Car sharing clubs, which have been around for years in European cities, are becoming popular in North America with Zipcar, one of the fastest-growing newcomers to the market.

Zipcar is a car sharing service that has thousands of cars, available by the hour or by the day. You can choose from over 20 different car models to fit your needs. You don’t pay for gas, insurance, or the Zipcar’s reserved parking space. Zipcar members have reported savings of over $5,000 per year by using Zipcars.

Right now, Zipcar is operating in and around Boston, New York City, Washington DC, Toronto, Chicago, Vancouver, and San Francisco. It’s also in London. Other cities will soon join the list as the result of a recent merger between Zipcar and Flexcar.

Whether you need to attend a meeting, visit friends in the ‘burbs, or take someone out to lunch, Zipcar is an efficient way to handle your transportation needs. It’s also handy when you visit a distant city — your membership is valid wherever Zipcar goes.

Check it out at http://www.zipcar.com

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Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".