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Readers Rarely Rent Cars

January 30, 2013 Environment, Featured, Transportation 8 Comments
ABOVE: The Enterprise Rent-A-Car location on Washington Ave, just east of Jefferson Ave

ABOVE: The Enterprise Rent-A-Car location on Washington Ave, just east of Jefferson Ave

Nearly two-thirds of readers last week indicated they never or rarely rent a car (original post).

How Often Do You Rent A Car?

  1. Never 18 [23.38%]
  2. Rarely 32 [41.56%]
  3. Occasionally 22 [28.57%]
  4. Constantly 5 [6.49%]

St. Louis-based Enterprise is the largest in the rental car business:

Enterprise Rent-A-Car was established in St. Louis, Missouri in 1957 by Jack C. Taylor. Originally known as “Executive Leasing Company”, in 1962 Taylor renamed the company “Enterprise” after the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, which he served on during World War II. The current company was formed in 2009 following Enterprise’s 2007 acquisition of Vanguard Automotive Group, the parent company of National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car. (Wikipedia)

But this month a new company started offering rental car service in Dallas’ DFW airport that may shake up the industry:

Booking a reservation is as easy as picking a location (for now, just DFW), and selecting a date and time for pickup and return. Users can specify their flight details, but it’s not necessary. This information can also be added on Silvercar’s website, including profile information or reservation info. But since using the service requires the app for unlocking the vehicle, potential customers shouldn’t try to book anything unless they have an iPhone or Android phone and can download the app.

Yes, the process is based around a smartphone app. Most likely anyone that can afford $110/day to rent an Audi A4 is carrying a smartphone. Many car sharing services also use the customer’s smartphone to unlock the car so extending it to airport rentals is a logical next step.

– Steve Patterson

  • JZ71

    And your point is? That car sharing is better than owning? That few of this blog’s readers travel for business? That a smartphone app is better than the current rental process, where humans are involved and employed?

    Being married and owning three vehicles between the two of us, renting isn’t really a necessity, locally, we just rent for personal use when we fly somewhere. And living in our 80+ home in south city, we have no parking/storage issues, either – on and off-street parking works for how we and our neighbors live.

  • Eric

    “Nearly two-thirds of readers last week indicated they never or rarely rent a car”

    I would look at it the opposite way: 77% say they do rent a car at least sometimes. Since presumably few of us would rent a car if their own car is with them, for 77% of us rental cars fill a mobility need that is not provided by anything else.

    I am part of the 23%, but as a kid I remember waiting for what felt like ages while my dad filled out paperwork for airport car rentals, so I’m happy if anything can speed that up.

  • JZ71
  • RyleyinSTL

    The Wife Unit and myself rent frequently when traveling for work/pleasure, perhaps once or twice a month, but basically never locally. I’d venture to guess this would be the basic situation for most middle class folks.

    Of interest to me is the outlandish cost of renting locally. A full size rental, like a Taurus or Impala, can cost $50-$60/day in STL. I rented a Taurus last week in Tampa and paid only ~$16/day. That is some difference. If someone in the STL area that doesn’t own a car, is looking to rent often, they’d be better off living some other place….not to mention they would need to add the cost of insurance to that price tag as they wouldn’t already be carrying any.

  • samizdat

    As part of a home improvement project (cedar fence and Versa-Lok retaining wall @ the alley, replacing chain link and failing concrete block), I demolished my garage (failing foundations, anyway). I rented a Ford F250 extended cab from Broadway and hauled a few thousand pounds of concrete to a recycling center on Page. After I had loaded it by hand, btw. Also took advantage of the City dump, and took the wood debris there. I would only rent when it is necessary. Actually, I look at all of the people driving around in trucks like this, and hauling zip, nada, bupkiss, and I wonder why they paid so much $$$ for an item they don’t use. Strange. Still, it was fun driving around a beast such as that. Didn’t compare though to the big dumptrucks dropping off concrete and asphalt, and then picking up recycled materiel.

    Cost? For one-day rental (all I needed; needless to say, I was busy), including gas, I spent…damn, what was it? $86 or so. Not bad, considering that’s about one-fifth of the average cost-per-month for a truck kitted similarly. (Damn thing was like a really nice sedan inside; I was afraid of getting it dirty, lol)

    • JZ71

      absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand, but had to pass this on: http://www.beersamizdat.net/

      • samizdat

        HA! Thanks, Jim. I saw another website called “American Samizdat” a few years ago. He was a bit of what I would call a Drone-bamabot.

        I took that name as an homage only. I wouldn’t even begin to claim the courage exhibited by those groups and individuals who practiced samizdat in the CCCP. Just a little tribute to all of those men and women around the planet who literally risk their lives speaking out against corruption, injustice, predatory capitalism and excessive profit, and the destruction of the Rule of Law. Listening to NPR yesterday, I heard a story of reporters and activists who were against illegal logging in Cambodia who were murdered in their efforts to expose this practice. Surprise, surprise…those that did the crime were affiliated with the Cambodian military. Needless to say, the Cambodian gubmint papered over the whole thing. No charges, no investigation.

        What’s really sad is that when the monsoon rains come along, the denuded countryside will almost certainly be washed into a river, and along the way the mudslides will take the lives of numerous people. Between illegal logging and hillside shantytowns, the world is a tough place to live for the poor.

  • James Reynolds

    Using local car dealerships to rent cars is always a better, and cheaper option than dedicated rental car services. I get my rental cars in Augusta, GA at a dealership right down the street from me. Has anyone here ever over-paid, or had to pay hidden charges with a rental?

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