Young Scot members can now use their cards to ‘unlock Scotland’ by hiring Co-wheels Car Club cars in nine cities and towns across the country. As part of the scheme, announced to coincide with the Year of Young People, Co-wheels is also offering free membership and credit towards their first rental.

There are more than 670,000 Young Scot cardholders in Scotland. Now, all members between 18 and 26, who have held a full driver’s license for more than a year, have a key to a Co-wheels car in their pocket.

The club, a social enterprise car share company, has locations in eight Scottish cities and towns. They include Huntly, Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, North Berwick, Dunbar, Haddington, and Dumfries. Young Scot cardholders will also have access to the Co-wheels’ fleet of cars across the UK.

Co-wheels provides low emission, hybrid, and electric cars, and the club offers an easy and efficient means of transport, especially as an an alternative for young people who don’t own a car.

The company has been working with Dundee City Council and the National Entitlement Card Programme Office to trial the discount and smart card technology in the Dundee area since 2015. Following the success of the initiative, from today, the programme is now available across all of their other locations in Scotland.

Co-wheels Scotland Manager Tony Archer said: “Owning and insuring a car can be so expensive for young people that they get priced out of the market – sharing a car is not just better for the environment but it opens up the freedom of car ownership without being tied down by the year-round costs.”

Louise Macdonald, Chief Executive of Young Scot, added: “Car clubs like Co-wheels provide a great alternative to car ownership. They can open a wide range of opportunities, from visiting Scotland’s wild spaces and exploring with friends, to simply visiting an out of town shopping area.

“The partnership with Co-wheels is a great discount. It’s also a brilliant example of using the smart technology found in every National Entitlement Card.”

Members can book their car online, via a smartphone app, or over the phone, and get their card activated to unlock any Co-wheels car. Using their discount, they will pay no membership fee – usually £25 – don’t need to meet a £5 monthly minimum spend, and each will receive £20 in driving credit. The membership code for Co-Wheels is here.

Young people can apply for or request a new Young Scot card here.