Car rental negotiations save corporations about 30 percent
off standard car rental rates, according to data published Wednesday by
Runzheimer International Travel Management Network.
The firm's Car Rental Negotiation Survey, based on responses
from about 60 corporate car rental programs, reported that 80 percent of
companies are negotiating nationwide agreements with car rental vendors. About
half the companies surveyed seek a flat rate for car rentals, while about one-third
use a combination of flat rates and floating discounts for their programs.
Of those negotiating flat rates, most are paying between $36
and $40 per day for intermediate-sized cars in the United States, according to
the study. A majority of those negotiating discounts are getting at least 16
percent off negotiated rates. Just under one-quarter are negotiating discounts
of 16 percent to 24 percent, while 35 percent are negotiating 26 percent or
more off published rates.
Most also are able to include such concessions as unlimited
mileage, insurance, premium club memberships and upgrades, according to the
survey.
The survey also indicated
that more buyers are negotiating multiyear contracts than in the past. Survey
respondents were about evenly divided between one-, two- and three-year
contracts with car rental vendors. When Runzheimer fielded a similar survey in
2007, only 13 percent of companies were securing three-year contracts.