Home
What's New
Search this Site
My Top 10 Tips
Cheap Rate Tips
Discounts & Coupons
Discount Codes
Internet  Specials
One-way Rentals
Rental Car Insurance
Car Rental Basics
Comparing  Rates
Car Rental Policies
Long Term Rentals
Reservation Tips
Current Online Deals
International Rentals
Vacation Car Rentals
Business Rentals
Insurance Rentals
Frequent Renters
Earn Airline Miles
Hybrid Rental Cars
Exotic Car Rentals
Special Equipment
Vehicle Guide
Buying Rental Cars
Car Rental History
Share This Site
FAQs
Travel Guide
Auto Related Links
Contact Me
Site Privacy Policy
Disclaimer

[?] Subscribe To
This Site

XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Add to Newsgator
Subscribe with Bloglines


Car Rental Companies


How it all got started!

There are many car rental companies in business today, but it started off very small!

The rental car industry had its beginnings closely tied to Ford's introduction of the economical Model T in 1908. In 1916, a Nebraskan named Joe Saunders was supposedly the first person to start a rent-a-car business when he lent out his Model T to travelling salesmen. (Mr. Saunders' first customer is said to have been a salesman needing transportation for a date with a local girl.)

In September of 1918 in Chicago, Walter L. Jacobs, then only 22 years old, opened a car rental business. He began with about a dozen Model T Fords, repairing the cars himself, and by 1923 his car rental business was generating $1 million in annual revenues.

In these earliest years, rental car companies became associated with criminal activity, especially during Prohibition. Many believed that cars were often used by bootleggers, bank robbers and prostitutes. After the 18th Amendment was repealed in 1933, the industry was able to regain a respectable reputation, and the business grew.

In reaction to the growth of private ownership of automobiles, a number of railroads created Railway Extensions, Inc . In addition to car rental franchises, the group endeavored to encourage car rentals use by allocating space for rental booths at railroad stations, as well as subsidizing telegraph service for passengers to reserve cars at one station and pick them up at their destination.

After the Second World War, the car rental industry grew rapidly. This growth was linked closely with the boom in the airline industry.

The industry has been extremely competitive since the 1960s, when price wars and the success of small name renting companies forced prices down. It is an industry still closely linked with airline transportation.

Excerpt from:

Duke Universities Library Digital Collections www.library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/adaccess/carandbus.html



I searched for some information on the company history of some major car rental companies. Just some tidbits for your information!


Alamo Rent a Car

Avis Rent a Car

Budget Rent a Car

Dollar Car Rental

Enterprise Rent a Car

Hertz Rent a Car

National Car Rental

Thrifty Car Rental





Return from Car Rental Companies to Best Car Rental Tips home



footer for Car Rental Companies page