Browsing Category

Car Rental News

Councillor under fire for chauffeur driven ride to awards ceremony

A Tory councillor from Glasgow has come under fire from opposition politicians who have branded him a “hypocrite” for his use of a chauffeur driven car, a day after he criticised Labour officials for the exact same practice.

David Meikle arranged for an official car and chauffeur to collect him from his Glasgow home, to pick up a female companion en route, to take the pair to a multicultural awards event at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow.

The 4-mile trip return trip in the chauffeur driven car cost £400. One local newspaper is reporting that the same trip in a private hire taxi would have cost approximately £10.

Labour politicians have been quick to criticise the 26-year-old’s use of the chauffeur car after Meikle publically slammed the opposition recently for improper use of official cars.

In his defence, the councillor says he felt the use of the chauffeur and the car was necessary as he had concerns over “security” after leaving the awards bash late at night. Cllr Meikle also added,

“Since I was elected in 2007 I have only used the car three times and on each occasion I was on official business and have never used it for personal purposes. My expenses are among the lowest of any councillor.”

However this has not been accepted by Labour politicians who are calling for the Cllr to repay the £400 spent on the use of the chauffeur driven vehicle.

by Anita KumarAugust 4, 2010no comment

Rolls Royce Ghost fast becoming the most sought after wedding car in the UK

The Rolls Royce Ghost was launched last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show to great fanfare, and promised to offer a luxury vehicle featuring the latest technology and cutting edge design.

A selected number of Rolls Royce Ghost models are available for wedding car hire in the UK through leading luxury transport provider Cars for Stars. According to reports from Cars for Stars, demand for the Rolls Royce Ghost for wedding day hire far outstrips supply, which is testament to the growing popularity of the latest addition to the Rolls Royce portfolio.

For the most important day of your lives, only the very best will do. As the epitome of glamour, opulence, and luxury, the Rolls Royce Ghost more than fits the bill for wedding day transport. The extra quiet engine means passengers won’t be interrupted by the sound of the car accelerating, and the soft full grain leather upholstery makes for a sumptuous ride.

The Rolls Royce Ghost also boasts rear coach doors which open to a 38 degree angle, plus the low sill height enables passengers to step into the vehicle gracefully, which is good news for brides boarding the exquisite limo in their princess wedding gowns.

The sleek uncluttered design of the Ghost means it makes the perfect addition to any wedding snaps and will ensure brides and grooms make an impressive entrance on their special day. However with Cars for Stars reporting a huge number of enquiries for wedding car hire bookings for the Rolls Royce Ghost for dates as far in advance as 2012, you’ll need to act fast to make the Ghost yours for your wedding day.

The demand for Rolls Royce Phantom wedding cars is currently the most popular in UK but the new Rolls Royce Ghost may take over soon.

For more information on how to hire the Rolls Royce Ghost for your wedding day, please see the following link http://www.carsforstars.net/

by Andrew LloydAugust 2, 2010no comment

Electric car hire to be launched in the US by Enterprise from 2011

Car hire giant Enterprise is set to launch electric car hire at a selected number of outlets in the US from the beginning of next year.

The electric powered eco-friendly Nissan Leaf will be offered to car rental customers from eight different locations across the US from 2011.

The Nissan Leaf has a charge range of 100 miles and Enterprise is in the process of installing charge stations at a number of its hire centres in preparation for the launch of their electric hire cars in the New Year.

Eight different locations across the US have been singled out to offer the electric hire car service. To begin with Enterprise will offer the Nissan Leaf from the following locations, Phoenix, Nashville, Tucson, Knoxville, and San Diego and Los Angeles.

Locations in Portland and Seattle will be able to offer customers the use of the 5-door hatchback version of the electric car.

Enterprise has chosen to roll out the service in a small number of its centres to start with as it wants to ensure its staff are fully trained in the use of the electric cars so they can advise customers competently.

As more electric cars are launched by different car makers, Enterprise plans to add different models to its fleet, at more locations across the country.

by Andrew LloydJuly 29, 2010no comment

Northern Irish parliament to review spending on chauffeur driven cars

It has been announced that the Northern Irish Government will commence a review of its spending on chauffeur driven cars for its ministers in an attempt to make savings on public spending.

Finance minister Sammy Wilson will head the review of the chauffeured transport of government ministers. The announcement has been made ahead of the lease expiring in October on 15 chauffeur driven cars currently in use by Stormont officials.

Mr Wilson said the government must not be seen to be ducking out of spending cuts, as the country attempts to make radical public spending cutbacks. He added that “nothing is sacred” and that includes reining in spending on chauffeur driven cars for Stormont ministers.

Although some ministers believe that the situation in Northern Ireland and London is different, and that the security of Stormont ministers is something which needs to be considered in the review of spending on official cars.

One suggestion which is being made to help reduce the cost of transport for Northern Irish ministers is for a pool of government cars to be introduced, or for an account to be set up with a taxi firm, this way the ministers will have easy access to a vehicle for use on official business.

by Andrew LloydJuly 28, 2010no comment

Production at Rolls Royce plant in Chichester, the highest it’s ever been

The Rolls Royce production plant at Goodwood in Chichester has gone into overdrive in recent months and is now producing more vehicles per day than ever before.

Compared to the same period last year when the Chichester plant was producing just 4 or 5 cars a day, production has now tripled with the factory churning out 15 luxury vehicles a day on average, which is the highest rate it’s ever been since the plant opened in 2003.

However demand for the top of the range Rolls Royce vehicles such as the popular Ghost and Phantom models means that even if you were to place an order for one of these cars today, work wouldn’t begin on your vehicle until September due to a backlog of orders.

With so much care and attention being paid to each car during the production process, Rolls Royce takes 3 months to build one of its vehicles from start to finish.

At present the Goodwood plant has no immediate plans to hire more permanent staff members, although if production continues to be high over the coming months, Rolls Royce will look to employ more workers to join its 800 workforce at the facility.

The Rolls Royce Phantom and the Rolls Royce Ghost models continue to be two of the most desired luxury cars in the world.

by Andrew LloydJuly 26, 2010no comment

Complaints from car hire customers on the up says consumer group

A leading consumer group has revealed that complaints from UK motorists, hiring vehicles in Europe has risen dramatically this year.

The UK European Consumer Centre (UKECC) who conducted the research believe that British holidaymakers need to be vigilant when hiring a car outside of the UK so as to not leave themselves open to potential extra charges which could be added on without their knowledge.

In the first 5 months of this year, the UKECC found a 30% increase in the number of complaints lodged from UK car hire customers in Europe compared to the same period in 2009. The countries where the most complaints were made included Italy, Spain, France and Ireland.

One of the biggest pitfalls is often in the wording of car hire contracts in the EU which can differ greatly from those in the UK. The consumer group is advising car hire customers to thoroughly read, and understand their contracts prior to signing up.

Other areas where car rental customers get stung with extra charges, which in turn causes complaints, arise as a result of not signing off their hire agreement properly, or not running through the hire return checklist thoroughly. By failing to do this, the customer is leaving themselves open to extra fees which the car hire company can add on after the customer has left.

In order to prevent more car hire customers getting caught out, the UKECC has created a leaflet where they can find plenty of advice and tips to ensure a problem free car hire experience in the EU this summer.

by Andrew LloydJuly 23, 2010no comment

Enterprise car rental launch app to attract graduates

Leading car hire company Enterprise has launched an application which will help the firm connect with graduates and university students via a youth media network group to relay information on upcoming job opportunities.

The app has the potential to reach some 650,000 students and graduates across 34 different universities in the country. The app will keep university leavers informed on developments within the car hire company, training and internship opportunities and also news on job vacancies.

With recent statistics revealing that there are on average 70 graduates chasing every vacancy in the UK at present, the new app will help those new job seekers get a head start as they’ll be the first to hear of vacancies at Enterprise car rental when they become available.

Car hire in many parts of Europe is reported to be on the increase with some companies reporting more business than they can cope with. For an ambitious graduate the car rental industry is a great business to get into as new services are constantly being introduced as the industry expands, plus there are is a range of positions within a vehicle rental company and plenty of opportunities for career progression.

The YouthWire Desktop Platform can be found on PCs at universities and libraries and a large selection of apps can be found on the programme covering a wide range of job sectors.

by Andrew LloydJuly 15, 2010no comment

Warning over car hire charges for child seats

Car hire customers who are travelling with children are being warned to check the cost of hiring children’s seats with their rental provider to avoid being stung by high rates.

According to research from travelsupermarket.com some car rental companies in Europe are charging up to £60 more for hire of a child seat compared to other car hire providers.

The research discovered that car hire company Europcar was charging £62.32 for a week long hire of as child seat from Palma Airport, while Expedia were charging just £11.62 for the rental of the child seat, leaving from the same airport for the same length of time.

Destinations across Spain where the research discovered the highest charges for child seat hire included Majorca, Alicante, and Malaga while the cheapest was found to be from Nice airport in France.

The advice being given by car hire experts is for customers to budget for extra add-ons for the vehicle rental so as not to be caught out by unexpected charges. It’s also highly recommended to shop around for car hire using price comparison websites and to include any extras you may require during your trip when requesting a quote.

Selected airlines don’t charge for transporting child seats so it’s often worth taking your own on holiday to avoid paying to hire one while abroad. However some airlines do charge to carry child seats, so it’s advisable to check with your carrier before you travel.

by Andrew LloydJuly 13, 2010no comment

Car hire business booming in Turkey

The car hire business in Turkey is booming this year with rental rates set to rise again just as the peak holiday season gets underway.

As a result of the surge in business, vehicle rental prices have shot up as car hire providers struggle to cope with demand which has resulted in the inflated rental rates.

It’s been estimated that the amount of business produced by car rentals in Turkey has risen by 50% this year. This has had a knock-on effect on the price of car hire which has also increased by approximately 30%. This increase in car hire prices is predicted to continue right through until the autumn.

More tourists visiting the country has been the main cause of the boom, although one car hire owner in Turkey says there is another reason why the demand is so high this year.

It’s been suggested that Turkish expats who may be living in countries such as Germany or the Netherlands would have previously driven to Turkey for a home visit during the year. However with the increased fuel prices and low airline fares, more and more are opting to fly home to Turkey and then hire a vehicle for the duration of their stay.

The condition of hire cars in Turkey is fair with the average vehicle being between 1 and 3 years old. Most are fitted with satellite navigation systems. In order to be eligible for car hire in Turkey you must have held a valid driver’s license for at least two years.

by Andrew LloydJuly 9, 2010no comment

Peugeot launch new vehicle rental scheme in London and Bristol

Peugeot have unveiled a brand new rental scheme which offers customers an extensive range of vehicles and other articles for hire via an online system.

The pilot scheme in the UK is taking place in London and Bristol. Named the Mu mobility rental program, customers will be able to hire all kinds of modes of transport including bikes, scooters, a range of cars, MPVs, vans and also accessories such as roof racks, and child booster seats. The scheme will also offer electric powered eco-car hire once Peugeot’s iOn electric car is launched.

To make use of the new scheme customers must first become a Mu account holder. This can be done online and you will be sent your new Mu card. Credits can be bought online which are then exchanged for rentals. You don’t have to be a Peugeot customer to be eligible for the Mu card and the rental scheme.

Two participating Robins and Days dealerships in the cities are currently offering the rental service. A dedicated Mu reception area has been set-up for rental customers at each centre.

Peugeot are offering a variety of flexible hire packages for all of its vehicles and accessories.

The hire program has been running successfully in various parts of Europe including French destinations such as Paris and Nantes, and also locations in Germany, Spain, and Italy. By 2011 Peugeot plan to open a further 9 outlets across Europe.

by Andrew LloydJuly 7, 20101 comment

Newer Posts

Older Posts