Rentals good for car sales, says Avis

A new survey from Avis indicates that many people consider buying a car they have driven as a rental. Many drivers seriously consider their rental experience when purchasing a new car.

Of those surveyed, 56 per cent said that their perception of a manufacturer’s range of vehicles improved.

Almost half (48 per cent) of rental customer respondents in the UK said they planned on purchasing a new vehicle within the next year. Of all the drivers surveyed in the UK, almost half said they were “slightly or much more likely” to consider buying the car they had most recently rented, while 44 per cent planned on a car they had recently hired.

The survey also found that the average rental car has 105 drivers, meaning that a car manufacturer can significantly improve its profile by putting their products on the rental market.

“This survey was commissioned to find out the true impact on a driver’s future car buying decision and the results were very positive,” Paul Hainsworth, Avis fleet director.

“We understand manufacturers have to control rental volumes more carefully, but this proves they could lose out on future sales, many to drivers who have never experienced their brand, if they do not keep up a presence in the rental arena.”

The survey questioned over 2,500 drivers in five countries in Europe.

www.avis.com