Posted on April 01, 2008 by Fiona Hilliard

A recent survey carried out by car rental company Avis has found that price transparency is the deciding factor most prized by clients when hiring a car.  The choice offered by the rental firm’s fleet and the availability of suitable vehicles are also likely to influence the choice of rental company.  2,000 people took part in the survey, supplying the car hire company with their opinions on what makes a great car hire company.  Unsurprisingly, price transparency came out in first place, with most customers eager to know the final total at the beginning of the rental process rather than being shocked by extra surcharges later on.  Of those polled, 65% said they wanted to know the final price of the rental early on in the transaction.  Meanwhile, 62% felt that car hire firms should make more of an effort to display all-inclusive prices rather than ones that do not include taxes, fees and other extras.  Of the participants quizzed, one in two renters told the survey that they rated the ability to choose their car’s make as important to them.  They also said that they would like to receive a guarantee that their preferred vehicle would be available. 

Commenting on the survey, Daniel McCarthy, commercial director of Avis said the data would prove to be “valuable feedback” and assured customers that the results would be taken into consideration in order to match the needs of renters.  Argus Car Hire meanwhile, has always employed a transparent pricing policy, meaning customers always know exactly what they’re getting for their money.