Frequently Asked Questions
What is a car sharing co-op?
Car sharing gives people access to a vehicle without the worries and cost of owning a car.
Car sharing is not car pooling because members have exclusive use of the vehicle for the period they have reserved.
Who benefits?
Car co-ops help reduce the number of cars on the road, reducing pollution due to automobiles. Car co-ops also provide increased transportation possibilities for those who do not wish to own a car but need one from time to time. We all benefit.
How does it work?
Once you become a member, you book a car by logging into our web booking calendar or phoning us. To insure availability, book well ahead of time. But if the car is free, you can take it on the spur of the moment.
Vehicles are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You pick up your car from a centrally located parking place and bring it back at an agreed-upon time.
You are billed monthly for the number of kilometres driven and the total hours that you have used the car.
Note that for health reasons, smoking and pets are not permitted in the co-op car.
How much does it cost?
You pay a one-time, refundable membership fee of $500 and a $15 application fee. Each additional member of a household pays just $100. Then you pay:
- $7.50 per month for administration
- $2.50 per hour
- $0.29 per kilometre
The car co-op pays for gas, insurance, maintenance, cleaning, repairs and roadside assistance. (These prices are subject to change.)
Keep in mind that the cost to own, insure and maintain a car is roughly $9,000 per year (including depreciation).
Reasonably priced weekend rates and pay-as-you-go plans are available. Please phone 519-241-2886 for more details.
Corporate/association members pay an additional amount per driver, to a maximum of 10 drivers.
How can I join?
If you are 23 years or older, complete the application form in this brochure, copy your driver’s licence, write a $15 cheque payable to Guelph Community Car Co-operative Inc. and send it to:
Guelph Community Car Co-op
c/o 14 Division Street, Guelph ON N1H 1P9
Please be aware that your driving record will be investigated to ensure that we can obtain appropriate and economical insurance coverage. Those with poor driving records may not be able to join the co-op.