Car rental can help people own fewer cars and adopt more sustainable travel habits, according to new research commissioned by the BVRLA.
Undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory, the survey of 3500 car rental customers from seven UK rental companies helps prove that the pay-as-you-go approach is a more sustainable alternative to car ownership, according to the rental and leasing organisation.
The study found that on average, rental customers have more sustainable travel habits than the average licence holder while rental cars are also used more efficiently than private cars.
It builds on research from last year, which showed that, compared with the average private car, the average rental car is newer, better maintained and emits less pollution per mile driven.
Transport minister Norman Baker said: “This report shows that rental cars can encourage greater use of sustainable transport, easing congestion on our roads and cutting carbon emissions. When people travel, we want them to get from door-to-door with a smaller environmental footprint.”
The findings support the BVRLA’s call for car rental to be given greater consideration by policymakers: “This survey has established that car rental customers have similar travel habits to users of car clubs,” said chief executive Gerry Keaney.
“We believe that car rental, car clubs and car sharing are part of the same family of pay-as-you-go motoring options that all contribute to a more sustainable, less intensive approach to car use, particularly in urban areas.”
