University and College Program
I-GO is a non-profit car sharing organization committed to providing affordable transportation options for students and faculty on university campuses located in Chicago, Evanston and Oak Park.
Forget car payments, oil changes and maintenance hassles. All of that is included in your member plan rate, plus you get insurance, gas, 24-hour assistance and reserved parking spaces on or near campus. On top of that, you’re helping the environment by reducing emissions and congestion. To learn more about I-GO visit our How it Works section on our website.
University and College Partners
We have cars located on or near the following campuses located in Chicago, Evanston and Oak Park. Please review the specifics of each program, for they vary by University. For more information on how to become a University Partner, please contact Richard Kosmacher at Richard@igocars.org. If you are applying with a foreign license, please obtain a copy of your driving record (in English) from the country where it was issued before you apply. More Information.
- Columbia College
I-GO offers $25 membership for Columbia College students and faculty with Promo Code D25Columbia. (After your driving record is approved, you will need to provide your school ID number.) - DePaul University
I-GO offers $25 membership for DePaul University students, faculty and staff with Promo Code D25Depaul. (After your driving record is approved, you will need to provide your school ID number. - Harrington College of Design
I-GO offers $25 membership for Harrington College of Design students, faculty and staff with Promo Code D25HCD. (After your driving record is approved, you will need to provide your school ID number.) - Illinois Institute of Technology
I-GO cars located on campus. Join for $25 with Promo Code D25IIT (After your driving record is approved, you will need to provide your school ID number.) - Loyola University
I-GO cars located in Loyola lot on Albion plus other I-GO cars nearby. Join for $25 with Promo Code D25LOYOLA. (After your driving record is approved, you will need to provide your school ID number.) - North Park University
Congratulations University students, faculty and staff. Join for $25 with Promo Code D25NORTHPARK (After your driving record is approved, you will need to provide your school ID number.) - Northwestern University
I-GO cars on both Evanston and downtown campus. Join for $25 with Promo Code D25NWU. (After your driving record is approved, you will need to provide your school ID number.) - Roosevelt University
I-GO cars are now located near Roosevelt University. Students, faculty and staff can Join for $25 with Promo Code D25ROOSEVELT. (After your driving record is approved, you will need to provide - The School of the Art Institute
I-GO offers $25 membership for The School of the Art Institute’s students, faculty and staff with Promo Code D25SAIC. (After your driving record is approved, you will need to provide your school ID number.) - University of Chicago
I-GO cars on campus and around Hyde Park. Click here for full description of special program and discounts. - University of Illinois Chicago
I-GO cars on campus and around the West Loop. Join for $25 with Promo Code D25UIC(After your driving record is approved, you will need to provide your school ID number.)
Students 18-20 Program
- To qualify, you must have at least 2 years of driving experience with no traffic violations or at fault accidents.
- Complete an online application and include your promo code.
- Email or send the Parent/Guardian Acknowledgementand Consent Form to your parents and have them fill it out. They can fax it to us at (773) 278-3840 or scan it into your computer and email it to info@igocars.org along with a copy of the declarations page* of your current auto policy.
- Once we have received and processed all of the required information, we will charge your credit card for the application fee and the membership fee (if applicable.) You will receive your New Member packet within 3-5 business days after we receive the completed Parental/Guardian Acknowledgement & Consent form and the insurance declarations page. Included in your kit will be your Member Number and PIN, which you will use when you make a I-GO reservation. You will also receive a smartcard which will allow you access into the vehicles.
* The declarations page of your current auto policy shows you as a covered driver and policy limits. I-GO provides full insurance coverage, but $300,000 of additional liability coverage is required. If you have been driving under your parent or guardian’s insurance policy up until now, check with your parent or guardian to see what kind of policy they have.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is I-GO?
I-GO is a Chicago-based non-profit car sharing company dedicated to reducing congestion and improving mobility. Car-sharing is a rapidly expanding industry that provides individuals and organizations with automated, self-service, 24-hour access to a decentralized fleet of vehicles.
How does I-GO work?
You share access to the I-GO vehicles located on campus with other members. You reserve a car online or by phone, you drive to see friends, to run errands, or just to get away from campus. You pay by the hour and the mile, while I-GO covers gas, insurance and maintenance.
Reserve. Reservations can be made online at www.igocars.org or by calling (773) 278-4446. Choose the location, and date and time that you need, then check for availability. Once you have finished making a reservation, you will receive a confirmation with detailed instructions for finding the car, and a map showing the car’s location.
Drive. At the time of your reservation, go to your car and hold your I-GO Smartcard over the card reader on the front windshield. This will unlock the doors. Once in the car, open the glove box and find the fob and key located in the Key Pad. Pull the fob out of the Key Pad. The car is now yours for the duration of the trip. If you need to make mid-trip stops, take the key with you and use it.
Return. At the end of your trip, drive back to your car’s home
parking spot - where you started your trip. Before you get out of the car, insert the fob and key back into the Key Pad in the glove box. With the key back in its place, check for personal belongings, turn off interior and exterior lights, roll up all windows, and remove any trash. After you step out of the car, place your I-GO Smartcard over the card reader again and wait for the doors to lock automatically. Completing this two-step process of returning the key and swiping the I-GO Smartcard sends your trip data to our billing department and completes your trip. It’s that simple.
What does I-GO cost?
Students pay normal I-GO rates according to the Plan you choose. All I-GO members pay an annual membership fee of $25. All driving plans includes gas, insurance, and 24/7 on-call assistance.
To learn more about our pricing structure, see Pricing.
What insurance does I-GO provide?
Our under 21 coverage meets state minimums for accidents, $5000 per person limit per accident for medical payments. If the I-GO member is determined to be at-fault, that member is responsible for $500 of the deductible.
If you’d like to know your state’s minimum requirements, you can easily find that information on the Internet. We cannot guarantee that its information is up-to-date, but click here for a website that provides a helpful state-by-state summary.
Which cars can I reserve?
You can reserve any of the I-GO vehicles. I-GO is working closely with many independent and non-profit car sharing organizations in North America. We are currently working toward offering free membership for I-GO members who are traveling to our partner cities. Call us at least a week prior to your trip and we will coordinate the details with our car sharing partners and get you driving! Call 773.278.4446 and let us know where you are traveling.
Can I reserve a vehicle over a weekend or all day?
You can reserve a car for as little as half an hour and up to 24 hours at one time. You can make a reservation at the last second if the car you want is available, or up to a year in advance. The length of your reservation is up to you; you simply pay for the time you reserve and have the vehicle.
Can I let my friends use my I-GO Card to access and use the vehicle?
This is a big NO. Only approved I-GO members can reserve and drive I-GO cars. Not only could you lose your I-GO membership and be fined if we learn you have given your I-GO Smartcard or other I-GO information for friends to use, but if something were to happen during a I-GO trip your friend took on your account -like an accident- you would be held financially responsible. Our insurance would not cover that accident.
What is I-GO’s reservation cancellation policy?
I-GO reservations can be cancelled without charge within an hour of making the reservation or more than eight hours before scheduled use. If you cancel outside this window, you will be charged for all hours reserved less any hours used by another member. If you fail to cancel your reservation altogether, you will be charged for the entire amount. If you cancel after your scheduled reservation has begun, you will be charged for all hours reserved (less any hours used by another member) regardless of when you made the reservation. If you return early, cancel immediately so other members can have access to the vehicle. They’ll pay for whatever portion of the recycled time they use and lower your bill.
You say you pay for gas. How does that work?
One of the responsibilities of membership is to help keep the car fueled. If the gas gauge goes below a 1/4 tank during your trip, you’re required to stop at a gas station and fill it up the tank. We provide a Wright Express fuel card in the vehicle. You pump with regular unleaded gas. Leave the receipt with your member # on it and we give you a $2 credit on your bill for your trouble.
What if I’m running late?
If you know you’re going to be late, call immediately at 773 278-4446 and try to extend your reservation. The sooner the better. If there’s no other reservation right after yours, we can extend your reservation. If another member is waiting, we will either switch them to another vehicle or put them in a taxi. In either of those cases, there is a late fee. If you call us at least 30 minutes before the end of your scheduled reservation, part of the fee may be waived. You will always be charged for time used on your trip. It definitely pays to plan ahead and be on time!
What happens if I get into an accident or receive a ticket?
You will be responsible for any tickets you receive, and should an accident occur in which you are at fault, you are required to cover the first $500 of the deductible. In the case of an at-fault accident your insurance, and therefore your I-GO membership, will be terminated. If anything happens during your trip that you would like help with or if you have any questions at all, just dial 773 278-4446 and we’ll help you out. If you are in an accident and fail to report it, we will fine you $1,000 and terminate your membership. The most important thing about being a good I-GO member, next to being a good driver, is communication—be honest and keep us informed. Do this and you’ll have good I-GO karma!
What if I have a problem with the vehicle?
If you encounter problems before, during, or after a trip we ask that you call 773 278-4446 to connect with our 24-hour Member Care Center. Whether you get a flat, have trouble accessing a car, or the car isn’t there when you go to pick it up, we will get you moving (either in another I-GO vehicle or we will pay for a taxi, round trip).
What happens when I turn 21?
If you have been an I-GO for Undergrads member for 6 months or more when you turn 21, you will be automatically switched over to our standard I-GO membership plan.
What if I still have more questions?
Please visit the other pages at http://www.igocars.org/. Please keep in mind that the content on the main website is for drivers who are 21 years or older. Since this program is for drivers 18-20, there may be a few differences. Or, you can call I-GO at 773 278-4446.
