Hiyacar is a UK peer-to-peer car-sharing platform. You rent cars and vans from local owners via an app, often using QuickStart keyless access.

There’s no membership fee or deposit, you pay an owner a set time rate plus a Hiyacar booking fee, and you cover your own fuel/charging.

Insurance is included per trip, but the excess is high unless you buy optional Premium Cover. Coverage and selection are strongest in London and other big cities, while availability elsewhere depends on local owners.

• Pros: free to join with no deposit; keyless unlock on many cars; broad vehicle variety; can be cost-effective for short local trips; insurance included per booking.
• Cons: availability and quality vary by area/owner; fuel/charging not included; high excess unless you buy Premium Cover; per-booking fees; late return and admin fees (PCN/cleaning/fuel) can add up.

Key Information

Item	Details
Joining fee	None. Free to join.
Membership options	No monthly/annual membership required.
Hourly/day rates (from)	From c. £3–£5/hour on some listings; from c. £28/day. Prices are set by owners and vary by car/city.
Booking fee	Charged per booking; capped at £40.
Mileage / per-mile	Listings have mileage limits; above that Hiyacar charges typically £0.30/mi (cars) or £0.35/mi (vans).
Fuel / charging	Not included. Return with the same fuel level; EV charging is the driver’s responsibility unless a listing explicitly includes it.
Insurance & excess	Comprehensive insurance included per trip. Excess usually £300–£2,000; +£1,000 if not reported within 24 hours. Optional Premium Cover reduces excess by 90% (typically £12–£15/day).
Minimum age / licence	Generally 21–75 (cars). 21–24 need 24 months’ history and clean licence; 25+ need ≥12 months. Some marketing pages quote higher city-specific minimums; always check the listing. Certain international licences accepted with a UK address. Vans: 25–65 (UK licence).
Deposit / holds	No deposit required; debit or credit card accepted (no prepaid).
Cancellation rules	Full refund >24h before pick-up (and within 1 hour of booking); 50% refund <24h; no refund after pick-up.
Late return & admin fees	Unauthorised late return: up to £10 per extra hour (capped £80/day) + £40 admin; additional admin fees for PCNs, cleaning, missing fuel.
PCNs / road charges	Driver pays road charges (Congestion Charge/ULEZ/Dart) and any PCNs; £40 admin fee typically applies.
Customer support & roadside	App support plus phone line that transfers to AA for breakdowns; outside business hours you can route directly to recovery.
App platforms	iOS and Android apps (keyless unlock on QuickStart vehicles).

What Hiyacar Is & How It Works

Hiyacar connects drivers with local owners’ cars.

You browse in the app, request or instantly book, then unlock with your phone if the car has QuickStart (otherwise you may meet the owner for keys). Insurance is applied per booking.

You return the car to the agreed location, end the booking in-app, and you refuel/recharge to the starting level unless a listing says fuel is included.

Where Hiyacar Is Available (UK)

Availability is densest in London (thousands of cars shown on city pages) with active pockets in other large cities such as Manchester.

Coverage elsewhere depends on local owners and any council-run car-club schemes Hiyacar operates. Always check the live map in the app for your postcode.

Vehicles & Fleet

Because it’s peer-to-peer, selection varies widely: city hatchbacks, family cars and estates, 7-seaters, EVs/hybrids and some vans.

QuickStart-equipped cars can be booked and unlocked keylessly. Child seats are generally not included unless a listing provides one, and pet-friendliness varies by owner (cleaning standards and fees still apply).

Pricing & Fees

Membership: none. You pay the owner a set time rate plus Hiyacar’s booking fee (capped at £40). Fuel/charging is on you.

If a listing has a mileage cap, excess miles are charged at ~£0.30/mi for cars and ~£0.35/mi for vans. Some Hiyacar “car-club” vans include fuel up to a stated daily mileage, then per-mile fees apply. Always check each listing before you book.

Pricing Examples

Scenario	Rough cost	Notes
3-hour small car in a big city	~£15–£24	Owner-set £5–£8/hour + booking fee; insurance priced at checkout.
1-day mid-range car	From ~£28/day	Day rate set by owner; booking fee applies; fuel/charging extra.
Van with “fuel included” flag	Day rate + included miles, then ~£0.35/mi	Only on specific car-club vans; check listing mileage allowance.

Insurance & Excess

Bookings are covered by Hiyacar’s insurance, but the member pays any excess after an incident. Excess typically ranges £300–£2,000 depending on profile. If you don’t report within 24 hours, an additional £1,000 excess applies.

Optional Premium Cover can reduce the excess by 90% (usually £12–£15 per day) and extends cover to tyres, glass, undercarriage and more.

Eligibility & Sign-Up

Drivers usually need to be 21–75 (cars). Ages 21–24 need two years’ driving history and a clean licence, while 25+ need at least one year.

You must have a UK residential address and pass ID/credit checks (Electoral Roll and regular payments at that address are typically required). Hiyacar accepts certain international licences (e.g., US, Canada, Australia, Japan) if you have a UK address.

Vans are restricted to UK licences (25–65). Some city pages mention higher minimum ages (e.g., 23), so always rely on the help-centre criteria and the live listing.

Unique Selling Points vs Rivals

Peer-to-peer variety and no membership fees set Hiyacar apart. QuickStart keyless cars make pickup fast, and pricing can be lower than traditional clubs for short, local use.

Versus Zipcar, Hiyacar lacks a standardised fleet, included fuel, and one-way Flex, and versus Enterprise Car Club, Hiyacar isn’t a national back-to-bay network but can be cheaper and closer to home if local owners are active.

Who It’s Best For

Hiyacar suits city-based drivers who want occasional, short-notice access to a specific type of car near home without subscriptions, and who are comfortable comparing owner listings for price, mileage caps and conditions.

Best for: urban drivers who value flexibility, keyless pickup and local choice over a standardised, fuel-included car-club model.

Common Mistakes

Fuel and charging are not included, you have to return to starting level unless the listing states otherwise.

Many listings carry mileage caps, and extra miles are billed per Hiyacar’s rates.

Unauthorised late returns incur per-hour penalties plus an admin fee.

Drivers are responsible for paying road charges (ULEZ, Congestion Charge, Dart Charge) and any PCNs, and Hiyacar adds an admin fee when processing them.

Cancellation deadlines matter: within 24 hours of start only 50% is refunded, after pick-up, no refund.

FAQs

Do I pay for fuel?

Yes. Fuel/charging isn’t included. Return the car with the same level you started with (unless a listing says otherwise).

Is there a deposit?

No deposit. Pay by debit or credit card (no prepaid).

What’s the excess and can I reduce it?

Excess is typically £300–£2,000. Optional Premium Cover reduces it by 90% (usually £12–£15/day). Report any incident within 24 hours to avoid an extra £1,000 excess.

What about mileage limits?

Owners often set daily mileage caps. Extra miles are billed by Hiyacar (about £0.30/mi cars, and £0.35/mi vans).

Are pets or child seats allowed?

Pet-friendly is by listing/owner, and cleaning rules still apply. Child seats are generally not provided unless stated.

How do PCNs and road charges work?

Drivers pay any PCNs and road charges. Hiyacar typically adds a £40 admin fee when processing PCNs.

Are the apps available on iOS and Android?

Yes—both, with QuickStart keyless unlock on compatible cars.