New Avis Driver Service Signals Shift

Avis Rent A Car’s is now offering its customers a new option for members of its frequent renter program.  It will now be possible to hire a driver in 10 popular destinations across the US, should it expand or spur similar offerings from other car rental companies, could lead some corporate travel buyers to reconsider the car rental and chauffeured transportation suppliers they choose and the traveller charges they’ll reimburse.

Avis’ driver program, available for an additional $30 per hour, and is available with a three-hour minimum and within a 60-mile radius of the Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., city centres, launched last month and if proves a success will expand  to other cities. Though its domestic competitors have not yet announced similar programs, a widely available program could affect whether buyers spring for chauffeured transportation services when a less expensive car rental program exists.

“Avis is on to something that has the potential of being a very successful addition to their services, and my sources tell me this is going to continue in the industry,” said Dav El Chauffeured Transportation Network CEO Scott Solombrino. “It’s a paradigm change. I’ve seen a couple in my career, and this is really going to be one of the big ones.”

“If it works, and Avis is successful doing it, others will follow, as this is the nature of the car rental industry”