Hertz Ranked Best Overall in Survey

The Hertz Corporation, which is the biggest general use car hire brand in the world, has been voted the Best Overall Car Rental Company in the 2012-13 Car Rental Survey from Zagat. The survey was carried out among a sample of its registered users from around the nation between January 22 and February 12 of this year.

There are 19 categories in the survey, and ten US-based car hire firms were compared by Zagat’s registered users. Aside from being voted the best overall, Hertz was also voted the best in 14 other categories – leading them all but three. The categories it won include:

• #1 Top Rated Most Popular
• #1 Top Rated – Vehicles
• #1 Top Rated – Reliability
• #1 Top Rated – Service
• Best for Business Travel
• Best for Leisure Travel
• Best Counter Staff
• Best (Self-Service) Kiosk
• Best Loyalty Program
• Best Green Options
• Best Airport Rentals
• Best Car Return Experience
• Best Shuttle Service
• Best Website

Hertz Corporation chairman and chief executive Mark P. Frissora says it’s an honour to achieve top ranking in 15 categories – including Best Overall Car Rental Company – in the car rental survey by Zagat. The consumer survey-based information provider is compatible with top quality. Being recognised as the best in several categories by savvy surveyors – including reliability and service – is a proud accomplishment. This is also a testament to their intense focus of providing the best customer service and value with innovative, high-touch, high-tech rental services and products, he added.

Zagat Survey was started in 1979, and its reviews and ratings are based on a worldwide network of surveyors. It has become the most trusted source in the world for helping consumers make informed decisions about nightspots, restaurants, hotels, attractions and other activities. The surveyors are knowledgeable and frequent consumers in every category they rate.

For the Car Rental Survey, the surveyors hired cars an average 11.4 times in the last year. Predominantly men, they rented vehicles an average 4.7 times for leisure and 6.7 times for business purposes. Since Hertz didn’t lead every category in the Car Rental Survey, that means the other four categories had different leaders. National Car Rental was awarded the Best Bang for the Buck, while Enterprise Rent-A-Car was voted Best for Neighbourhood Rentals, Best for Deals and Promotions, and Best for Car Pick-Up Experience.

However, National Car Rental and Avis Rent A Car System held top rankings in a few categories as well. National placed second in the categories: Best for Vehicles, Best for Reliability, Best for Service and Best Overall. Avis was voted third in the categories: Best for Vehicles, Best for Reliability and Best Overall. Enterprise also won Second Most Popular, second Best Bang for the Buck and third Best for Service. Hertz was rated third Best Bang for the Buck.

Zagat co-chairman Tim Zagat says that it comes as no surprise that Hertz, National and Avis took leading honours in the survey, as he has closely followed the car hire industry for the last 20 years. However, the degree of victory Hertz has achieved is most impressive, he added.