Auto rentals surge after government announces toll holiday on highways

By Miranda Shek Source:Global Times Published: 2012-9-10 23:35:07

Local car rental companies have seen bookings pick up recently, in some cases by as much as 80 percent over the same time last year, as the government has waived all highway tolls for seven days during the upcoming holidays, auto rental firms told the Global Times Monday.

The automobile rental business is one of the chief beneficiaries of the Ministry of Transportation's recent announcement that passenger vehicles will be allowed to drive on the nation's highways toll-free during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, which run from September 30 to October 7.

One local car rental firm, the Shanghai-based eHi Car Service, reported that most of their family-sized cars were booked three weeks before the start of the holidays, which this year fall one after the other. "Some 700 cars are booked for the National Day holiday this year," said Ding Lei, operation manager at eHi Car Service. "In previous years, our company rented 200 to 400 cars during the holiday."

Larger vehicles, especially seven-seaters, have been the most popular, Ding said. Vehicles that seat up to seven people cost about 660 yuan ($104) per day plus 40 yuan a day for insurance.

"It would cost a family of four less than 2,500 yuan for a three-day trip," she told the Global Times.

China Auto Rental's rental business has surged for the National Day holiday. Bookings in Shanghai have doubled since September 5 and prices for vehicles during the holidays have risen about 200 percent, said Yuan Ming, a company sales manager.

"Cars equipped with global positioning system devices are particularly popular, as many drivers plan to visit neighboring regions, including Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui and Jiangxi provinces," Yuan told the Global Times.

The Shanghai Transport and Port Authority warned residents planning to rent cars to be careful on the road over the holidays.

Drivers who usually only drive on weekends and holidays, and inexperienced drivers need to be extra careful, said Huang Xiaoyong, a press officer for the Shanghai Transport and Port Authority.

"Highway accidents can be fatal as most vehicles are driving at a higher speed," Huang told the Global Times. "Inexperienced drivers shouldn't drive alone on the highway. Driving while fatigued can lead to fatal accidents."

He suggested that drivers stop to rest at service stations at least once every four hours.

Huang also warned potential renters that the toll exemption only applies to vehicles that seat fewer than seven people, despite what some rental companies have advertised. 

"Some car rental ads say that 11-seater vehicles are also exempt from the tolls, which is totally untrue," he said.



Posted in: Society, Metro Shanghai

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