Zipcar Reviews

I am writing to warn others about the deceptive practices of Zipcar. Their advertising claims a simple $25 application fee, but what they don't tell you is that there are hidden fees that can add up to over $200. I was shocked and disappointed when I saw the excessive charges on my account. When I reached out to their customer service department, they were unhelpful and rude. They claimed that it would take days for the pending charge to clear, but refused to escalate the issue or provide a refund for the hidden fees.

Horrible experience with a car condition including unmaintained brakes that is a huge safety concern. They abuse customers by adding extra charges unfairly and on top of that if you file a support ticket and call to the help center they scream at you unprofessionally, say the supervisor will call back but they never do

The car was dirty, it was reek of ** smell, the car had damages. I had another issue in the past that the car was missing its fuel card and it was low on fuel. This car fuel card was missing for a while. I had to return it early because I didn't have the money to "spot" ZipCar to put gas in it and I was already frustrated with ZipCar. I was told by the CSR that I would get my hour back, it never happened (they can see it on their text or voice recording). I called about it later next day or two, waited about 1/2 hour for manager to talk to me and then I was informed that the manager is in a meeting and that he or she call me.... Never happened. Customer service is horrible and it leaves a lot to be desired. I guess you can be like that when you're the only one of its kind. I still have to use it because of certain necessities and I paid for an annual membership (which I won't be renewing).

I had an absolutely devastating experience with Zipcar on Christmas Day. Seven weeks ago, I booked a car to be picked up at 1:00 PM on December 25th, planning to visit my 84-year-old parents, bring them Christmas dinner, and spend the holidays with them. This was a critical trip for me. When I arrived at the pickup location, I discovered that my booking had been cancelled without any prior notice—no email, no phone call, no alert. Nothing. To make matters worse, when I called customer service, the only “solution” offered was to pick up a car hours later in downtown Toronto, leaving me stranded and unable to reach my parents on time. This delay would have meant they’d spend Christmas evening alone, waiting for a meal they wouldn’t have received.

Zipcar is charging a $25 fee and still not approving applications. I don’t have any tickets. The money was able. No other reason to deny. They are just collecting applications fees and making money. I’ve rented cars from Enterprise and Alamo. Why not zipcar for a few hours? Smh.

Never had an account with this company or heard of them until last Friday. When my husband received an email from them stating "Heads up you received a speeding violation". Granted he had received some emails already but he thought they were spam/junk. Like why would I be renting a vehicle in Bronx, NY when I live VA. No mind. Until Friday that he received that email. This is when I stepped in. I had him call Zipcar right away and try to find out what was going on. The customer service rep who was obviously in another country was short from anything nice. Told my husband to just go ahead and reply to the email and say that's not him. And that's it. End of conversation. The email was a no-reply-email. You cannot reply to those. It was late so we waited to the next day to call again. But who can sleep.

Zipcar changed my car and location an hour before I left - to a much further location - and then said I couldn’t cancel. Also then charged me a late charge yet did not allow me to extend the trip. When I tried to reach out no one would help. It’s a scam. I don’t support. Cars are also crappy.

Zipcar is disgusting, they charge me for a late fee right away for being 13 mins late whereas they should have a 30 min policy for being late cause one might be in traffic, etc. They give you cars that’s messed up, tires broken, things inside the car then try to blame you and they had cars never work. They want you to use your own funds then you gotta go thru 20 different things to get reimbursed and it takes almost a week to get the money back on your debit card. ZIP CAR is the worst place to ever rent from and the customer service people are ignorant and they don't help you, they don't care.

Booked a trip for $152.38, the email and app told me I could cancel for a full refund until 6 AM the day of the trip. I canceled the day before at 12pm and only got half of the amount. Called customer service and spent 30 min on the phone for nothing.

This was by far the worse experience I ever had. I made a reservation to pick a car at 8:30pm- Paid 300.00 for a rental car just for the previous driver to not arrive at all. Sat and waited for over 1 hr and spent money to travel to and from where I was suppose to be picking up the vehicle just to spend more money going back home. Asked to be issued a credit for the major inconvenience of not having a car and spending 300 dollars that I could not get back. For 3-5 business days they did not have replacement vehicle and they issued me a 6 dollar credit for the inconvenience which felt like a kick to the face after spending 300 upfront.

The worst rental company... POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE... I am an Uber driver .. They have two people that answer the phone... They will lie to you.. won't keep promises, etc...STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY.... I have lost money and time... dealing with this company....The girl has no patience.... If she can't handle a problem... I can hear the frustration in her voice... like she is confused or just don't know what she is doing... then she will hang up on you...She has hung up on me many times...

I booked a reservation for hybrid KIA from 10 am to the next day. I was totally ok with them to charge me for two hours I had the but $143 from $286 that’s was a fraud and I’m not fine with that. I expected to pay a reasonable fee for the extra hours, but the amount they charged was excessive and not what we had agreed upon. I tried to reach out to customer service to explain the situation, hoping they would understand and rectify the charge. After waiting for what felt like an eternity on the phone, I finally spoke to a representative who seemed indifferent to my concerns.

I use Zipcar to get to work and back, at first things were okay. For the past month or so I have had the worst interactions. Cars breaking down or just unavailable. Being stranded and almost lost my job because the few issues I have had. Just today, the car I rented is not available and nobody is an help me. Last week a Prius I rented, would not start. Took me 4 hours to get help. Oh and the price today to extend my rental. $110 for 30 minutes??

So if you don't use your account for 90 days all your information will be deleted and you will have to pay another application fee in addition to $9 monthly membership. Zipcar also charged me for an extension back in Dec 2023 without letting me know they were taking the money from my account.

My husband and I have had Zip car for a few years now, and the service has gotten progressively worse, with terrible customer service. We have experienced (time after time): cars with a dead battery (no replacement available). Cars with "keys" that don't work. Cars not in the correct location, causing tardiness to our destinations. MANY times, our reserved car changed locations, or, we had to go to another location due to non-serviceable cars or keys.... and we have spent $30-40 each way taking Ubers to the new location, in much further location. There has been no reimbursement for missing cars, dead cars, loss of time and money in moving locations, time traveled, loss in Uber expenses. Their customer service is unbothered, no concern for our time or money. You will pay this company, and in return they give you nothing but stress.

Absolute worst organization and customer service and disgusting cars. The cars always stink of cigarettes. I got a car once that had a spare tire on it and was shaking during the trip. I ran in to traffic and tried to extend the trip but the app said my account was on hold for violating a guideline. (They later told me a toll had come through during the trip and counted as an overdue balance & suspended my account mid trip.) When I got to the drop off place there was no parking so I had to wait for someone to leave. They charged me the $50 late fee. I called and was on hold for a long time before speaking with someone and being put on hold again where the call was dropped. Called back and after another hour of waiting and talking with someone I was told it was in review and would be taken care of.

Please read other people's reviews before renting from ZipCar. They are not trustworthy. I would not recommend. I would suggest staying away and avoiding this company. They charged before I committed to anything

This company commits fraud. I was going to open an account and decided not to since I would be charged a $25 application fee and $5:50 service fee just to open the account. I never even read the terms of agreement nor did I check off on the box and authorize a payment to be taken. Not even 3 minutes after logging out of the account, I was charged without my authorization. I immediately called the customer service line and was greeted with the most rude and obnoxious person you ever want to meet. She blatantly cut me off and had a atrociously nasty attitude with me asking her why I was charged when I didn't authorize the charge. She told me she wasn't going to repeat herself and after asking for a manager she told me I would get a call back and did not explain why I could not be transferred to a manager immediately. After asking her several times to be transferred she purposely hung up on me without hesitation.

Zipcar is out of line. They changed the location of my car pick up at the last min the day of the pick not considering my safety or location. There was zero communication zero accountability and zero resolution. I booked in advance. It's extremely poor customer service and disheartening as a longstanding customer. I needed the car! I booked 6/1 and to change any details on 6/8 the date of the event is highly unprofessional. They did not consider my safety at all. They make changes don't communicate or anything. I called just cancel out. Get a different car. What was the purpose of advance planning? All for you all to make it inconvenience! What did I pay $150 for! Note the location change. Always a change never any accountability but at 5:15 am the day of…

They make it sound like it's affordable, but it's really not worth it. The cars are so much more expensive now. $300 per day (in addition to your membership ), and if you get it hourly it's no cheaper. It's around $20 per hour, plus tax, plus insurance. I got a rental for 7 hours and it was $170. Then, I was 13 mins late, due to an accident on the road and I had already extended, and they charged an additional $73 for a late fee. Not worth it. Also, the cars are not very sanitary. Buyer beware.

Part 2. I have been charged $1,000 for a hit and run for a driver side view mirror in a Toyota 4Runner. The mirror itself I was charged $700. My CC in file was charged without notice. I placed a request for the actual receipt of the mirror and labor 4 wks and again 2 wks ago and have not received an actual receipt. They provide their type out of the breakdown of the cost. Now they will not cancel my membership when I asked and then charged my CC for 2 months of membership.

Being last minute, it’s good but gas is included with the rental, using car for half the gas cause when traveling never let gas go beyond half of tank to putting gas in gas car stop working. Called to let them know of gas issue and the cleaness of the car was horrible, just because of multiple calls and wasn’t documented, even this trip, same thing. Haven’t to pay for gas and how clean the car is. Don’t forget if it don’t get to it home spot you will be charged 300 dollars for a tow. So don’t run into the store on the way to Home spot you be charged and locked out. I should be receiving payment.

If a negative was an option I would choose it. Zipcar automatically charge my CC over $100 due to parking garage violations. HOWEVER, the charges were not even from my rental days nor times. It took them 4 days to refund my money.

I had to reapply twice for the application. The first time it was said that the application was denied because the membership fee wasn't being charged though the "MONTHOFF" discount credit was applied that waived the initial membership fee. After speaking with the agent and the bank that showed the charge had been applied and recredited to my credit card I was advised to make another profile and re-submit my application.

I’m amazed how the US gov allow companies like this still running? How come you charge people’s accounts without providing services? WTH is going on here? Recently joined this crap and charged me the membership and then not only they storage your information but after take your money they suspended my account!!!

I paid the application fee. I got approved although I couldn't get into the app to actually get a car. The customer service was rude. From the time I got approved I stayed on the phone with them and didn't have access to a car.

This has been the worst experience ever! I have used Zip several times. It hasn’t been great. One of the times I rented for two days. When I picked up the vehicle it smelled of weed so bad, it made me sick to my stomach. Luckily wasn’t in vehicle for too long durations. It reeked the whole two days I had it!! Now this last time, I am at a loss for words. I rented for a three days. My second day, unfortunately was in an accident. I was not at fault nor was I cited. I was rear ended. Luckily I wasn’t seriously hurt and the car was still drivable. I was very shaken up though and in a lot of pain. I called them like I was supposed to and let them know. Per policy they suspend your account upon investigation. I understand this but they abandoned me and left me stranded during this trip duration.

I would've chosen 0 zero star if there was an option. This company is by far the worst I've ever dealt with. Firstly, I had to make numerous calls just to get them to process my application. No one bothered to reach out to collect the necessary information. I waited for two weeks, continuously calling during this time, for them to finally figure things out. Then, upon arriving at the location for my booked trip, the car wasn't there because they had double-booked it. Their solution? Cancel and reorder from a different location. But of course, there were no cars available nearby, so I had to Uber to the other location. And on top of that inconvenience, they expected me to pay a higher price for the new booking, even though I had initially reserved a smaller car just a few days prior.

This company is the worst I have ever dealt with. I was paying for my girlfriend's membership and she has found syringes in a car that she picked up from GA Tech's campus in a Kia Soul that was also damaged all down the side from a driver side swiping something, she picked up a car from Howell Mill that was a Chevy electric car - that one wouldn't turn off. Literally would not turn off and no way to charge the car, she picked up a car from State Street once that had empty liquor bottles under the driver's seat. Every car that she ever rented would have service needed lights on, they were all filthy. Then they locked her out of the last vehicle after she paid for another day, like 3 hours after taking the 99.95 out of the account and refused to let her back in.

0 stars was not an option here FYI or I would have chosen that option. I will NEVER use Zipcar again. They charged me for a $150 parking ticket after they told me to park my car due to someone else also having a reservation so I did. They then charge me for a ticket due to the supposed other person never showing up. This dispute went on for over 3 months and I always had to call them and wait on hold for 20+ minutes to get updates. No one in customer service took notes on my account so every time I called I had to go over the entire story again. No one reached out with updates. Very unprofessional staff and they are not helpful or kind.