Improving our air quality and reducing CO2 emissions that are produced by travel within the city region is central to Greater Manchester’s Five-Year Environment Plan. To do this, we need to reduce the amount we travel in fossil-fuel powered vehicles, switching to more sustainable modes of transport where possible.

The Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040 recognises the role that shared mobility solutions like car clubs have to play in this, helping make the Greater Manchester transport network greener.

Candice Turner from Enterprise Car Club writes about the benefits car clubs have to offer, from helping take more cars off our roads and to saving money.

What is Enterprise Car Club?

Working with many partner organisations in Greater Manchester, we provide a range of fuel-efficient cars and vans, including electric vehicles, that you can rent by the hour or the day.

By signing up as a member, you can access vehicles across Greater Manchester and the UK, picking them up from a convenient street, train station, car park or Enterprise Rent-A-Car Branch. Membership includes fuel, servicing, MOTs, breakdown cover, insurance and cleaning. This means you only pay for a vehicle when you need it.

How do car clubs benefit the environment?

Our electric, hybrid and fuel-efficient vehicles produce on average 72% lower emissions (PM2.5) in comparison to the average car*, helping reduce emissions. What’s more, each vehicle takes 20 private cars off the road*, reducing the volume of cars on the roads overall. Not only does this improve air quality, but it helps to ease local congestion.

Additionally, 37% of car club members cycle at least once per week. This is in stark contrast to those who aren’t members, of whom only 20% cycle at least once per week*. This is because car club members have a greater propensity to opt for active travel modes for smaller localised journeys, using a car only when really needed.

All these factors combined demonstrate the positive impact car clubs can make to the environment in comparison to running private vehicles.

How convenient are car clubs?

We have a fleet of 1400+ cars and vans of all sizes across an ever-increasing number of UK towns and cities. Once you’ve joined the location closest to you, you have access to the entire fleet. By having vehicles parked in their own designated bays in, you will always have a space to return to.

Reservations can be for as little as half an hour, a day, or as long as needed. At the end of your reservation, the vehicle should be returned to the same designated bay it was picked up from, so there is always a parking space waiting for you.

Research shows that 27% of car club members joined to make savings from not running their own car*. Car clubs allow them to avoid costs such as depreciation, maintenance, insurance, tax, and parking permits.

Our website has a useful calculator here to find out how much you are spending on your vehicle each year, and how that cost compares to using the service.

More information

Car clubs are already available and working well in areas of Greater Manchester including Bury, Manchester and Salford, acting as part of a wider transport picture that encourages active travel and reduced car ownership.

For more information on Enterprise Car Club, visit https://www.enterprisecarclub.co.uk/.

*2021 research, shared transport charity Collaborative Mobility.