Renting or Leasing a Car

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What if I need to rent a car for just a few days?

If you do not plan to buy a car and would like to have one for just a few days or weeks to go somewhere, you need to contact a car rental agency.  As long as you can prove that you are a full-time student, are at least 25 years or older, and have a valid US or foreign driver’s license with a picture ID, you are usually eligible to rent a car.  You must purchase full automobile coverage for the vehicle either from an insurance agent, or from the car rental agency from whom you have rented the car.*

The Zipcar fleet on the Indiana University Campus has cars available for use 24 hours per day, seven days per week.  Faculty, staff, and students ages 18 and older can become a Zipster for $35 and can drive for as little as $8 per hour or $66 per day on weekdays and $9 per hour or $72 per day on weekends.  Gas, insurance, 180 free miles, reserved parking, and roadside assistance are included in the low hourly rates.  Reservations can be made online or by telephone.  Members 21 years of age and older will have access to Zipcar’s network of more than 7,000 cars in urban areas and college campuses throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  More information, including how to join, and more information about Zipcar, is available at www.zipcar.com/iub.

Can I lease a car for the whole time I am here?

Yes.  If you are going to need a car for several months or even a year or more, but do not want to buy one, you can lease an automobile from a new car dealership.  You will have to bring a letter from IU saying you are a full time student, your I-20 or DS2019 indicating your anticipated length of stay here at IU, and your valid US or foreign driver’s license showing your picture ID.  You will also have to purchase full coverage insurance on the car you intend to lease.*

If you do not want to purchase or rent a car, you may choose to carpool with other students. The RideShare and Zimride programs are available for staff and students.

What is the IU RideShare Program?

Purpose: To make carpooling attractive to university faculty and staff.
Benefits: Save money, share the driving with friends or co-workers, and even receive reserved parking on campus.
Incentives: Reserved parking spaces for RideShare vehicles, special use permits for individual RideShare members, and eligibility for the Guaranteed Ride Home program.
Environment: Reduces traffic congestion and supports the Clean Air Act.

Eligibility for a RideShare Permit In order to participate, you must meet the following criteria:

• Carpool must consist of at least three members, each of whom must register with IU Parking Operations
• Each participant must be an appointed IU employee, an associate instructor, a graduate assistant, or research assistant. Hourly student employees are not eligible.
• Participants must be eligible to purchase an 'A' or 'C' parking permit.
• Participants must present a valid Driver's License and Vehicle Registration with Carpool Registration Form.

Using Zimride
Zimride is the private rideshare community for IUB. Zimride requires an IUB Central Authentication login and password to gain access. By logging into the Zimride service, basic information such as name and email will be sent to Zimride.

Have a car? Need a ride?
Zimride helps you offer or request rides for commutes, road trips, and popular events. If you have a car, split costs by offering rides. If you don't have a car, find rides where you need to go.

What is Zimride?
Zimride is a fun and easy way to share the seats in your car or catch a ride. With Zimride, you can find IUB friends, classmates, and coworkers going the same way you are.