LONDON — Zipcar ceased its car club service in London in late 2025. Avis Budget, the current owner of Zipcar, attributed this decision to the London operation being unprofitable, while its American operations were retained.

Before Zipcar's withdrawal, London had 2,800 car club vehicles available for rent. Six months after the service ended, the number of car club vehicles available in London decreased by 89% to 330. Approximately 100 of these 330 vehicles were added after the end of 2025. The number of car club vehicles in London is now less than a fifth of what it was a decade ago.

CoMoUK, a collaborative mobility organization, conducted a survey of 216 former Zipcar users. Nine percent of these users reported having purchased or leased a vehicle to replace the car club service. Additionally, 55% of the surveyed former Zipcar users stated they were considering buying or leasing a vehicle. Free2move, Enterprise Car Club, and Co Wheels have all indicated they are considering expansion in London. No company, however, has announced a decision to increase vehicle numbers in the city. Hiyacar and Turo have observed increased interest in London, but these platforms depend on private owners listing their cars.

Transport for London had previously stated a goal of achieving one million car club users by 2025. Forty-two percent of London's population does not own a car. Transport for London centrally manages dockless electric bicycles from Lime and Forest.

Why It Matters

The departure of Zipcar from London and the subsequent reduction in car club vehicle availability have impacted the city's shared mobility landscape. The decrease in available vehicles, coupled with a percentage of former users considering personal vehicle purchases, indicates a potential shift away from shared transport options for a segment of the population. This development contrasts with earlier municipal goals to expand car club usage.