According to Thrifty Car Rental managing director Robert Burton, there are seven key services that should be offered by a rental firm.
These are:
Burton said: 'It is important to ensure that the rental company being used cannot only supply the above products and services, but also offers high quality service, with accurate billings, providing all this under one roof.
'The size of the rental requirement will determine whether the fleet operator uses more than one company for all its requirements. It may be better to run with two suppliers, to ensure competition between the two rental companies and keep both 'honest' with their services.'
Some rental suppliers often look to tie up fleets into long three-year deals, which Burton believes is not a sensible commercial move.
He said: 'So much can happen in six months, let alone every year. Too much emphasis is placed on the long-term nature of the deals, when what customers want is good service, with competitive prices, all the time.'
Burton also warned fleet managers to be careful about using rental firms for long-term provision, thinking they are saving money, which can result in some fleets incurring unnecessary charges when cars are replaced.
He said: 'Rental vehicles can be utilised for long-term replacement but the rental company may have refurbish-ment charges every six months when the cars are replaced. This can be prohibitive but, equally, company car drivers may enjoy the use of a new car every six months. With no servicing and tyre replacement costs, it may be the solution.'
Rental checklist
Thrifty has compiled a checklist for fleet managers to ensure they get the best service:
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