What's a Zipcar and how can I use it?

Earlier this month, two Zipcars returned to Western after a five-year hiatus. Zipcar is a carshare service with the option of hourly or daily rentals. Anyone 18 or older with a valid driver’s license (including an international driver's license) can rent a car through Zipcar.

Zipcar is a key service to help students attend Western Washington University without needing to bring a car. The option to rent a Zipcar for an hour, multiple hours, or a day paired with the Western bus pass, Starlight Shuttle, and biking and pedestrian infrastructure on campus and in adjacent neighborhoods all work together to allow students the option to live car-free while attending Western. Quarterly, students pay the Active Transportation Fee, which supports these programs.

The two Zipcars are staged in different parking lots to serve students living in north and south campus. One car is in parking lot 11G near High Street Hall and the PAC while the other is in 12G near Fairhaven College. Students can select either vehicle to rent based on their location and the cars’ availability.

Students, departments, staff, faculty, and alumni can get their first year’s membership cost waived if they sign up by November 15, 2025. To sign up, visit Zipcar.com/wwu.