[citation needed] On March 14, 2013, Avis Budget Group acquired Zipcar for approximately US$500 million.

In the summer of 2016, Ceille became a managing director of Avis Budget Group International and in 2017, Tracey Zhen was appointed as president.

[9] In the third quarter of 2007, Zipcar merged with Seattle-based rival Flexcar to create a nationwide car rental company.

Zipcar common stock traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol "ZIP" until it was acquired by Avis in 2013.

[11][12] Zipcar was co-founded by Antje Danielson and Robin Chase based on German and Swiss company precedents in January 2000.

In February 2003, after difficulties in securing additional rounds of funding, the Zipcar board replaced Robin Chase as CEO with Scott Griffith.

[10] On 23 January 2008, the merged Zipcar/Flexcar canceled service for the Southern California cities of Los Angeles and San Diego without providing advance notice to customers in those areas, although Southern California college operations were left intact.

[15] On August 28, 2008, Rice University announced its introduction into the program in their goal of achieving the lowest possible carbon footprint while providing additional transportation options for employees that carpool.

[17] Following impressive third-quarter results, previous CEO Scott Griffith announced that 2012 would mark Zipcar's "first full year of profitability on a US GAAP basis".

[18] Scott Griffith stepped down on March 15, 2013, following Avis Budget Group's acquisition of Zipcar.

"[19] In July 2016, Kay Ceille stepped down as president of Zipcar to become the managing director of Avis Budget Group International, Australia.

Having taken cars off the road, the company had trouble keeping up with demand, causing a backlog at the customer service center.

[25] President Tracey Zhen apologized in June, saying the company was adding cars and customer service employees.

[25] Members are able to view vehicle availability and reserve a self-service car via the internet, Android, and iPhone apps, or by telephone, in increments as short as 30 minutes.

The lawsuit was dismissed in 2010, after U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton found that every penalty except an inactive-user charge is legal.

[32] In August 2016, Zipcar agreed to settle a case involving allegations of charging New York consumers illegal damage fees for rental vehicles.

Zipcars have RFID readers located on the windshield that communicates with the card to lock and unlock the doors of the vehicle.

Each vehicle records hours of usage and mileage, which is uploaded to a central computer via a wireless data link.

Among its fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles, and through an agreement between Honda and Zipcar, the program offers clean fuel and low-emission vehicles that include the Insight hybrid, Civic Hybrid, and Honda Fit EV all-electric car.

[18] In the United Kingdom, some vehicles are branded "Zipcar Flex" which means that they can be left anywhere within a designated zone, rather than in a specific parking space.

[10][41] In December 2009, Zipcar announced their participation in a round of financing with Avancar, the largest on-demand car rental company in Spain, based in Barcelona.

[4] On January 22, 2019 Zipcar (Avancar) members received notification that the service would no longer be available as of midnight, February 28, 2019.

On Facebook and Instagram, the company cited a decision made by Avis to discontinue the service in the Spanish city.

Members at fault are responsible for the first $1,000 of costs related to the repair, recovery, and loss of use of any Zipcar vehicle.