A large number of car rental operators are offering up significant discounts for their services to essential workers – as a means to keep business rolling throughout COVID-19.
AfMA’s research of a number of rental operators found a number of savings were available across a variety of providers, along with increased flexibility including cancellation and refunds.
So what constitutes an essential worker? While there might be other industries, here is a good sample of those that would be eligible:
- Health and Social Care Workers
- Paramedics/Ambulance Workers
- Support, Disability & Aged Care Workers
- Pharmacist and Pharmacy Workers
- Public Safety and National Security Workers
- Education & Childcare Workers
- Supermarket and Grocery Store Workers
- Airport Workers
- Transport Workers
- Other workers with a letter from the government stating they are an essential service
The services listed below are again not exhaustive but do provide a solid base to consider whether your organisation is eligible for the discounts and if it would be a beneficial addition to your operations.
Avis
Essential workers are being offered rentals between $10-$20 a day between now and June 30, 2020. To be eligible, workers must book for between 4 to 59 days and must also be able to present their essential worker ID and driver license when collecting the vehicle.
“At this challenging time, it is our essential workers who are going above and beyond to keep our country moving. To support these vital members of our communities, we are offering rentals from $10 per day, to ensure that they can keep moving safely too,” the company said.
Budget
If you have already made a booking, but it is impacted by a quarantine measure or other travel restrictions due to the Coronavirus, this booking can be cancelled. For increased flexibility on all bookings, you can change or cancel, without fees, any reservations in Europe, Australia and New Zealand for rentals due to start before 31st May.
Europcar
The rental provider has extended our free of charge modification and cancellation policy to all current or future reservations until 31st of May 2020. Europcar are also providing special rates for Essential Services Employees and frontline staff who provide health or safety services.
Hertz
Hertz will provide rentals at reduced special rates on select vehicles to healthcare workers. Hertz is also providing up to 30 free of charge (FOC) rental vehicles in each State/Territory to support healthcare workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Registered Doctors, Nurses and other medical practitioners from public and private healthcare systems will be eligible for discounted rentals and FOC rentals. Individuals must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and ID will be required upon collection of the rental vehicle.
Thrifty
To support our wonderful Health Care heroes, who are at the front line in these challenging times helping keep our country safe, Thrifty would like to keep them safe on their journey.
Between 20th of April and the 15th July, eligible Health Workers will receive free car rental with Thrifty at selected locations around the country. All you’ll need to pay for is fuel, tolls, and optional extras.
Do you know any other rental companies offering similar deals? Send us an email and we’ll follow it up and include it in an updated version of this article.
