Car Update: Rent, Share or Borrow
These days there’s more than one way to get the vehicle you need – or even the one you’ve always dreamed of
These days there’s more than one way to get the vehicle you need – or even the one you’ve always dreamed of
Gone are the days when the biggest decision car renters faced was which color Grand Am to pick out from the endless rows lined up in an airport parking lot. New options for renting, sharing and even borrowing vehicles are creating a range of personalized possibilities for travelers to choose from, regardless of their destination. Here’s a look at the latest array of options for travel transportation.
Rent
Silvercar is leading the charge to digitize the entire car rental process, while offering a great car at the same time. With no lines, no paperwork and no counters to wait in front of, the entire rental process is now app-based. To keep things simple, they only offer one car option, a fleet of shiny new silver Audi A4s. Cars are reserved on the Silvercar app. If you’re arriving by plane, depending on your destination, Silvercar will either pick you up curbside or an airport shuttle will take you to the local facility where the app even unlocks the car for you.
The cars come loaded with Audi’s technology including Bluetooth connectivity, GPS navigation, Sirius XM satellite radio and even in-car high-speed WiFi. They also come with luxury features like a leather interior, sunroof and the legendary Audi quattro all-wheel-drive system for safety. And if you have any questions, the friendly concierge staff at each location is ready to familiarize you with your Silver Audi A4.
Rates are from $59 to $89 per day depending on the location, the day and the demand, and the company constantly offers online and social media discounts and incentives. Insurance options are clearly defined and offered at an extra charge. Silvercar has locations in eight cities around the US and also rents Audi Q5 SUVs at their Denver location during ski season. Silvercar also actively pursues and promotes referrals from existing customers, offering the existing renter and the new renter cash incentives.
Companies like Enterprise Holdings, which has been renting cars for over 50 years, are also adapting to and even enhancing new technology. The company operates Alamo Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental. National’s app offers features like“VIrtual Aisle”which allows counter-bypass.
Emerald Club members can conduct the entire rental transaction virtually, even seeing the real-time vehicle inventory. Renters can reserve the specific vehicle they want, then proceed directly to that vehicle on arrival. The enhanced real-time Virtual Aisle feature is available in 19 National locations in the US, but the app’s other functions are ready for Emerald Club members anywhere they rent.
For those looking for a bit more horsepower under the hood of their rental car, Hertz’s Adrenaline Collection offers a nice selection of American muscle in 19 different locations across the US. Choices – all of which deliver at least 400 horsepower – include the Ford Mustang GT, Chevrolet Camaro SS and even Corvettes.
The company doesn’t stop with American Muscle; their Hertz Dream Car rental vehicles are some of the world’s greatest rides