is a legal contract. Individuals under 21 have only state minimum insurance limits ($20,000/$40,000/$5,000) and are responsible for the $1,000 physical damage deductible. Lower deductibles and higher insurance limits are not available to people under 21. MHC is not responsible for any damage, loss, or claim arising from the use of ZipCars by any person unless the vehicle has been specifically rented on college business.

FAQ

1. Employees

How does insurance work when using a Zipcar?

If an employee uses a Zipcar for college business, the college's insurance will be excess of any provided by Zipcar. Since Zipcar fully insures for physical damage to its vehicles, MHC would not expect to have to cover any physical damage claims to the rented vehicle. The Zipcar insurance cannot be waived. Excess auto liability is provided by the College’s commercial insurer.

Do I need to be credentialed to drive a Zipcar on college business?

Drivers of vehicles rented for college business must be credentialed but do not have to be fleet.

2. Students

How does insurance work when using a Zipcar?

The College does not permit students to drive personal vehicles on college business, except in exceptionally rare circumstances (see Five Colleges Risk Management Auto Insurance Information - Use of a Personal Car). Therefore, the College would consider the Zip Car rental to be "personal" and would not be covered by college insurance.

If students would have been permitted to drive a college vehicle or rent a vehicle on behalf of the college for a specific event and they use a Zip Car, it is treated as any other rental, i.e., the college's insurance will be excess of any provided by Zip Car. Since Zip Car fully insures for physical damage to its vehicles, the College will not expect to cover any physical damage claims. The insurance cannot be waived. Excess auto liability is provided by our commercial insurer.

Do I need to be credentialed to drive a Zipcar on college business?

Drivers of vehicles rented for college business must be credentialed but do not have to be fleet certified.

Zipcars offer a big advantage to our students who would rent vehicles for college related programs because there may not always be enough college vehicles to meet demand.  In addition, Zipcars can be rented by students in the 18-25 year old range while most rental car companies do not rent to anyone under 25. Zipcar has as strict or stricter credentialing rules than Mount Holyoke and they quickly remove individuals from eligibility in the case of accidents. 

Student drivers can be credentialed without being Fleet Certified. Once a driver submits his/her credentials, they are considered to be credentialed (approved) until notice is otherwise given. Managers should verify the student driver's credentials before providing reimbursement on Zipcar rentals.  Student should be told that reimbursement will be dependent upon satisfactory credentials. 

Links and Resources

Zipcar Logo