Why Rent from Independent Car Rental Agencies?

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There are many reasons why you should choose an independent agency over one of the big names in the car rental business. You are more likely to be satisfied with you car rental when you rent from a locally owned and operated company, than from one of the rental giants. This is because with the smaller companies you are going to receive better service and better prices; it is their goal to make you happy. With a major agency, you run the risk of being over charged, and becoming one of their many 'face-less' customers.

Top 5 Reasons To Rent From An Independent Agency

Below is an in depth look at the many reasons to rent with an independent agency; and here at Car Rental Express we can put you in touch with the best independent agencies out there.

Policies-Rules are not necessarily set in stone!
Some rules are meant to be broken, and independent car rental agencies are more flexible than the large chains. The policies and regulations are made by the people you are dealing with, not some 'head' of the company, located on the other side of the country. Because you are dealing directly with those that set the rules, you are more likely to be able to take advantage and resolve most issues without any hassle. The independent agency is concerned about making the consumer happy and has a strong interest in making sure the rental happens.

The most common problem when renting a car from a major company is negotiating a 'deal' if you are planning to use more than the allotted free mileage. It will be next to impossible to get a better deal. However, if you are renting from an independent agency, you are renting from a business person that is interested in making the rental happen, and someone that will be more likely to propose a 'deal' if more than the free mileage is required.

Another very important problem is the cash versus credit phenomenon. Almost all large car rental agencies will not allow cash rentals, and require you have a credit card. The reason for this is because they do not have the 'time' to do a credit check on the customer, but instead rely on the credit card company to do so. Most independent rental agencies will rent with a cash deposit, which many people would prefer. Although most people have credit cards these days, many do not like to use them for such things.

Customer Service-You deserve the best!
The problem with major car rental chains is that they do not need to be concerned with customer service, as they do not need to rely on the word of mouth advertising. With a major company that has countless locations across the world, you become a faceless nobody in a sea of countless customers. Whereas with an independent agency you are a very important customer, as small businesses rely on the word of mouth. So if you are happy with your rental experience, and you spread the word they get more business, this way they strive to make you as happy as possible and give you everything you need. A recent survey by the Travel Industry Association of America determined that 43% of travel info was collected from friend or family referrals. If you are happy then the rental company is happy. So if you had a great rental experience tell you friends and spread the word.

So great customer service is important when renting a car, but also very import is you have a problem with your rental car. If you rent from a major chain, and you have a problem or complaint, you can guarantee it will become lost in a huge complaint pile and will probably never be reached. There is no one to complain to with a major company. However, with an independent agency all of your concerns (that is, if you have any) will be addressed immediately, as small business owners are more concerned about the customer than the corporate giants. You will be able to actually voice your opinion to the owner, instead of just a local manager that will most likely not pass anything on to any of the larger corporation representatives. An independent agency wants you to return, and their main concern is making you happy, so that you will.

The Car Rentals Business is highly competitive, and sometimes a personal touch can make all the difference. Most large rental corporations do not rely on individual customers, but rather on big corporations and business travel. Also large chains have a larger clientele, as they have many locations in many different areas. That is why the independent agency will strive to please you, the consumer. They are not a big corporate chain and rely on repeat business from local consumers. They want to please you, so you will return. For them, getting customers is not the top priority, but creating customer loyalty is. Small businesses know that making the customer happy is the first step in developing repeat business.

Why Rent From An Independent Agency?
To sum it all up, Independent agencies are locally owned and operated; they have a superior selection of vehicles, more adaptable policies, better discounts and flexible rates, its own rules, and have a hands on approach. They want to make you happy, and give you the most for your money.