Industry Code of Practice “could” benefit car hire customers
Posted by admin - 12/06/09 at 07:06 am
The car hire industry, like so many, has its fair-share of sharp practice and rogue traders. With credit drying up an increasing number of customers might be tempted to ditch their under-used wheels and opting instead to hire a car when they really need one. In a rather tenuous link industry commentators are suggesting that increased take-up of the Motor Industry Code of Practice (given a recent boost f ollowing much-needed publicity from the Beeb) may benefit car hire users. The assertion rests on the fact that an increase in the use of ‘code-approved’ garages for vehicle maintenance and repair would raise the standard of vehicles in the car-hire pool.
What seems to be missing from the analysis is evidence that any vehicles offered by car hire companies (large and small) will be affected by garages “raising their game” because of the code. Major brands such as Hertz, Alamo, Budget have a vested interest in keeping their vehicles in good condition as it protects their resale value (at the end of leases) and provides less cause for complaints. Lesser-known (but equally reputable companies) are fighting too for their share of local trade with an even greater dependence on reputation. That leaves us with the question of the bottom-end of the market and dare we suggest the “rogue traders.” What can we expect of these outfits and the uptake of the code; not much we would suggest. As BBC’s Watchdog highlighted earlier this year, giving your custom to such a business could prove to have fatal consequences whether a code exists or not.
The safest and most cost-effective option is to pick from a brand you know and look out for special offers to keep the cost down. With typical prices in the UK starting at around £15 per day, low cost needn’t mean sacrificing vehicle safety.
