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Support Zipcar in Champaign-Urbana (Ongoing)

Recent Project Updates

  • Zipcar Usage in September 2025

    10/13/2025
    The attached PDF contains performance metrics for Zipcar usage on campus for September 2025.

  • Zipcar Wants to Find "Students With Drive"

    10/2/2025
    Zipcar is launching a nationwide competition to let student groups compete to earn funding for scholarships, operations, and driving credit. Zipcar is looking for groups to share how they are driving societal change on campus and in their...
View all project updates »

Project Family

Description

Fast. Convenient. Affordable. Environmentally friendly.

With Zipcar on campus, it just got easier to live without a car.

Need a car? Borrow a Zipcar!  Since 2010, MTD, Urbana, Champaign, and the U of I have partnered with Zipcar to bring self-service, on-demand car sharing to 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. Return the car to the same location where you picked it up.

By joining the Zipcar program, Illinois students and employees can use active transportation to get around campus, and use the Zipcars for larger shopping trips or weekend excursions to Allerton Park or elsewhere.  Studies show that each car share vehicle can take about 15 personal vehicles off the road.

As a member you get:

  • Access to Zipcars 24/7.
  • Discounted hourly rates for Illinois faculty, staff and students age 18 and older: rates start at just $7.50 per hour.
  • Gas, insurance and maintenance are included for free!
  • Join for only $25 a year, and receive $35 in driving credit your first month.

To find cars in Champaign-Urbana, visit http://www.zipcar.com/cu/find-cars  

Join today at http://www.zipcar.com/uillinois

Need more information?

Students With Drive

Each month during the school year, Zipcar awards $37,500 in transportation grants to student groups across the country. Whether your group plays rec sports, builds Habitat for Humanity houses or needs to get to another campus for competitions, transportation can be a real pain point. Check out Zipcar and the Students With Drive grant program today and U of I organizations could be riding in style to volunteer opportunities, academic conferences, concerts, games or wherever else they need to go.

Ready to enter your group? Visit ZipcarU today. It’s free and easy, and each month through April, 15 finalists will be chosen to compete for grants.

Background

After only one year of providing financial support for the Zipcar program, the original six vehicles became financially self-sufficient.  This allowed the University, Urbana, Champaign, and the CUMTD to no longer provide a "revenue-guarantee" for the program. 

The partnership with Zipcar continues, with primary contacts at the University and at the CUMTD, to maintain the program, collaborate on growing the system, and make joint decisions about vehicle locations.

No description has been provided yet.

Project Video(s)

ZipCar usage - Hours used per year

View details for metric: ZipCar usage - Hours used per year

ZipCar usage - Reservations made per year

View details for metric: ZipCar usage - Reservations made per year

Project Team

  • Project Leader:

    Stacey DeLorenzo

    Team Members:

    • Sarthak Prasad
    • Jay Rank, MTD
    • Forrest Anderson, ZipCar (2021-)

    Prior Contacts:

    • Morgan White
    • Anthony Vasquez, ZipCar (2019-20)

Dates

  • Proposed November 25, 2008
    Proposed by Pamela Voitik
    Approved November 25, 2008
    Approved by Bill Adams
    Started January 10, 2011
    Started by Morgan Johnston

Themes

Project Location(s)

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Project details last updated on: 6/24/2022. Check Project Updates for recent activity.