The University offers two car hire locations where staff can rent cars for as little as 30 minutes through the Co-Wheels Car Club scheme. It’s ideal for both personal and business trips, helping to reduce the need to bring your own car to campus, while cutting down on costs and easing parking demands.
To use the Co-wheels Car Club, follow these instructions:
Step 1: Become a Member
- Sign up online to gain access to over 600 vehicles across the UK, including those located at UoR.
- Join the University’s business account to book cars for work and add a personal account for personal bookings with the promo code ‘UOR25’ for £25 driving credit and no monthly fees.
- You will need to verify your details (including your driving license and DVLA code) and will then receive a confirmation email. Your Co-Wheels smart card will then be sent to your home address via Royal Mail.
- For personal trips. invoicing can either be ad-hoc or monthly.
Step 2: Booking a Car
- Use the online booking system, the co-wheels app or simply call to reserve a car. You can access the car using your smartcard, eliminating the need for keys.
- Online, the interactive map lets you select your preferred date and time, as well as your preferred vehicle.
- The closest cars to Whiteknights campus are located at:
- Dunsden Crescent, Park Group halls
- Sherfield Hall Reception, Northcourt Group halls
- Co-Wheels also have cars across Reading, including near London Road campus that members also have access to. Check their interactive map for more locations.
Step 3: Collecting, Refuelling and Returns
- You can pick up your chosen vehicle once you have made your booking.
- Take your Co-Wheels smart card and hold it above the blue scanner on the car – this is located to the front of the windscreen. The light on the scanner will flash green, and the car will unlock.
- The keys for the vehicle should be in the glovebox (remember to return them here at the end of your journey, and do not remove the keys from the vehicle at any time).
- To refuel, you will need the All-Star Fuel card provided by Co Wheels, which will allow you to top up the tank should it drop below a quarter. This can be found in the sun visor or glove compartment.
- The fuel card can be used at most major refuelling stations. Please see the All-Star Petrol Station Locator for a map of locations. To pay for fuel, insert the card into the chip & pin machine, where you will be prompted for the vehicles milage (found on the dashboard of the car), and you may need to sign a receipt for the transaction to be authorised.
- For more information on refuelling, click here.
- Once you’ve completed your trip, return the car to it’s designated parking bay. Return both the keys and fuel card and remember to tap the blue scanner on the windscreen to end your Co-Wheels session.
For any issues with the vehicle, contact the Co-Wheels customer service team, and read more about your membership, FAQ’s and helpful videos on the Member Help Portal.
In accordance with our University Travel Plan we encourage all staff, students and visitors to consider alternative modes to single occupancy, private cars. A Car Club minimises the need for people to own their own vehicles, reducing personal expense, unnecessary journeys and the need for home parking. If you’re interested, new members can get £25 of free driving credit – so make sure you register online today.
Thank you for taking the time to read all about the Car Club vehicles at the University of Reading. If you need a recap, you can also watch our handy how-to guide video below!
