Kick the tires on your corporate rental car options with an on-site visit

When it comes to arranging for business rental cars and other forms of ground transportation, it pays to get in your own car and arrange an on-site visit. The best opportunity is at a location during peak hours, so you can check the availability of cars. If your corporate rental car requirements call for a certain make and model, you may find those options are unavailable when you need them most.

An on-site visit also helps you get a feel for:

• The level of maintenance
• Types of technology in use
• Overall professionalism of dispatchers and drivers

By getting a first-hand look at how the vendor performs, especially during high-volume times, you’ll have more insight when crafting a contract. You might also consider arranging for what amounts to a test drive. Do this by creating a pilot arrangement with the vendor over a set period of time to observe service and performance. Then you’ll know if it’s worth investing in a longer-term corporate rental car contract.