Tampa is now home to Zipcar, a car-sharing company that allows users to rent a vehicle by the hour or day.

  • Began at University of Tampa about a year ago
  • Demand was so high the company decided to expand
  • Users can drive a Zipcar up to 180 miles per day

Tampa now joins Orlando as a Zipcar market. Zipcar began service in Orlando in February.

Zipcar began at University of Tampa about a year ago. The demand there was so high, Zipcar decided to expand.

PREVIOUS STORY:  Zipcar car-sharing service comes to Orlando

Rates start as low as $7.50 in Tampa, and climb up to $69 per day.

Becoming a “Zipster" requires a monthly membership. Members get a card that will allows access into parked Zipcars.

Currently, Zipcars are available at the Tampa Convention Center, Barrymore Hotel, SkyHouse Channelside, and University of Tampa.

“My goal is that Zipcar makes living in downtown Tampa just a little bit better,” said Zipcar’s Florida GM, Smokey West.

City leaders say this new mode of transportation could even allow downtown dwellers to ditch their own car.

“Especially when you’re talking about a family unit, and they feel the need to have two cars," said Bob McDonaugh, City of Tampa Economic Development Administrator. "This could do away with one of those two cars.”

Users can drive a car up to 180 miles per day, and are charged 45 cents per mile after that.