Nov 27, 2008

Simply Wheelz is a Way to Get Cheap Transport

Looking for a cheap rental car on your next trip? Simply Wheelz, a poorly spelled but interesting concept from The Hertz Corporation, puts you in the driver's seat with faster, easier and more affordable access to today's most popular rental cars. The new, low-buck concept has recently expanded to Los Angeles and San Diego airports in California and to Miami International and West Palm Beach airports in Florida. With rates starting as low as $99 a week through Dec. 15, 2008, the new concept offers an easy-to-use Web site for reservations and a self-service vehicle-rental kiosk. The company also accepts third-party reservations, via travel agents and online booking channels, and reservations via its website.

“While there are numerous economic headwinds facing the American public, people continue to travel,” said Mark P. Frissora, chairman and CEO, The Hertz Corporation. “Trip dynamics are evolving, and Simply Wheelz targets the 60 percent of leisure travelers, who now book their car rentals online, as well as those primarily focused on price.”

Designed for simplicity, customers can reserve one of the six vehicle types offered, and when arriving at the Hertz airport location, they rent their vehicles using a self-service kiosk. The kiosk scans a bar code from a printed online reservation or the renter's driver's license, the customer selects a few additional options -- such as child seats or GPS and insurance/waiver options -- and then a vehicle is assigned, and the kiosk prints the rental agreement. Once the rental transaction is complete, customers go to their car and proceed off the lot. What they do after that is largely up to them, but they are required to return the car at some point in the future.