Zipcar
Following Zipcar's withdrawal from the UK market, councils are working to attract new car club operators and repurpose vacant bays.
Wandsworth Council confirmed in September 2026 that it has put measures in place to attract alternative car club operators, including waiving operator fees until April 2027 and reducing administrative requirements, following Zipcar's withdrawal from the UK market earlier in 2026. New providers are expected to launch in the borough by the end of 2026, according to Councillor Nick Austin, Cabinet Member for Transport.
Richmond upon Thames Council is set to repurpose 58 disused car club bays, out of 71 total, with potential new uses such as cargo bike parking and e-bike/e-scooter bays, as discussed in March 2026. The council is also waiving car club parking permit fees until April 2027 to encourage other accredited operators to establish a presence in the borough.
The actions by councils follow the withdrawal of Zipcar, a car-sharing company, from the UK market, which left a significant number of car club bays vacant. Richmond Council's Transport and Air Quality Committee first discussed reviewing car rental services and reallocating parking bays in December 2025.
Key facts
- Wandsworth Council is waiving car club operator fees until at least April 2027. Source
- New car club providers are set to launch in Wandsworth by the end of 2026. Source
- Richmond upon Thames Council is set to repurpose 58 disused car club bays. Source 1 Source 2
- Richmond upon Thames Council is waiving car club parking permit fees until April 2027. Source 1 Source 2
- Zipcar withdrew from the UK market earlier in 2026. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.