Resident FAQ

Fill out the online application and take the online orientation. The orientation teaches you how to reserve cars, how to use them, and all the rules of membership. Once your application has been processed, you'll receive a personal ID and your very own key fob that will give you access to all of our vehicles.

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You can start reserving cars as soon as you receive your materials! Simply log on to our website or call our reservation line whenever you want to use a PhillyCarShare vehicle. Use your personal ID and password to select the car and pod of your choice. Our online reservation system makes it easy, showing you exactly when each vehicle in our fleet is available and allowing you to choose the time and location that best fit your needs.

You can reserve seconds in advance or months in advance for vehicles available 24/7. Many reservations are made the same day, and often cars are available on a moment's notice. During busy periods like Saturday afternoons, it's still a good idea to reserve a day ahead of time. You also can reserve any vehicle in our fleet, anywhere in the city — check out our pod locations.

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On the day and time of your reservation, walk to your chosen pod and unlock the PhillyCarShare vehicle using your electronic key fob. The key fob not only unlocks the doors and tells the car who you are, it also enables the ignition. Find the ignition key next to the steering wheel, and drive away. An on-board computer will automatically track your time and mileage.

When your trip is over and your reservation time is complete, return the car to the pod where you found it. Use your key fob to lock the car and disable the ignition. We suggest taking advantage of our low rates to add some extra time to your reservation, just so you have plenty of margin. Often another member will have a reservation right after you, so it's important to return the car on time.

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If you're on the road and think you might be late, you can usually extend your reservation by calling our reservations line. But if another member has reserved the car right after you, you'll have to return the car when you originally planned. If you absolutely cannot, then we need to make arrangements for the next member. Incremental late fees are charged for late returns.

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Yes. For the most part, your reservation won't have any issues. If you do run into trouble or have any issues at all, we've got 24x7 coverage on our emergency line, so help is only a phone call away. And you don't have to pay anything for that service!

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If you earned the ticket, pay it! If you drove through the E-ZPass lane by accident, call them right away to get it straightened out.

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You can cancel a reservation at any time simply by logging onto our web site or by calling the voice reservation system. From our Member Handbook: PhillyCarShare has a three hour cancellation policy. You are responsible for any reserved time from the point of canceling (or shortening) your reservation through the next three hours, unless it's recycled by another member.

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We've got you covered, so you don't have to worry about insurance ever again. When you drive our cars, we provide - at no additional expense - the following coverage:

• General liability with limits of $1 million each occurrence and $3 million General Aggregate.
• Auto Combined Single Liability limits for bodily injury and property damage of $1 million.
• Comprehensive and collision coverage with a deductible of $500.

If you are in an accident that requires the use of our insurance, the member will pay a portion of the insurance deductible, not to exceed $500. Members are not responsible for vandalism or normal maintenance issues, and so long as you use the key fob to lock the car (and disable the ignition), members do not have to worry about theft.

If you are between the ages of 19 and 20, you must have minimal insurance coverage provided for you by another party. This can be your parents, other relative, spouse, company, etc.

Our Deductible Waiver Program provides the benefit of a $0 deductible in the case of an accident or other damage that might occur during a reservation. Members can pay $50 per driver per year and PhillyCarShare will waive the standard $500 deductible that is normally applied, regardless of fault. The Deductible Waiver fee applies to one accident per 12-month period and can provide great peace of mind to frequently-driving members. 

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For refueling, we have a team dedicated to filling up all of the PhillyCarShare vehicles that are physically available. In the unlikely situation that you find yourself in a car that’s running low in gas, please be sure to return your vehicle with at least a ¼ tank of gas and we’ll take care of the rest. Use our online reimbursement form: the form can be filled out and emailed as an attachment to fuel@phillycarshare.org with a scan or photo of your receipt, or fax them both to 215-495-1075. You could also scan them both and e-mail to fuel@phillycarshare.org. Your receipt is eligible for reimbursement for up to thirty days after your trip. Make sure to return the car with at least one quarter tank of fuel, so the next member can drive away just as worry-free.

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• Our staff is on call 24 hours a day in case you have an emergency.
• We have the cars cleaned frequently, while asking our members to be considerate and remove any debris that accumulates during their use of the vehicle.
• Our fleet management staff ensures that the cars are kept in good running order.
• In case of an emergency, PhillyCarShare members also have roadside service; just call us if you need help.

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Our fleet is comprised of hybrids, roomy hatchbacks, pickup trucks, minivans, and some fun cars too! Our primary vehicle is the Toyota Prius, a hybrid vehicle that seats five people comfortably, pollutes 94% less than conventional vehicles, and gets up to 60 miles per gallon in the city.

For transporting bulky things, our Toyota Matrix hatchbacks, Scion xBs, and Toyota Tacoma Pickup Trucks, Toyota Siennas, Ford Focuses, and Honda Elements can help carry items from the furniture store, the home improvement store, or maybe to and from an art exhibit or recital. Businesses can make great use of our hatchbacks because they accommodate large display boards and field equipment easily. Check out locations page for vehicles in your neighborhood.

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Using PhillyCarShare can save members a lot of money versus owning. According to AAA, if you drive 10,000 miles a year, you will spend an average of $6,234 a year, or 62.3 cents per mile, to own your car. AAA's breakdown is below. If you currently own a car, you may want to adjust the figures based on your known costs. Note that AAA's national averages do not reflect Philadelphia's parking costs, parking tickets or insurance rates, all of which are notoriously expensive. In Philadelphia, parking alone could run another $1,200 per year.

Costs of Car Ownership:

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There are times when sharing by the hour and mile is better than renting by the day. Use this chart to see which one works best for your trips. All trips are round trips.*

*Does not include taxes. Philadelphia Plan rates include $0.25 mileage fee. Avis rates are based on a mid-sized vehicle from Avis at 20th & Arch, booked for a weekday. PhillyCarShare includes reserved parking, premium insurance, and gas at no additional cost.

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• Pets are welcome but must be transported in an appropriate, enclosed carrier; other members may be allergic
• Smoking is not permitted in the cars under any circumstances
• Cars must be returned on time and clean, with at least one quarter tank of gas

Service Animals used by members or passengers with disabilities are an exception to the carrier rule. These animals are allowed in the car without a carrier.

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A snow scraper comes with every car for use during the winter months. Though only a couple of our cars presently have bike racks, our liftbacks and wagons come with folding rear seats and can accommodate bicycles.

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Our insurer will check your driving record to make sure it is at least "okay", and requires you to be at least 19 years old. You must have had a license for at least two years and be able to drive legally in your permanent state of residence. Our insurance company will want to see your driving record(s) from the last three years, and if you are a permanent resident of Pennsylvania, you should acquire a PA drivers license within 60 days of joining. (If you are not a permanent resident of PA and don't intend to become one [you're a student, visitor, etc.] then you are not required to obtain a PA license.) Please contact our office if you are unsure about your driving record. For more details, please check our eligibility page.

If you are an international driver, the same standards apply, though you might have to do a little more footwork. You either need an international permit from your home country (this is different from a license from your home country) or a valid U.S. drivers license. You also must obtain your own driving record printed in English.

If you need to locate your previous license number...

• If you had car insurance from your former state, try looking on the old forms or calling the insurance company
• Check with any places where you’ve worked. They may have it on file.
• Check with Mom!
• If all else fails, most states have a DMV website that will provide it for less then $10. (Make sure it's the official state website! There are many imposters that will charge extra!)

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If you have any questions, contact our office at info@phillycarshare.org or 215-730-0988. Our membership handbook is online, and provides even more information about membership. If you're ready to join, complete our easy online application and take the online orientation. Once you've completed your part and we've processed your application, we'll send you your materials in the mail. It's that simple!

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