Survey of former Zipcar users

Closure of Zipcar is growing appetite for car ownership in London

The withdrawal of Zipcar from the UK market has reduced the number of available car club vehicles in London from 2,800 in late 2025 to only 300 in early 2026 – a reduction by 89%.

Against the backdrop of this disruption, CoMoUK has asked former users of Zipcar how the closure of Zipcar has impacted their way of travelling in the UK’s capital. The survey was sent to 480 previous users of Zipcar who had agreed to be contacted by CoMoUK for research purposes. 215 former Zipcar users completed the survey.

Read the survey report

Key findings

A CoMoUK survey among former Zipcar users showed the severe impacts that Zipcar’s closure has had.

The survey was sent to 480 previous users of Zipcar, in May 2026, who had agreed to be contacted by CoMoUK for research purposes. 215 former Zipcar users completed the survey.

85%

of former Zipcar users users said their travel plans are strongly or very strongly affected by Zipcar’s closure

55%

of former users are considering buying or leasing a car

have already bought or leased a car due to the closure of Zipcar

19%

of former users can no longer make the trip that they formerly used a car club for

of former Zipcar users are able to use a different car club

Metrics

Before Zipcar’s withdrawal there were approx. 2,800 vehicles available in London, this then dropped drastically to approx 226 cars and vans on 1 January 2026.

Since then, over 100 cars have been deployed by new operators (mid June 26), a figure which is gradually growing.

2,800

226 cars

Quotes

Survey respondents’ open answers also demonstrated that Zipcar’s closure has affected a range of different aspects of life including:

negative effects on social life
perceived safety when travelling
impacts on care work and volunteering
constrained opportunities for small businesses

The quotes here exemplify these common themes.

The closure of Zipcar has had a significant, negative impact on my ability to travel safely and conveniently, particularly as a parent. I used to rely on Zipcar when visiting friends and family, often returning home late in the evening. Having access to a nearby car gave me the reassurance that I could get home safely with my daughter, especially given concerns about safety on the streets at night.

“I have a family member with dementia. Trips to see my mother and or pick her up for a family outing now take two hours instead of 30 mins with buses in traffic. Emergency visits are no longer feasible.”

The closure of Zipcar negatively affected how I operate my business in a massive way. I have reduced flexibility to travel and as a result lost many opportunities. It’s disappointing that a capital city like London is so behind on car sharing.

It's been awful! I had to lease a car which is wild!

Zipcar was very convenient for me. I am physically disabled and so getting out is difficult... Since the closure of Zipcar it has been very difficult to go out. I am only 26 and it feels like my form of freedom and independence has been taken away from me… My brother is also physically disabled… We now feel cut off from our friends and family and now have to choose between cabs for food shopping, hospital appointments or visiting friends and family… Zipcar closing down has impacted my life massively and added to my frustration of financial difficulties.

Loosing Zipcar has affected us tremendously as a family. We can't afford to buy a car, and Zipcar was such a helpful service which we used multiple times per week as a family for a large variety of needs ranging from shopping, leisure, visiting relatives and going to medical appointments.