Car Rental by the hour in Los Angeles. (London: appointed, rentals)

[skyscraper101]

Does anyone know any good car rental companies offering by-the-hour rental of cars?

I've just moved to the Hollywood/Larchmont area and currently hiring a car by the month from Enterprise. However, I don't need to use it everyday so I'm wondering if there's a cheaper way to use a car, other than buying one.

In London we had by-the-hour car rental clubs where you register online, book a time slot to pick up a car from a choice of locations, and then you could just pick the car up in the street (using a smart card) and return it without having to deal with any rental office or anything.

Does anything exist like this in LA? It would be very useful to me.

[1200RT]

sounds like "Zip Car"

Never used it myself, but sounds similar.

http://www.zipcar.com/LA?gclid=CNmtu...FQwaQgodSTCchg

[skyscraper101]

Hmm..thanks but there are no cars near to me. The nearest is up near Sunset & Vine and thats a good hours walk from me.

Is zipcar the only club of its kind in LA?

[True Freedom]

are you using it to go to those "motel by the hour" places?

[cmcgill]

There is also a local company that offers a service very similar to Zipcar. It's called LAXCarshare. They have cars in Downtown LA and in Koreatown (Wilshire Blvd)--not sure if that would be any closer than the Zipcar in Hollywood. But, either way, you could consider jumping on a bus to get to the car.

At any rate, I've used both car-share companies and had good experiences with both.

Good luck.

[cmcgill]

Not sure exactly where you are in Larchmont/Hollywood. But, for example, Bus #210 cruises up Rosemore/Vine. The trip from Beverly to Sunset takes about 15min, and costs $1.50 each way.

There's also a DASH bus in the vicinity. The Hollywood/Wilshire DASH runs through Larchmont, and has a stop at Sunset/Vine. That trip would also probably be in the 15min range, and would cost $.50 each way.

[greggd1]

Originally Posted by skyscraper101

Does anyone know any good car rental companies offering by-the-hour rental of cars?

I've just moved to the Hollywood/Larchmont area and currently hiring a car by the month from Enterprise. However, I don't need to use it everyday so I'm wondering if there's a cheaper way to use a car, other than buying one.

In London we had by-the-hour car rental clubs where you register online, book a time slot to pick up a car from a choice of locations, and then you could just pick the car up in the street (using a smart card) and return it without having to deal with any rental office or anything.

Does anything exist like this in LA? It would be very useful to me.

Moped Motorcycle time if you can store it somewhere. Cheap moped/scooter will pay for itself in a few months vs car rentals.

[stuffavail]

Originally Posted by greggd1

Moped Motorcycle time if you can store it somewhere. Cheap moped/scooter will pay for itself in a few months vs car rentals.

YES!
Zip Car. They are great and very handy.

Register online first. They will send you a card. Then look for the nearest spot where there are Zip Cars available. Make a res. Then go at the appointed hour, wave your card over the windshield and the car unlocks. The keys are inside and off you go. Then return it to that location by the ending time you agreed to.

Your gas and insurance are covered for the time you have the car.
Nifty system.