Can Car Rental Companies Track Where You Are?

The majority of car rental companies have trackers fitted to their cars and vans. The reason for this is so that the supplier can protect their fleet of vehicles and make sure there is no breach of the terms agreed.

Why Would A Car rental company want to track where you are?

Car rental companies use a tracking device because they need to protect themselves, an example of this would be if the driver does not return the vehicle. If a tracker is fitted to the car, they can easily locate the car, making it harder for the car to be stolen.

Another reason why car trackers are used is to make sure there is no illegal or unlawful use of the car. In the past rental cars have been known to be used in illegal acts. By having the car fitted with a tracker it will already deter anyone wishing to use the car illegally. Also, if something illegal does happen, the location of the car at that time can be vital evidence.

Finally, if you hire a car and it is prohibited to cross over an international border, the tracker can be used to ensure you abide by this. If you choose to cross over the border, the supplier will know, and you could end up in a lot of trouble with the supplier and maybe even local law enforcement. For this reason, make sure you arrange cross border car hire if you wish to travel across an international border.

Should this stop you from hiring a car?

To conclude, yes, the majority of suppliers will track their cars. However, this shouldn’t make a difference to you, as long as you are abiding by the law and the rental agreement. It is only in place to protect the supplier and in some cases could protect you.

If you are looking for car hire, we offer car hire worldwide so contact us today. You can contact us by call on +44 (0)113 880 0748, email at sales@thealternativeagency.co.uk or by using the live chat function.

Where do I pick up my hire car?

When hiring a car, it’s obviously important that you know where you’re heading to collect your vehicle. If you’re collecting from an airport, there are usually 3 different options for collection – in terminal, meet and greet or shuttle bus. This tells you where in the airport you will need to go to find the supplier’s desk.

In terminal car hire pick up

If your rental is in terminal, this means you will find the supplier’s rental desk in the terminal at the airport – you won’t need to leave the airport or get on a shuttle bus in order to collect your car. Most of the larger, multinational companies are usually in terminal; suppliers like AVIS, Enterprise, Goldcar etc. who are in most airports. However, this isn’t always the case depending on how many suppliers are at that airport, so make sure you check before you book. You may be drawn in by the cheaper prices of some suppliers who are off airport, but if you or someone you are travelling with struggles with mobility or you are with small children then you would probably benefit from a supplier who is in terminal – this will save you the hassle of heading through the airport and getting a transfer, as everything is right there when you land.

Meet and greet car hire pick up

In some locations, certain suppliers will offer a meet and greet service. With this option, a representative from your chosen company will meet you in the terminal when you land and will then take you to the rental desk. They will usually have a board with the company logo or the driver’s name so they’re easy to find, and they will take you to the supplier’s car park to hand over the vehicle. With these rentals it’s especially important to provide your flight number when you book, so that the representative knows exactly when to meet you and which terminal you will be at.

Off airport car hire pick up

For suppliers that are off airport, you will be required to take a shuttle bus to the rental desk to collect your vehicle – these are usually your budget suppliers who are not based in the terminal. The shuttle bus will be included in the rental price and means that when you land you will need to head to the airport’s shuttle bus stand and take a quick ride to the supplier’s desk just outside the airport. The frequency of the shuttle and the length of time it takes to get to the desk will depend on the supplier’s location – in London Stansted for example, all of larger suppliers have their rental desks in the car rental village just outside the airport, so the shuttle bus only takes a couple of minutes. Smaller suppliers such as Greenmotion are based further away from the airport in Stansted, so their shuttle bus would take longer. If you’re travelling with young children or have a traveller with limited mobility this may not be the best option for you, as there may be some waiting and it will take longer to get your rental car.

The collection procedures are definitely worth bearing in mind when booking a rental car – be sure to take into consideration not just the cost, but the needs of your group and the level of convenience you require when you’re collecting your vehicle. If you’re in any doubt of what your requirements are, or if you have any questions about collecting your car, then get in touch with our car hire experts – they’ll be on hand to book you a rental that ticks all of your boxes.