Carsharing platform ZipCar to shut UK operations by the end of 2025
Consumer Editor
ZipCar, the world’s largest carsharing platform, has announced that it will be ceasing all UK operations by the end of the year.
Zipcar is a global car-sharing service, founded in 2000 and owned by Avis Budget Group.
It offers on-demand access to cars and vans via its mobile app, including fuel, insurance, and breakdown cover.
Currently, in London, it has a fleet of over 3,000 vehicles available to the public.
After the company had reported losses of £11.7m in 2024 compared to just £364,000 the previous year, they announced that ‘external cost pressures continued to negatively impact the company’.
And with the announcement of the changes to the London Congestion Charge for electric vehicles, this could have also played a factor – although that hasn’t been confirmed by ZipCar.
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The company will now temporarily suspend new bookings but will still be available to people in London over the Christmas period.
The business update on the official website read: “Zipcar proposes to cease operations in the UK, subject to formal consultation with affected employees. During this period, we will not be accepting new member applications. Existing members should check our Help Centre for further details.”
ZipCar currently has 71 UK-based employees.
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James Taylor, General Manager of Zipcar UK, told customers in an email: "I'm writing to let you know that we are proposing to cease the UK operations of Zipcar and have today started formal consultation with our UK employees.
"We will temporarily suspend bookings, pending the outcome of this consultation.
“This means it will not be possible to make any new bookings beyond 31st December 2025, pending the outcome of the consultation.
"This means it will not be possible to make any new bookings beyond December 2025, pending the outcome of the consultation."
RAC BLACK FRIDAY SALE
- Standard cover from £4.68 a month
- We get to most breakdowns in 60 mins or less
- Our patrols fix 4/5 breakdowns on the spot
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