Co-cars, Cornwall’s hire-by-the-hour car club scheme, will be on Lemon Quay Truro on Saturday, July 15, from 9am, offering free first year residential membership for people who join within seven days.

Funded by Cornwall Council, the Department for Transport, Co-cars and Great Western Railways, the Co-cars scheme recently launched with cars in Truro and Falmouth.

Members of the scheme have the convenience of a car without the hassles and costs of car ownership, as members pay for a car only when they want to use one.

Co-cars are aimed at occasional drivers, short trippers and families who don’t want or can’t afford the second vehicle and want to hire one for an hour or two. If you’re a local business or employer you can also benefit.

The Co-cars team will be at Lemon Quay explaining how pay-as-you-go driving works. Those who go along will be able to look at one of the smart new low emission cars which with the latest technology, allows you to book 24/7, swipe and drive as a Co-cars member.

The cars in Cornwall are based at Truro and Falmouth Town railway stations and Truro’s Pydar Street car park, and with others now located at many railway stations in the south west people can connect their train journey with a station-based hire by the hour car.

Co-cars has streamlined car-sharing down to a click, swipe and drive process. Members can book a car 24/7 online or via a smartphone, swipe their membership card against the windscreen to unlock the car, enter a PIN and drive off.

Individual and household membership costs £25 per year, and there are two pricing options for businesses. Each hire costs from £3.75 per hour, plus 15p per mile, with discounts for daily hire. Fuel, insurance, tax, maintenance and emergency cover are all included so there are no hidden costs.

Cornwall Councillor for Truro Boscawen Bert Biscoe, who does not drive, said: "This is a really welcome new initiative. It could reduce the burdens of car ownership and encourage more people to live in the town centre, and help those already living in the centre to get out and about. It’s efficient, economic and environmentally constructive."

The Cornwall Council portfolio holder for transport, Geoff Brown, said: “This is a very cost effective scheme which should greatly assist the occasional user to access a vehicle only when needed, thereby reducing congestion on our streets. Because of their eco-friendly nature these cars will also help to reduce the impact of emission levels in our towns.”

If you are interested in finding out more, but are unable to attend the event, go to co-cars.co.uk, call 0345 345 2544 or email drive@co-cars.co.uk