Flexicar - Car Sharing Melbourne and Sydney Australia - Car Share by the Hour or Day

Advertiser since:
27 July 2005

Organisation Name:
Flexicar

Online at:
http://www.flexicar.com.au
Email [kimberly @ flexicar.com.au] (remove the spaces)

Contact: 
Kimberly Palmer
Sales and Marketing Manager
Flexicar
Around the corner, around the clock.
152 Little Lonsdale Street
Melbourne Victoria Australia 3000

Telephone:
In Australia: 1300 36 37 80

Details

From the Flexicar website.

NEED A CAR? Why not CARSHARE?
Don't buy one, borrow one from Flexicar. You get around the corner, around the clock access to our cars, without all the hassles of owning one.

You pay one low hourly rate. And we cover all your costs. (Yes, including petrol.) You just drive.

Flexicar Carsharing for Business
Flexicar is an affordable, reliable and convenient alternative to taxis, car rental or car pools. We offer you various options to make your business run more efficiently.

How does Carsharing work?
How it works
It’s easy to use our cars. Just click, swipe and drive. Okay, maybe we’ll have to explain it in a little more detail.

Step 1. Join
First you join online. Once we’ve received your application, we’ll send you out a member pack that includes a Flexicard and an instructional DVD. (Sort of like Jane Fonda but more fun. And no sweat pants.) This will show you how it all works.

Step 2. Click
Then comes the click part. When you want to book, just click online (or by phone). You choose the car you like or the location you like, it's your choice. So you can book Betty in Blyth St. Or Rocky in Acland St. It’s just like playing Cluedo. You can book any time, day or night. And up to a year in advance, or if you’re like me, at the very last minute when you suddenly realise you have to pick your parents up from the airport.

Step 3. Swipe
Now comes the fun bit. When you join, we'll send you a Flexicard, well it’s your personal access card. After you’ve booked a car, you go to that car and swipe your card across the windscreen. The doors will unlock automatically. (Very James Bond.) And don’t try using your library card or your Flexicard on another car – the doors only unlock for you if you’ve booked the car.

Step 4. Drive
This step is pretty straightforward. You can take your car wherever you like. Whenever you like. The drive-in. The beach. Shopping. Business meeting. When you’ve finished, you just return it to the same designated parking space. There’s no paperwork. No hassles. And no queues.

Just remember. Click. Swipe. And drive.

Carsharing overseas
Carsharing is a fast-growing international trend. We believe it’s the way of the future.

With rapidly increasing petrol prices, the need to reduce greenhouse emissions, and crippling congestion, carsharing makes financial and environmental sense.

Carsharing started in Europe in the 1980’s. It’s spread through 600 cities across Europe, North America and Asia, and now with Flexicar, it’s here.

You can read more about international carsharing on the Carsharing Network and the World CarShare Consortium.

Or check out some US, UK and Canadian carsharing companies; Zipcar, Streetcar, City Car Club or AutoShare.

Keen to join the 500,000 people around the world who have embraced the freedom and flexibility carsharing brings?

Join Flexicar today. Phone 1300 36 37 80 for more information

Flexicar Carsharing FAQs
Are there age restrictions?
No. Flexicar carsharing is a great option for inexperienced and young drivers. Unlike car rental companies, we also welcome people on their P-plates. (Flexicar’s standard insurance excess, the excess reduction fee and the reduced excess do differ depending on age and driving experience.)

Can I join if I have a foreign driver's licence?
Yes you can. We accept drivers from any state in Australia and any country. However, for insurance purposes, you will be treated as a driver with less than two years’ driving experience.

How does carsharing insurance work?
Our membership includes comprehensive insurance cover while you’re driving our cars.

There is a standard excess which varies depending on your age and driving experience (see table below). Our excesses are similar to regular car insurance, and a lot less than car rental companies'. Even if you are a young or inexperienced driver, with Flexicar you get an extremely low standard excess.

Plus we offer you the option of paying a small annual fee to reduce the amount of excess you pay in the event of an accident. And remember it's for a whole year's driving, not a single trip like with car rental companies.

Does Flexicar carshare provide child seats?
We aren’t able to provide a seat that would be right for every small child, so you will need to provide your own. But all our cars (except for the Smart ForTwo) do have hooks for fitting child seats.

How long beforehand do I need to book?
You can book whenever you like. Either for immediate use or up to a year in advance. Obviously the earlier you book, the greater the certainty that your chosen car will be available. If your favourite car isn't available, there will be another one around the corner.

Will a carshare car be available when I want one?
If your chosen car isn't available, there will be another one around the corner. We want our members to be able to rely on our service for their car needs. So we have planned for a ratio of members to cars that is low enough to ensure a car will be available when you want it, almost all of the time.

Who pays for petrol?
We do. You just need to refuel using one of the fuel cards located in the in-car folder if the petrol gauge falls to a 1/4 of a tank. We have fuel cards for BP, Shell and Caltex.

Who pays for tolls?
You do. Our cars are equipped with eTAGs, and toll charges incurred during your bookings will be charged to your account at cost.

What if I’m running late/get caught in traffic?
Give us a call at least 15 minutes before the end of your booking. It is crucial that our members have the car back on time. Everyone relies on the car they have booked being in its parking space at the beginning of each booking. Cars dropped off late mean the next user is inconvenienced. If you have any doubt about getting the car back on time, the answer is to book the car for an extra half-hour or hour.

If you advise us at least 15 minutes before the end of your booking that you will be late, and there is no other booking immediately after, we can extend your booking without penalty.

If you return the car late and there is another member waiting, and/or if you fail to let us know that you will return the car late, you will incur a penalty. And if necessary, you will have to pay the reasonable costs incurred by the inconvenienced member (which may be the cost of a taxi).

If you have any other questions simply email us your query to [info @ flexicar.com.au] (remove spaces) or phone 1300 36 37 80.

Flexicar carshare benefits
Now you can drive your own car without owning one.

Flexicar is the answer for anyone who wants the freedom of a car, without the costs and hassles of owning one. With the flexibility of having access to a car 24 hours a day/7 days per week.

Whether it be:

- Singles in the inner city

"Within 12 months of joining Flexicar and selling our car, we saved enough money for a trip to Paris!" James McArthur, Carlton, VIC

- Couples and families who sometimes need a second car

“We chose this option rather than buying a second car. It’s great when I have the car for work and my partner needs to run the kids around.” Cat McVeigh, Manly, NSW

- Businesses fed up with forking out for taxis, rental cars or costly fleets

"Flexicar has provided us with an environmentally friendly, low cost transport alternative to a company car, and it means that our staff can continue to walk, ride, bus and tram to and from home!" Hayball Leonard Stent Architects

Carsharing is Cheaper
Car ownership is expensive. And environmentally costly. So if you drive less than 10,000 km a year, you’ll find Flexicar carshare significantly cheaper than owning your own car.

You don’t have to worry about anything. We pay registration, insurance, petrol costs, cleaning costs and maintenance.

Carsharing is Easier
We even provide you with your own car parking spots. On some of the best shopping streets. So all you have to do is drive. With new locations popping up, there is likely to be a car near you.

There’s no paperwork after joining and no queues. You can book online or on the phone up to a minute before. And we only bill you once a month.

And the best thing is, you don’t just get access to affordable, energy efficient cars, around the corner, around the clock, you also get all the great benefits of being a member.

So Join Us today and start carsharing. You’ll find you save money and help the environment. Phone us on 1300 36 37 80 or log onto www.flexicar.com.au

Benefits to the environment
Car sharing is better for the environment
Less emissions. Less pollution. Less congestion. And Flexicar’s fleet has been chosen for its fuel efficiency, low emissions and compact size.

Every Flexicar car replaces 6-10 privately owned cars
Many Flexicar members either sell their cars or avoid buying one altogether. Some couples and families choose Flexicar instead of buying a second or third car.

This means:
- Older, more polluting cars are replaced with new, more fuel efficient vehicles;
- Less space is taken up for parking as fewer cars are needed to meet the driving needs of the same number of people;
- Existing parking spaces are used more efficiently;
- The environmental impact of car production is distributed over multiple users.

Car use of individuals is reduced by up to 50%
Flexicar is a pay-as-you-go service, so members choose to use a car only when necessary. This means a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. Driving only when you need to reduces traffic congestion, and ensures people make smarter choices about modes of transport. Instead of jumping in the car every time you need to go somewhere, our members choose the most efficient way to there. Whether that be walking, cycling, public transport or Flexicar.

More reading
For further information about the environmental and social benefits of carsharing, there are a number of great internet sites worth checking out. The Carsharing Network and the World CarShare Consortium are good places to start.

Compare Flexicar
If you drive less than 10,000 km a year, you’ll find Flexicar much cheaper than running your own car. And unlike most rental car companies, you don’t get slugged extra for insurance.

So while car owners are being hit with rising petrol prices, and costly upkeep, Flexicar members get the flexibity of driving the car of their choice, when they want, where they want, and only paying as they drive.

Compared to car ownership
We offer you freedom.

We cover your registration.

We pay your insurance.

We take the car to the mechanic for you.

We buy new tyres.

We clean it.

Wash it.

Iron it… sometimes.

We even pay for your petrol.

We don’t use old cars or petrol guzzlers. We use brand new cars that are fuel efficient and have low emissions.

We eliminate all the hassles from owning your own car, and leave you with only the benefits.

It costs thousands and thousands of dollars a year to own a car in the city when you add up all the ‘hidden’ extras. Here are some True Cost of Ownership figures from the RACV to help you decide if Flexicar is for you.

Compared to car rental
We offer you flexibility.

We let you book by the hour.

We let you pick up and return cars any time, day or night.

We don’t slug you extra for insurance.

We cover everything for your first 100 km in any 24-hour period, and after that it’s only 15 cents a km.

We love P-Platers. All valid licenced drivers, regardless of experience, are welcome.

We have no paperwork. No queues. No hassles.

We let you book up to a year in advance. (Say for a birthday treat.)

We let you book online. Or over the phone if you prefer.

We give you a Flexicard for keyless entry to all our fleet.

We are committed to the environmental benefits of carsharing.

We offer discounts for full-time students, concession card-holders, businesses, households etc.

Our cars have spunk. There’s Kermit and Betty, Tango and Rocky, to name a few. You can choose our cars by name, colour or personality.

We’re cheaper. By the hour or by the day.

Carsharing compared to taxis
As taxis drive around waiting for passengers, the rising cost of petrol is pushing taxi prices higher and higher. In September 2006 the Victorian Taxi Directorate annouced a further 3% increase in taxi fares.

Flexicar is a cost-effective alternative to many taxi journeys.

For example, picking up a loved one from the airport would cost $24 (2hrs) with Flexicar. If you leave them to catch a taxi to St Kilda, it will cost them $60.

A client meeting 30km from the CBD will cost $75 return by taxi. Using a Flexicar the trip will cost $36, assuming 1 hour of travel time and a 2 hour meeting.

Carshare Locations
Do you live or work in the inner city? Want access to a car without all the hassles? Well now you can drive your own car without owning one. Our cars live on suburban streets. From Brunswick to St Kilda and lots of places in between. And now, we’re in Sydney too.

Our cars have their own dedicated parking spaces. And we are growing all the time with more suburbs to come. So if you’d like one of our cars to live around the corner from you, please let us know. We are always looking for new locations.

And the best thing is, our cars also have names. So you can book them by their location, or by their name. There’s Betty in Blyth Street. Rocky in Acland Street. Snowy near St Georges Road. Our cars live near you. They all have their own home, so you’re not only booking a car, you’re booking a personality.

Choose your city to find a Flexicar near you.
Melbourne

Flexicar is around the corner, around the clock. Our cars live in dedicated parking spots, on and off street.

Enter your address to find pods near you:

The pods are listed below by suburb:

North Melbourne
Queen Vic Market - (NEW) - On the south side of Victoria St, just west of the Peel St intersection.

South Yarra
Toorak Rd-(NEW) – On the south side of Toorak Rd, opposite the intersection with Walsh St.

Docklands New Quay
Doepel Way-(Coming Soon) – Just off the corner with Docklands Drive.

Victoria Harbour
Merchant Street – On the south side of Bourke St opposite the Safeway entrance

Yarra's Edge
Lorimer Street-(Coming Soon) – In the service lane, on the corner with Ferrymans Lane.

Clifton Hill
Queens Parade – on the east side, in the service lane, outside the Bendigo Bank.
North Terrace – on the south side, first bay closest to Hoddle St, after the bus stop.

Collingwood
Langridge Street – Near the corner of Oxford Street.
Wellington Street (New) – East side, first bay closest to Alexandra Parade.

Abbotsford
Stanton Street (New) – Outside the Collingwood Station, opposite the Town Hall.
Albert Street (New) – On the east side of the street, near the corner of Victoria Street.

North & West Melbourne
Errol Street North Melbourne Station
Royal Melbourne Hospital

South Melbourne
Park Street
York Street

Port Melbourne
Liardet Street
Rouse Street

Albert Park
Montague Street

CBD Flagstaff Station
Little Lonsdale Street City Square Car Park

St Kilda Road
Parkview Hotel (near Commercial Rd)

Southbank
Wells Street
Sturt Street

Carlton North
Rathdowne Street
Pigdon Street

North Fitzroy
Piedemontes Carpark Newry Street
Park Street

Fitzroy
Kerr Street
Victoria Street
Napier Street

Brunswick
Glenlyon Road
Victoria Street
Union Street
Blyth Street

Balaclava
Carlisle Street

St Kilda
Blessington Street
Fitzroy Street
Acland Street
Carlisle Street

Richmond
Lyndhurst Street
Lennox Street
Muir Street

Carlton
Leicester Street
Carlton Street
Keppel Street
Grattan Street

with more locations coming soon

A big thank-you to our local parking partners City of Port Phillip, City of Melbourne, City of Yarra and Moreland City Council.

If you’re interested in Flexicar but our cars aren’t conveniently located for you yet, please let us know. You can help us work out where Flexicar should go next by letting us know you want a car near you.

If you’re interested in Flexicar but our cars aren’t conveniently located for you yet, please let us know. You can help us work out where Flexicar should go next by letting us know you want a car near you.

Sydney

Flexicar launched in Sydney in February 2007!

Our first two cars are located at Whistler Street Public Car Park in Manly Town Centre.

A big thank-you to our local parking partner Manly Council.

We would love to hear from other Sydneysiders who would like to get a Flexicar in their area.

You can help us work out where Flexicar should go next by letting us know you want a car near you.

The pods are also listed below by suburb:

Manly
Whistler Street Public Car Park in Manly Town Centre.

Surry Hills
Crown Street-(New) – Outside the Clock Hotel, near the corner of Collins Street.

Kings Cross (coming soon)
Victoria Street- (New) – Outside the station entry/exit, near the intersection with Darlinghurst Road.

If you would like us to keep you posted on our expansion in Sydney please sign up for our monthly newsletter.

A big thank you to our parking partners, Manly Council and City of Sydney.

Locations coming soon
We are adding parking locations all the time.
 
Flexicar rates
At Flexicar we believe in simple, transparent and fair pricing. We hate hidden charges and fees.

To check out Flexicar's low rates just choose from the links below the type of driving you will be doing.

Remember Flexicar covers all of your driving costs. Registration, insurance, maintenance, cleaning, designated parking and petrol are all included in our low rates.

Please select the type of driving you will be doing:

Carsharing for Personal use
It's only $50 to get on board with Flexicar. No hefty security deposit. No monthly membership fees that are just fees for the sake of fees!

We have a range of plans to choose from. Our Flexi-Plan gives total flexibility - for $10 per month you get your first hour of driving for free, then it’s pay-as-you-go.

While our Flexi-5, Flexi-10 and Flexi-20 reward regular users with 5%, 10% and 20% discounts on the Flexi-Plan rates.

And there is no ongoing contract commitment – all these plans operate on a month-to-month basis.

Need a car overnight? Well between 11pm and 7am we only charge one hour.

And remember Flexicar covers all of your driving costs. Registration, insurance, maintenance, cleaning, designated parking and petrol are all included in our low rates.

Flexicar wants to help as many people as possible experience the freedom and cost savings of not owning your own car.

That’s why Flexicar offers full time students and Healthcare Card holders the following discounted rates.

All prices include GST   

Flexicar also has regular specical offers.

Notes:
- Usage is charged in 30 minute units, with a 1 hour minimum.
- Booking via our website is free and only takes a minute. There is a $2.00 phone booking surcharge.

Carsharing for Business
Flexicar is an affordable, reliable and convenient alternative to taxis, car rental, car pools and even a fleet car.

We have simple, transparent and fair pricing. Unlike some other providers, we don’t have hidden charges, large deposits, per km charges or complicated fee structures.

It's only $50 to get the first driver on board with Flexicar, with subsequent drivers at $30. We have no hefty security deposit and no monthly membership fees that are fees for the sake of fees. There is no ongoing contract commitment – all our plans operate on a month-to-month basis.

Flexicar covers all of your driving costs in your hourly rate. Registration, insurance, maintenance, cleaning, designated parking and petrol are all included.

Below are our great business casual rates. Looking for a better deal? Flexicar can tailor a package especially for your business. Such a package could save your business up to 25% on standard rates.

Please contact us on 1300 36 37 80 and we'll arrange to come and visit you. We'll work through exactly what your business driving needs are, and then develop a tailored package that’s just right for you and your business.

Carsharing Benefits for business
Flexicar is an affordable, reliable and convenient alternative to taxis, car rental or car pools. We offer you various options to make your business run more efficiently.

“HLS staff love our new 2 seat SmartCar called Biggles, and find it an efficient way of getting to sites all around town. It has provided us with an environmentally friendly, low cost transport alternative to a company car, and it means that our staff can continue to walk, ride, bus and tram to and from home!”
Daniel Khong, Associate, HAYBALL LEONARD STENT

"Flexicar has been great for our business and our staff. It provides convenience and flexibility for short trips, that traditional hire companies are unable to provide, and allows our staff to book vehicles at short notice. We have three locations within walking distance of our office, and using Flexicar means our staff have the freedom to catch public transport or ride to work"
Alistair Wenn, Associate, TRACT CONSULTING

Flexicar provides S3G Victoria with an efficient way of hiring vehicles: bookings over the net (i.e. anytime) and convenient locations around Melbourne. Even though the service is essentially faceless, the staff is always happy to take phonecalls and help out with existing and future bookings. We have found that there are plans to suit the casual user to the more regular user like us. The hire rate is all inclusive which includes fuel (petrol station cards are provided to fill-up). Oh, and did we mention the local music provided in each vehicle, which changes monthly?
Enzo Defazio, Director, S3G CONSULTING

Hassle free
We provide you with a monthly statement detailing all your costs and tax information, saving you chasing receipts and so on.

Outsource company cars
Managing a fleet of company cars is expensive and time-consuming. We can manage your cars for you. Supply, administration and maintenance. We can do it all. And save you money and time.

Salary package
Bundle a Flexicar membership into your staff salary packages and provide your employees with an environmentally friendly and tax-effective transport solution.

In your development
Flexicar is great for property developers. Your building occupants would love having a Flexicar onsite. Their driving needs would all be covered without the costly expense of owning their own cars. Flexicar can provide your building development with a unique and appealing addition.

Carshare Member Benefits
Flexicar is the answer for anyone who wants the freedom of a car, without the costs and hassles of owning one.

Membership isn’t just about having access to our fleet of spunky, friendly, energy-efficient cars. Sure, for some people, it’s enough just being able to drive Biggles, Betty and Maxwell whenever they like. But for others, it’s also the little benefits that make being a member so great.

Like our annual footy tipping competition. Fancy picking eight winning teams each week and trying your luck against some hardened Flexicar punters? There are big prizes to be won. And let’s face it, not even the experts can work out when the Pies are going to win, so everyone’s in with a chance.

Then there’s our generous discount offers from fantastic local businesses, through our Friends of Flexicar program. From clothing to music, restaurants to yoga classes, our members get discounts on everything.

And each month we email out a newsletter to all our members, with special offers, competitions and events. We even have our own agony aunt who can answer all your car questions. (Although she’s not too helpful on relationship problems.)

Our CD of the Month means you get to listen to a different CD each month. We buy new CDs from local artists every month to put in all our cars. At the end of the month, if you decide you love it, you can take it home. Free. That’s if you can convince the cars to give them up! Rocky is particularly partial to contemporary jazz.

So we’re not just about driving great, cheap, energy-efficient, new cars. We are also really keen for all of our members to enjoy being members, and to get as much out of their memberships off the road, as on the road.
 
Friends of Flexicar
Take advantage of our Friends of Flexicar program

We love our members. And that's why we like offering them all sorts of special offers, discounts and freebies throughout the year. It's our way of savying thanks for joining.

So aside from footy tipping, competitions, monthly newsletters and free CD's, we also do a members' benefits scheme called Friends of Flexicar. This scheme is supported by friendly local businesses that believe in us, and want to offer discounts to our members.

Of course, we are always happy for new businesses to join this scheme, so please call 1300 36 37 80 if you'd like your business to become a Friend of Flexicar.
 
Our history
Flexicar was founded as “Flo Carshare” in 2004. We started the business with the belief that Australia’s inner city residents needed a sustainable, affordable alternative to car ownership.

In October 2006 we changed our name to Flexicar. We aim to provide local residents and businesses with driving freedom and flexibility. The Flexicar service is now available around corner, around the clock.

The business is a private company, owned by the founders, staff and a group of local investors.

Our team
Flexicar is run by an experienced and passionate team of committed individuals.

Important to the company’s success, the staff all reflect the values and lifestyles of the Flexicar members: none of the staff members own a car, all have active lifestyles, each are committed to the environment and their communities, all live in inner-city Melbourne and they are all in their late twenties/early thirties.

Flexicar is also led by a board of investors and partners.

Monique Conheady
Brendan Carrick
Ruth Luscombe
Greg Giraud
Kimberly Palmer

The rest of the team

Flexicar also employees a number of bright and enthusiastic students on a part-time basis, including:
- Dom Douglas-Garden – A country boy who’s great with the cars.
- Antony Vagg - A younger version of Dom!
- Ollie Nam – Our local tech whiz.
- Sixta Mambour – Does the filing but also makes us laugh!
- Ana Regina Garcia Fernandez – Our resident Spaniard in Sydney.  

More information:

Is available on the Flexicar website
http://www.flexicar.com.au

See our link on the following pages:

Moving to Melbourne (logo)
Moving to Sydney (text)

Links on this Flexicar Profile page