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FAQ
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How much does membership cost? What is / is not included?Exact membership prices differ by location, but are typically less than the cost of a garage parking spot. When applying to a specific location you'll see the exact price listed. All reservations, garage parking, maintenance, insurance, and roadside assistance are included in the monthly price. You'll only pay out-of-pocket for fuel, tolls, tickets, and non-covered damage you rack up.
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What kind of cars will I drive? Who owns them?Our cars are owned and managed by professional fleets, so you don't need to deal with the hassle. The exact models you'll drive will depend on the specific location you join, but we generally aim to pair our members with premium sedans and crossovers that are right-sized for the city. We prioritize working with EV and hybrid fleets, where possible.
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How is this different than ZipCar, Turo, or rental cars?Our membership is different from carshare and rentals in that it's designed to feel like its your own car. Here's how we do it: Rather than charge you every time you want to use a car, all reservations come included in a single monthly price. Because no one wants to pay $40 to run to the grocery store. Our cars are exclusively available to a select group of neighbors rather than shared by thousands of strangers. Our members drive the same cars often, so they treat them with more respect than a typical rental.
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Can I really use the cars as often as I want?Yes, within reason. Our membership is designed with a few principles in mind: Intended for car-light users: if you use a car everyday, this probably isn't for you (and that's okay!) Keep it to a tight group: cars are exclusively available to a select group of trusted neighbors so you're never competing with a wide pool for availability. Give everyone a fair shot to book: while we generally try to avoid scheduling restrictions, we have a few common sense ones in place so no one hogs the car. If the car is available short notice, just take it: we pride ourselves on being a reliable on-demand option. What this looks like in practice: "Grab-n-go" trips (< 4 hours): reserve 0 to 7 days out. "Getaway" trips (1-3 days): reserve 2 to 60 days out. Max 3 days on the calendar at a time (for example, if you had a car reserved for Thanksgiving, you'd need to wait until after your trip to reserve it for Xmas). We've yet to have someone drop their membership because they were unable to use the cars as often as they'd like.
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How do I reserve, pickup, and dropoff the car?As a member, you'll get access to our simple online reservation system which allows you to block out any upcoming trips with a couple taps. You can also just text us. Most of our fleets are stored in valet garages. Give a heads up to the garage when you're on your way to pick up the car (we'll remind you). Upon arrival you'll just need to show your ID to get the keys. Let us know if you see anything wrong with the car before hitting the road. When you're done, return the car to the same garage and leave the keys with the attendant. Please do a quick clean to make sure you leave the car in a condition you'd want to find it in.
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How do I become a member?Emblem Motor Club is a proud community of car-light urbanites who are a looking for a more convenient and sustainable way to get around in the city, whether they be single professionals, young families, or empty nesters. We look for members who are safe drivers, flexible with their car needs -- and most of all -- good neighbors. If that sounds like you, apply today.
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Who's allowed to drive?Only approved members, please. Your membership includes a free secondary driver for a spouse or domestic partner - as long as you let us know. This one's serious - only approved members are covered by insurance and authorized for pickup with the garage. If you allow a non-approved driver to take the wheel, they won't be covered in case of an accident and you'll be on the hook for full damages.
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How does insurance work?Accidents happen - even to careful drivers. Membership includes insurance provided by our fleet partner, but it's important to understand its limits. Damage to the car Your membership includes coverage for the vehicle. If damage occurs, you'd be responsible for up to a $500 deductible per incident, but anything beyond that is covered. Roadside assistance is also included at no extra cost, as long as the car is being used appropriately. Third-party liability (injury & property damage) Membership includes the minimum liability coverage required by New York State - you can read more about the limits here. If you're involved in an incident that exceeds those limits, you'd be on the hook for the remaining costs. (Note: credit cards that include rental car insurance typically only cover damage to the car, not third-party liability). Many members choose to purchase a non-owner car insurance policy for added peace of mind. These policies are affordable and provide added liability protection every time you rent or borrow a car. We don’t sell insurance, but we’re happy to point you toward trusted providers.
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What's the cancellation policy?Our membership is month-to-month. If you don't feel like you're getting enough value out of it, you're welcome to cancel - no hard feelings. We just ask for 30 days notice so that we have a chance to fill your spot. Your cancellation will be effective at the end of your last monthly billing cycle. We don't offer temporary membership pauses at the moment. If you decide to cancel, we unfortunately can't guarantee your spot back.
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How do fuel, tolls, and tickets work?Fuel As a principle, we only charge you for the fuel you use. No markup. Gas cars: Each month we'll calculate how much fuel you used based on the trips you took and charge you at market rate. Please do your best to always return the car with at least 1/4 tank of gas. If you're on the road, and need to fill up, you can either (a) use the onboard gas card (if provided), or (b) use you personal card, text us a receipt, and we'll reimburse you. EVs: charging at the home garage is included as part of the membership. If you're on a long trip and end up using a Tesla Supercharger (billed to us) we'll just charge you back for it at the end of the month. Tolls Our fleet is equipped with EZPass. We'll charge you at the end of the month for tolls you use. Tickets If you happen to get an in-person ticket (eg parking) while the vehicle is in your possession, please pay it on time. For camera tickets, we'll pay and charge you back.
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Do you clean the cars?Yes, but not after every trip. Because our cars are used by a small group of neighbors - rather than lots of strangers - we rely on and expect our members to clean up after themselves reasonably well. This allows us to keep our operational overhead low and pass back savings to you. How clean? Our standard is: treat the cars as if you were borrowing from a neighbor (who you like). We keep each car stocked with wipes and basic cleaning supplies to make it easy for you. We do budget for periodic deeper cleans (e.g. exterior washes, interior vacuuming) as needed. See a car that needs a scrub? Just let us know. Need it cleaned in a pinch? If you bring it to a carwash we will reimburse you in full - just text us the receipt.
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Should I tip the valet attendants?We encourage tipping to reward good service, but it's completely at your discretion. Our club functioning smoothly relies on having good relationships with the garages we work with and their attendants. $2-3 at pickup seems to be standard.
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Are pets okay?Yes! If you have have a pet that sheds, please bring your own blanket or seat cover and clean up any hair. Just make sure to return the car in a condition that you'd want to find it in. Read more about out our cleaning policy.
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Have a different question?We'd be happy to help answer it for you. Call or text us at 718-400-6376.
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