dcsmiss

Hi, I will be starting at Amherst this fall as a sophomore. I own a Honda Fit that I may bring up with me. However, I have since heard about this Zipcar option that allows rental of vehicles by the hour/day for a nominal fee.
Are Zipcars located on the Amherst campus? My zipcar search yielded results limited to the Smith College campus.
In your opinion, should is having a vehicle worth it? (i.e. insurance premiums, maintenance, etc.) Or can one limit themself to the PVTA and Zipcar services without inconvenience?

thisisthais

I am led to believe that there are zipcars available on campus due to this website Amherst College – Zipcar

GA2012MOM

The zipcars are right on campus, parked in front of Keefe. They are definitely convenient as you can rent them either by the hour or day. The fee includes gas, tolls and insurance. I think the maximum daily mileage is 160 and I believe it runs about $65 for 24 hours. My daughter rented one for a med school interview to Dartmouth which is 100 miles each way so she did a 2 day thing so she would have the mileage covered. For going say for instance to the Holyoke Mall which is probably 20 miles, if you just rent one for say 4 hours and have a few friends go with you, it is a great deal. As I mentioned to you before, freshman are not allowed cars on campus, so the zipcar thing is a great option for short trips, but the PVTA will take you anywhere in the Amherst/Northhampton area although being a longer trip.

GA2012MOM

Amherst College – Zipcar

dcsmiss

Thanks for the insight. I think I will elect to leave my vehicle behind.