Car Rental Blog

Many Car rental companies both off-airport and airport locations have seen an increase in their transactions over the last year for this year Thanksgiving weekend. As projected by AAA, approximately 31.7 million travelers (82.8 percent of all holiday travelers) who were expected to go by motor vehicle, a 2.6 percent increase from the 30.8 million who drove a year ago. Many have chosen to rent a car, than use their own personal vehicle this year and so the increase in car rental transactions.

Friend of mine who flew in to LAX picked up a compact car from enterprise for $129 a week. its a steal. Likewise many rental car companies gave away free upgrades and encouraged customers to rent or keep for a week or longer so as to keep their counters as free as they can to take on the last minute renters. Off-airport locations were chosen as they are much cheaper than the airport locations given the fact that a customer has to pay more taxes at the airport.

On 13th november while I was on vacation I had received an email from patricia hite regarding her car rental getting struck in the Hoh Rain Forest and asking for a suggestion as to how she can save some dollars from the rental car company Thrifty.I logged on to thrifty.com to check to see what the terms and conditions read about the natural calamities and how or if at all a car rental will be covered during such situations.I reserve these comments for patricia hite to help her. To read the full story as reported on kirotv.com news channel website the story goes like this…Man’s Rental Car Stuck In Rain Forest After Storm

Claude Hite was seeking adventure when he left his Tampa, Fla., home for a camping trip with a friend in the Hoh Rain Forest. But becoming caught in heavy rains and having to leave his rental car behind was more than he anticipated.. Read More ..

A California-based rental car company that allegedly used Global Positioning System satellite devices to charge customers for out-of-state travel was ordered today to pay restitution to those customers, Attorney General Bill Lockyer and San Mateo County District Attorney James Fox announced.

In a settlement stemming from a lawsuit alleging improper business practices, Fox Rent A Car Inc., said to be California’s largest independent car rental company, will pay approximately $700,000 in civil penalties and restitution to customers, according to the attorney general’s office.

Fox Rent A Car was sued jointly by the state attorney general and the San Mateo County district attorney for allegedly using GPS devices in its cars to track renters’ locations and for charging customers excessive penalties for driving outside of California, Nevada and Arizona; for forcing renters to buy liability insurance; and for other practices such as charging for damage to a rental car months after the vehicle was returned. Read More ..

Sequoia Capital India has announced an investment of $7 million in Carzonrent India Pvt Ltd, the exclusive long-term licensee of Hertz in India. A joint statement claims that Carzonrent is the market leader in the organized car rentals market in India through its Hertz branded services. They also have online booking service. With Sequoia’s investment, the company plans to expand its services to new cities, strengthen its existing offerings as well as enter into related businesses. Sandeep Singhal, Managing Director, Sequoia Capital India, will be joining the board of Carzonrent India.
Carzonrent is the exclusive licensee of Hertz for India. It offers 2 driving preferences – Chauffeur Drive and Self Drive and within each of these there are several rental options like - a simple airport pick & drop, local usage, intercity travel and one-way rental to more customized ones like long-term rentals, fleet management and operating lease.

As the nation’s Big Three automakers remake themselves into smaller, leaner companies, the rental-car business is suffering collateral damage.

All three have cut production this year to bring supply in line with lower demand for their products, and further cuts are inevitable next year. They’re also trying to wean themselves off rebates and other incentives to bring sales prices closer to the sticker.

That means fewer cars are available for low- profit bulk sales to rental companies, and some industry analysts and rental-company officials say that already has led to price increases at the airport service counter

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) has vetoed a bill that would have allowed local governments to impose a tax surcharge on car rentals.

As reported on heartland.org The bill would have allowed an additional $2-a-day local tax on rental car customers.

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According to Budget news release dated 10/31/06 mentions AARP Services and Budget Rent A Car System, Inc. have teamed up to offer AARP members a money-saving benefit on car rentals. AARP members will receive up to 20 percent off car rental rates as well as bonus offers such as free upgrades, free weekend days and dollars off weekly rentals. Coupons for bonus offers can be found at www.aarp.org/budget. Read More ..