This scheme is being co-ordinated by Dorset Community Action with Transition Town Dorchester helping to promote:
What is a car club?
Car clubs provide access to pay-as-you-go cars when needed, for as little or as long as is required. Users just book it, drive it and return it. If you don't use a car everyday it can prove an attractive alternative to car ownership or owning a second car.
Developing a Dorchester Car Club - The Story so far
Research was conducted in July 2007 surveying 350 households in Dorchester to assess levels of interest. Following an encouraging level of response, Dorchester Car Club was set up and has proved popular. There are now 2 cars, one is called Zara (a blue Peugeot 206) and the other is called Doris (a blue Kia C'eed). Both cars are parked at Dorchester Barracks.
What are the costs?
- £3.20 an hour, capped at £24 for a 24 hour period
- Mileage is free for the first 10 miles and 20p per mile thereafter
- The annual membership fee is £60
- Join - sign up to become a member and receive your SmartCard. This is a simple process and you can register online here www.wombatcarclub.co.uk
- Reserve - book your timeslot using a simple on-line booking facility which will show you when the car is available. Book a short journey, a day trip or an evening out
- Unlock - collect the car from its location and use your SmartCard to open it
- Drive - If you need to fill in the car with petrol,use our fuel card at any major filling station. We ask that you leave at least quarter of a tank of petrol at the end of your journey.
- Pay - at the end of the month you will receive an electronic invoice with a breakdown of your journeys and the cost
What are the benefits?
- Access to a car when you want it and where you need it
- No car maintenance, servicing or cleaning
- Fewer cars on the road, with one car club car potentially replacing up to 11 private cars
- New more fuel efficient cars mean less CO2 emissions and pollution
- Less cars in production means less embodied energy (the energy used in manufacturing)
If you are interested in joining Dorchester Car Club, or have any questions please contact Simon Thompson,
on 01305 216412 (landline) or 07974 723087 (mobile)
email: simon.thompson@dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk
 
...Zara on the left, and Doris, Doris, Doris!!...why Doris??... find out by clicking here
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where will the cars be parked? Wombat cars are parked in set locations. Dorchester Car Club park at The Barracks. Please collect and return the car to the same location (see the map at the bottom of this page).
- How do I book the car? Booking is done through the Wombat website which shows the availability of the car, and you will be shown how to do this when you sign up. It is really easy and takes less than a minute.
- Can I use a car straight away? Yes, if the website shows the car is free then it can be booked and used immediately. You can also book the car up to 12 months in advance.
- What if the car isn't available when I need it? The experience of car clubs is that it is unusual for a car not to be available when you need it. This is because essential journeys tend to be booked in advance or have some flexibility on when they are made. However, if you find the car is booked when you would like to use it, we will move another car to the same location if we have 24 hours notice, or if necessary pay for you to use a taxi for the same cost as using the Wombat car.
- How do I contact Wombat if I have a problem? Wombat prides itself on high quality customer service and personal care. Please call Wombat on the mobile phone (any time). The number is 07984 603 360. Alternatively email info@WombatCarClub.co.uk
- What do the costs include? Everything!
- A fuel charge per mile will be added to the account
- Tax, MOT, servicing and repairs
- Cleaning the car
- Depreciation of the car
- Breakdown cover
- Insurance
- How much will it save me? Using the car about 7.5 hours a week will save approximately £1,500 per year on the cost of a reasonable second car - and without the hassle of cleaning, taxing, insuring and maintenance.
- What about insurance? You will have fully comprehensive insurance, with an excess of £100 in the event of an accident. Please notify Wombat if your circumstances change, for example losing your licence.
- Who will fill the car with petrol? A fuel card is placed in the glove box which can be used at most major filling stations. You just need to give the mileage of the car when you hand over the fuel card at the kiosk. Please leave the car with at least a quarter of a tank of petrol when you have finished using it.
- How will I unlock the car? Every member will have a Smart Card to lock and unlock the car. After the car is unlocked using the Smart card, the user should use the key provided in the glove box until they have finished with the car. The Smart Card will then be used to lock the car.
- Is there a membership fee? There is a £60 annual membership fee. Any additional driver from your household will benefit from a reduced membership fee at £40.
- Will the car be clean? Yes. We ask all members to ensure that the car is left clean and tidy at the end of each journey. The car will be fully cleaned once a week to ensure standards are maintained. If you discover the car is messy before your journey, please advise using the Wombat mobile number.
- What happerns if I have an accident? If an accident does happen, take the details of the person involved and use the disposable camera in the glove compartment to take photos of the accident and damage. Report the accident to us and we will arrange for all the repairs and insurance issues to be resolved. If the accident is your fault then you will need to pay the excess charge to Wombat. Wombat aim to ensure that in the event of an accident there is minimal disruption to the member and service.
- What if I notice the car is damaged before I set off on my journey? Please check the car for damage before you set off and if you notice any, please report it to Wombat using the mobile number.
- How is my mileage recorded? Your mileage is recorded automatically and transmitted to your Wombat account. You can view your account over the internet at any time. All the costs are broken down and displayed in an easy and convenient way.
- How will I be charged for use of the car? Every month your account will show an invoice for you to make a payment by cheque or internet banking.
- Can anyone join? Most people can join Wombat:
- You need to be over 21 and have held your licence for more than one year
- You can not have more than two convictions on your driving license in the last 5 years
- What about congestion charges, fines or tolls, etc? You will be responsible for the payment of all additional charges incurred whilst using the car. For example, parking tickets, speeding fines, fines for using the bus lane, congestion zone charges, parking costs, road tolls.
- Where are the Barracks in Dorchester? Bridport Rd, Dorchester, Dorset, UK...on this map:
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