AVIS Rent a Car has become the latest rental firm to launch a car club scheme with the unveiling of CARvenience in a move that is hoped will increase awareness of alternatives to car ownership.

Based in Oxford, the scheme offers hourly rental of vehicles to members for a minimal cost, allowing them to run a car without having to buy one.

Already a successful scheme, the City Car Club, has been launched in Scotland by Budget Car and Van Rental. The Edinburgh scheme celebrated its first birthday in March after recruiting more than 100 members in the past 12 months, with hopes that numbers will double in the near future.

Nigel White, head of corporate sales for Avis UK, said: 'We will be printing a brochure which will be mailed to 12,000 people in the area and we have already had expressions of interest from 25 people. We are looking for about 100 members. We are not realistically expecting this to be used by sales reps covering 20,000 miles a year, but 80% of journeys covered by residents are two miles or less. What is the point in running a car that is stationary 90% of the time?'

Charges are £5 for the first hour, then £2.50 afterwards in addition to nine pence per mile for the first 20 miles, rising to 25ppm for higher mileages. The average journey in the area is 20 miles.