National Car Rentals Vs Independent Local Car Hire Operators - National Car

A major question when looking at car rentals is whether to use a National Company or a local Independent operator. With the National Companies the benefits are firstly, you are dealing with a National and sometimes an International Company and all the good and not so good aspects of that. Large companies are often Public Companies or they are owned by Public Companies and therefore must conduct themselves in a suitably responsible manner. The Officer holders of that company are ultimately responsible to their shareholders and must answer to them for a satisfactory financial return on their investment and the overall performance of that company. This obviously requires them to conduct the affairs of the business in an ethical manner and be answerable to the laws of the land. This ideally results in the business being run in a profitable, professional manner, with the customer receiving the benefits along with the security of dealing with such an organization.
On the practical side the customer can pick up and drop off his/her hire car at the airport usually requiring less waiting time. The cars are generally of a standard one would expect, i.e. clean, new or near new, fuelled and with local maps and/or GPS devices if ordered and come with generally good customer service to complete the experience.
Alternatively with local Independent operators, firstly you have to wait to be collected from the airport and then also wait to be returned to the airport on your return. The cars supplied by independents can be of any age and condition and in any state of cleanliness. The level of service will vary widely depending on the operator and here is the major difference with a National company. Independent operators will vary from a one man show to sometimes a large multi branched company. All aspects of the Independent operator will depend on exactly who he/she is and who he/she is are accountable to, not to mention his/her personal ethics. Sometimes a cheaper rate will be quoted by the Independent, but other questionable charges may become involved.
There are also some less important considerations and these include but are not limited to, Nationals have far more branches and therefore greater availability and range of vehicles, Nationals therefore can offer a much larger range of one- way hires, Nationals fleet is always new or near new and therefore much less susceptible to break downs, to name but a few differences.
In conclusion, at least you do have the choice and to make a decision all you have to do is a little homework aided by the internet. SAFE TRAVELS.