Portsmouth Council’s car club: one year report

Since its launch in September last year, Portsmouth Council have reveal that their Car Club has attracted 380 members who have collectively travelled more than 55,000 miles – equivalent to twice around the world.

Run by Enterprise, in partnership with Portsmouth City Council, the car club is designed to give people an alternative to owning their own vehicle. Members can use the vehicles for quick trips around the city, or for up to seven full days if they’re needed for a longer trip.

Cllr Suzy Horton and Cllr Peter Candlish with an Enterprise Car Club vehicle in Southsea

The club has eight vehicles, which are based at eight locations around the city. These spots were chosen following a survey in 2021 in which people were asked how likely they were to join such a club. The locations reflect the areas in which people were most enthusiastic.

Plans are now in place to expand to the scheme to Lakeside in the north of the city later in the year. 

Research by shared transport charity Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK) shows that membership of car clubs in the UK has more than doubled since before the pandemic, growing 122% between 2019 and 2023.

Portsmouth residents can still take advantage of the introductory offer whereby the first year’s membership of the club costs just £20 instead of the standard £60 annual fee. This offer also comes with £20 worth of driving credit, to help people get started. Further discounts are also available for Armed Forces, NHS and Emergency Services.

All rental cars provided by the Enterprise Car Club come with an MOT, insurance, breakdown cover, and cleaning services. All drivers must hold a valid driving license and be over 19 years old. Members can unlock vehicles through the Enterprise App or via the free Breeze app, which allows users to organise their travel on a variety of public transport.

Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport said ‘I’m pleased to see that people in Portsmouth are using the car club as a way to get around without needing a private car. Developing and improving access to affordable, sustainable travel options like these is a key priority for us – it helps make our city’s air cleaner to breathe and reduces the amount of traffic on our roads.’