Categories
Quebec Tips and Tricks

How to use the credit card for gas purchases

Gassing up is so simple with Communauto! A credit card is provided in all vehicles and valid at most gas stations in Canada, not just Shell.

To use the credit card, you must first activate it in the Communauto app:

  • Click on “Credit card” in the reservation banner.
  • This will give you the code that you will need to enter at the pump (the card remains active for 15 minutes).
  • The maximum amount allowed is $100 (do not select a higher amount).

It is not necessary to provide us with receipts for purchases made with these cards.

Please note: If you plan to travel to the United States, plan your own means of payment and submit your receipts for reimbursement.

activation-carte_app-en

IMPORTANT: These cards only work under very specific conditions (see below). You must therefore always have on hand the necessary to pay for your purchases yourself just in case.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • For security reasons, credit cards can only be used during an active reservation and must be activated in the mobile app before each use;
  • Activating a card will not be possible if you are outside the cellular network. Make sure you have other means of payment, in case this happens;
  • The card will be active for a period of 15 minutes, and can be reactivated as many times as necessary during the reservation;
  • Transactions can only be made at the pump, at all gas stations across the country (not just Shell stations);
  • As a security measure, the amount to be pre-authorized at the pump is $100 maximum. The card may not work if the daily maximum is reached;
  • Be sure to put the card back in the holder after use, otherwise, you will not be able to end your trip correctly;
  • Although you do not have to give us your receipts for purchases made with these cards, it is prudent to keep them for control purposes until the corresponding trips are billed.
  • If you use another means of payment during purchase and wish to obtain a credit, you must always provide us with your receipts via the app or your online account. Learn more >

Safe travels!

Categories
Communauto News

Clicknpark Discount

Take advantage of a discount on your parking! 

Our friends at Clicknpark are giving you a great gift! Avoid the hassle of parking when shopping downtown by reserving your spot in advance and benefit from a 10% discount on your parking reservation! Here’s how: 

  • Download the Clicknpark app 
  • Create or log in to your profile 
  • Select your booking dates and time 
  • Choose the desired parking spot 
  • Enter the promo code COMMUNAUTO23 and confirm the reservation! 

This is ideal for Communauto round-trip cars, where you do not have the universal parking permit. Clicknpark is a platform that aims to simplify parking. Enjoy!

Conditions

  • No code limit. It is applicable on each reservation.
  • Reservation of a minimum of $10.
  • On any parking reservation of less than 24 hours.
Categories
Communauto Quebec Tips and Tricks

Report damage and cleanliness issues right from the app

It’s possible to notify us of new damage, or a messy car, directly in the Communauto app. Simply click on “Report (damage, cleanliness)” in the main menu.

Here are some guidelines to make your reports even more effective:

What to report?

Via the form now available in the app:

  • Any damage for which you are responsible: (see article 5.1 of the Rules and Regulations for more details on what is mandatory to report).
  • Any significant damage that is not already listed on the damage card located in the vehicle’s glove box:
    • outside the vehicle: visible damage or cracks resulting from an impact or significant rub and clearly requiring intervention on our part, damage to the windshield (crack or chip larger than a dime), etc.
    • inside the vehicle: broken dashboard accessories, tears in fabric (on a seat, or other), etc.
  • Any mess that can be cleaned (i.e. discarded food/wrappers, masks/wipes, pet hair/paw prints) and/or which indicates a flagrant lack of courtesy to others, which is important to denounce.

By phone:

Any problem or damage preventing the use of the vehicle: never leave a voicemail message or use our reporting form to report a problem that requires immediate intervention.

Don’t report:

  • Permanent stains on the seat fabric (unfortunately we will not be able to remove them).
  • Small scuffs or superficial scratches, small rust spots, or barely visible dents.

Avoid sending us more photos than necessary

A picture is already worth a thousand words, and extra photos only add unnecessary processing time.

In addition, to make it easier for us to assess the situation, it’s better to provide us with wider photos rather than a close-up shot. Take a second, closer photo only if necessary (if what you want to draw our attention to isn’t obvious in the first photo). In most cases, a single photo should suffice.

What follow-up should you expect?

Any damage that impacts the drivability of the vehicle, or damage that could quickly get worse without proper attention, will be addressed without delay.

Minor damage that is purely aesthetic in nature, however, is subject to prioritization. This damage is noted on the vehicle damage card to help avoid duplicate reports.

In the case of messy vehicle reports, we also need to prioritize, as it’s not possible to send out a fleet agent after every single report. In this regard, the photos you take and send in are of great help to us. They allow us to move up a vehicle’s cleaning as necessary, and reach out to potential culprits.

It’s thanks to the contribution of as many people as possible that we’ll all be able to “drive cleaner”.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation!

Categories
Quebec Quebec Tips and Tricks Tips and Tricks

Combination Lockbox

We have more and more indoor stations where it is necessary to retrieve an accessory (a key, an access card or a remote control) via a lockbox in order to be able to access the parking lot.

Why are some stations equipped with a box?

  • As mentioned above, there are stations where it is necessary to collect a key (or other accessories) before being able to access the vehicles. Learn more.
  • We also have a number of vehicles located in areas where there is no cellular communication. An accessory is therefore also necessary to access the station and/or the reserved vehicle. You will recognize these stations easily by the “(NoCom)” mention at the end of their name. Learn more.

You will know if a station is equipped with a box or not by clicking on the name of the station, when selecting a vehicle (before booking it), or by clicking on “Important information” in the Communauto app.

Opening and closing the lockbox

It’s simple!

  • To open a box, simply dial the 6-digit combination and turn the centre handle clockwise (to the right).
  • To close, simply put the door back in place.

Be careful! Is the lockbox really closed?

Before leaving, make sure the box is truly closed and locked. Otherwise, its content could be accessible to everyone…and we don’t want that!

Where to find the code?

A 6-digit code is required to open the boxes. You will find the code:

  • In the reservation confirmation message (if you have chosen to receive them)
  • In the list of upcoming trips (click on the reservation to display the details)
  • In the current reservation bar (click on the bar at the top of the screen to display the information).

The codes are different from station to station and can be updated at any time. It is therefore preferable to confirm the code when the time comes to access a box.

Categories
Quebec Tips and Tricks

Electric vehicles: charging instructions

Our Kia Niro’s, with a range of over 400km, are extremely popular. They have traveled the far reaches of Ontario, Gaspésie, Iles-de-la-Madeleine, and even the Maritime provinces!

More electric vehicles will be added to the fleet, but for now, to make sure they continue to run well, a few guidelines are in order.

An electric motor isn’t like a thermal motor. The batteries are delicate, and charging can be unnecessarily expensive.

Level 3 station: Less is more

  1. Do not leave the car charging for more than an hour at a fast-charge station. It prematurely wears down the battery and additional gains are much slower and unnecessarily expensive (cost per hour will double after a 90% charge).

Level 2 station: Don’t spend all day

  1. Recharge the battery according to the residual charge. You wouldn’t put 60 litres of gas in a 40-litre tank! If, for example, the battery is at 50%, 7 hours of charging is more than enough.
  2. Do not leave the car for more than 13 hours on a level 2 station.

A team in charge of…recharging

  1. Never end your trip by leaving the vehicle charging at a public charging station. Let our team take care of that.

The use of Electric Circuit stations is not free. Let’s use them smartly! Fees will be added in the event of improper use.

Here’s a short video to help you out during your first charge:

Now you’re aware of the little things to take into consideration, to ensure our electric cars stay in good shape so you can continue to use them at a good price!

Categories
Quebec Tips and Tricks

Summer demand means book early!

Summer in Quebec has caused demand to explode. We are redoubling our efforts to respond.

Categories
News Quebec

Say hello to the Niro!

Good news! The first 100% electric Niro FLEX vehicles will be available as of today in Montreal. Just in time for the long weekend! In total, 50 Niros will be put into service over the next few days. That means that soon one in two electric vehicles will be a Niro. (50 Niros and 58 Leafs, for a total for 108 electric vehicles.)

Categories
News Press Release Quebec

Communauto increasing its offer despite uncertainty

Montreal, QC. April 8, 2021 – With the arrival of spring and despite the uncertainties related to the pandemic, Communauto, the largest carsharing organization in Canada, is continuing its momentum by adding nearly 500 vehicles to its fleet in 2021. This will increase the total number of vehicles operated by Communauto to about 4,000 by summer, across the 16 cities and regions currently served.

New vehicles are already being entered into service. The cities of Montreal (+260 vehicles) and Toronto (+120 vehicles) will experience the most significant expansion. The other vehicles will be added to the fleet in Halifax (+20), Quebec (+20), Ottawa (+10), Kitchener-Waterloo and Hamilton (+5), Edmonton (+5), Calgary (+10) and Paris, France (+20).

Continuation of electrification

Among the additions to be made in Montreal, 50 vehicles will be the 100% electric Kia Niro, with a range of more than 400 kilometres.

“Communauto is making available to its users the largest fleet of shared electric vehicles in Canada. With this addition, more than one hundred 100% electric vehicles will be available to our users. In total, 50% of our fleet is made up of 100% electric or hybrid vehicles. We would have a lot more if it weren’t for the difficulty manufacturers have in providing them to us,” said Benoît Robert, President and CEO of Communauto.

Dealing with the uncertainty associated with the pandemic

After experiencing an all-time low when the world went on “pause” last April, demand then hit an all-time high during the summer. Since the fall, the continuation of teleworking and engagement in nearby activities and essentials has allowed a certain return to normal, accompanied by sustained growth. But it is difficult to predict the impact of the third wave, especially over a horizon of a few months.

“In the face of this uncertainty, we are striking the best possible balance between the prudence that should guide our decisions, and the need to have a sufficient supply of vehicles to meet the essential needs of our users. Last year the new vehicles arrived very late in the season, which had a negative impact on our ability to meet demand. This year, three quarters of the new vehicles will be in service by the end of June. We will therefore be better able to meet the demand of the summer peak,” said Mr. Robert.

Expansion of the FLEX Zone

In Montreal, the FLEX Zone will be enlarged to include areas of the boroughs of LaSalle and Montreal North. The service area will also be expanded in the Cartierville and Saint-Laurent areas. Coming soon: the opening of a FLEX drop-off point on the south shore.

In Toronto, the FLEX Zone will be expanded north to Eglinton Ave., where residential parking permits exist, and west to Jane St.

Decisions will be made later, depending on the evolution of demand, in the other cities where FLEX service is now available (Edmonton, Calgary and Halifax).

More station-based vehicles, and vehicles offering additional space

The improvement of the offer for station-based vehicles, available by reservation, started in 2018 in all our branches with the introduction of vehicles offering more space (first the Prius V, then Corolla sedans following the Prius V’s exit from the Canadian market), continues again this year. The proportion of these models now exceeds 70% of all station-based fleet.

This decision was made to better position our reservation-based offer for longer journeys in complement to our FLEX offer, which is more suited for local trips.

After Edmonton last summer, it will be Toronto and Calgary’s turn this year to see the emergence of a network of station-based vehicles.

“The close integration of the offer of vehicles available with and without reservation has in a way become the signature of Communauto. We have found, with experience, that this is the best way to meet all the vehicle mobility needs of our users, and studies confirm it is also the most efficient way to optimize the environmental and urban benefits of carsharing. This is why we are working very hard to try to deploy both services wherever we can,” said Mr. Robert.

– 30 –

About Communauto

Founded in Quebec City in 1994, Communauto is the largest carsharing service in Canada and the oldest in North America. Present on two continents in 16 cities (Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Hamilton, Guelph, London, Kingston, Ottawa, Gatineau, the regions of Montreal and Quebec, Sherbrooke, Halifax, and Paris, France). Communauto’s primary mission is to reduce the impact of vehicles on cities, while improving mobility access within the city’s core.

Source:
Marco Viviani
VP, Strategic Development
(514) 316-6500

Categories
Quebec Tips and Tricks

Three tips about emergency car kits

Quebec winters are a mixed bag: wind, blowing snow, snowfalls and ice storms. This is even more true on the roads, which can be clear one minute, then covered in snow or ice the next. Even though people in Quebec are used to driving according to the road conditions, don’t forget that any driver, even an experienced one, can run into problems.

Categories
Quebec Tips and Tricks

Tips for a worry-free winter

Tips for a worry-free winter

FLEX vehicles

Snow removal credit

During winter, a credit of up to 15 minutes is applied to your trip for snow removal. Your billed trip time will begin when you start driving, or 15 minutes after you unlock the vehicle, whichever comes first.

The snow removal credit is applied regardless of the weather. If you use more than one FLEX vehicle in a day, the credit applies to each vehicle used. If you happen to use the same vehicle again during the day, the credit will only apply once.

The goal of this policy is to give you the best value by only charging you for the time you use the vehicle.

Snow removal operation and parking bans

During snowstorms, we might offer free use periods to members to help keep FLEX vehicles off the street and out of the way of snow removal operations.

It’s a win-win situation – the more it snows, the more generous our offers are!

To learn when these programs are active, watch for emails which will contain the details, or follow our socials to be able to act quickly. Vehicles disappear quickly once a snow event is announced, so keep an eye out during snowy weather!

Safety Tips

Give yourself extra time!

Winter comes with its share of surprises. To avoid being late, we suggest you plan a little extra time for your round-trip reservations in Edmonton or consider extending to give yourself a little extra time.

Remove all the snow before departing

Please be sure to remove all the snow around and on the vehicle before driving away, including the hood, roof, and headlights. Don’t forget to de-ice the wipers. If they remain stuck, they might break, at your expense.

Pay attention to parking signage

You are not permitted to abandon the vehicle at an unauthorized location – just as if it were your own car. Pay close attention to temporary signage for snow removal. See the Calgary and Edmonton parking rules.

Don’t forget gas and washer fluid

As usual, make sure the gas tank is at least a quarter full when you return the vehicle.

If you use all of the washer fluid in the tank, it must be refilled. Submit your receipts through the mobile app to get reimbursed. Please use cold weather windshield washer fluid (-40°), year-round.

Condensation

To fight condensation in an efficient manner, it’s advised to set the air intake dial to exterior rather than recirculation. Otherwise, the interior windows will remain covered in mist.

ABS brakes

All of our vehicles are equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS). If you feel a vibration in the pedal when you brake on a slippery road, it is most likely because the anti-lock brakes are in action.

Please be considerate

Please shake off your boots and the car mats to avoid snow or water accumulation in the car!

…And drive safely!

We can’t stress this enough! In winter conditions, drive carefully and slowly, and try to brake well in advance. Don’t hesitate to refresh your memory on starting up a car in cold weather by reading the manual located in the glove box of our cars.