This is how Zipcar works: you sign up and pay an annual $35 fee. When you need a car, you walk over to where the cars are parked and, as the company's online instructional video explains:  

"Just hold your Zipcard over the card reader located on the windshield until you hear the beep…then the car will unlock."

Then you pay hourly rates to use the car.

Linda Tucker is with the city's Transportation Department.

"It's great for the economy, it's great for the environment and it's just all good."

She says it's also in line with Sacramento's goal of being a walk-able city.

Authorizing the car-sharing program is on tonight's city council agenda…and unless there's some unexpected speed bump…

"Cars will be on the street tomorrow morning." 

Tucker says Zipcar will start with 10 cars available at five sites in downtown and midtown Sacramento.