Wandsworth Waives Fees for Car Club Operators
Aiming to boost sector following Zipcar withdrawal
Picture: Wandsworth Council
January 20, 2026
Wandsworth Council has announced it will waive parking permit fees for car club operators in a bid to retain and attract providers to the borough, following news that major operator Zipcar is withdrawing from the UK market.
The move, confirmed on 16 January, is designed to protect residents’ access to shared vehicles and strengthen the borough’s commitment to reducing private car ownership. The permit freeze will run until April 2027, after which the policy will be reviewed.
For more than a decade, the council has supported shared mobility through dedicated car club bays, integration into planning requirements for new developments, and discounted permit arrangements. However, operators were still required to pay annual permit fees for on-street spaces — a cost that has become increasingly challenging for providers as the sector faces financial pressure.
With Zipcar’s exit raising concerns about the future of shared mobility in London, Wandsworth has opted to go further than before, removing permit fees entirely to stabilise and grow the local car club market. The council hopes the change will not only retain existing operators but also encourage new providers to establish services in the borough.
The policy forms part of Wandsworth’s wider Walking and Cycling Strategy, which aims to reduce car dependency and promote healthier, low-carbon travel choices. Research consistently shows that car clubs play a significant role in shifting behaviour: the 2024 Car Club Annual Report for London, produced by CoMoUK, the industry body that represents car clubs, found that each shared vehicle removes an average of 27 private cars from the road through sales and deferred purchases.
Councillor Jenny Yates, Cabinet Member for Transport, said the council is acting decisively to protect sustainable travel options. She said, “We’re committed to keeping Wandsworth moving in a sustainable way. By waiving parking permit fees for car club operators, we’re taking action to keep and increase providers in the borough so that residents can benefit from accessible, affordable, and greener travel options.”
Car clubs have become an increasingly important part of the planning process for large residential schemes in Wandsworth. Developers are often required to provide car club spaces or memberships for new residents, helping households settle into the area without relying on private vehicles. The council believes the new permit policy will strengthen this model by ensuring a reliable supply of shared cars.
The permit waiver will remain in place until April 2027, giving the council time to assess its impact on car club availability, usage, and the wider transport network. With the future of the UK car-sharing market uncertain, Wandsworth hopes its intervention will safeguard a service which it believes supports cleaner air, reduced congestion, and more sustainable travel habits.
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