WASHINGTON – Zipcar announced a new agreement with 7-Eleven Inc. to place 18 car-sharing vehicles at nine 7-Eleven stores throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. (NACS Magazine first wrote about the potential of Zipcar and convenience store partnerships way back in December 2008, “Convenience in a Car.”)

Zipcar vehicles are now available for reservation by the hour or by the day, which includes gas, insurance and 180 miles per day. The arrangement provides Zipcar members with choices on where to pick up and return vehicles at the 7-Eleven locations while they purchase food and essentials for a weekend getaway, a road trip or running errands around town, according to 7-Eleven. 

“Both 7-Eleven and Zipcar are synonymous with convenience, so placing vehicles at 7-Eleven stores is a natural fit for us,” said Zipcar D.C. General Manager Scott Hall, in a press release. “Our members regularly take Zip trips and need to stock up on snacks and supplies before heading out on their next adventure.”

The 18 new Zipcars include a variety of makes and models, such as a VW Golf named “Glisten,” a Nissan Sentra named “AJ” and a Ford Escape named “Calgary.” The vehicles are located in various neighborhoods including Anacostia, Shady Grove, Cheverly and the H Street/Atlas District. The new vehicles located in Deanwood and Huntington will be the first Zipcars offered in these neighborhoods, providing more District residents with access to Zipcar’s “wheels when you want them” service.

“7-Eleven works with established and start-up companies to provide new ways to bring convenient solutions to time-pressed consumers’ everyday needs right in their neighborhoods,” said Raja Doddala, 7-Eleven’s vice president of innovation. “Our partnership with Zipcar will help customers who want easy access to vehicles when, where and for how long they prefer.”