As with many airport-centered activities, the process of renting a car is enough to confound the most seasoned of travelers. Fortunately, there’s an app for that. What the on-demand economy did to the taxicab experience it is now doing to the rental-car experience. And the unlikely movers in this game are carmakers themselves—specifically, European luxury brands. The BMW Group and Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler have each dipped big toes into the on-demand rental-car business with their ReachNow and Car2Go services, but these upstarts remain tightly focused on early adopters in tech-nerdy places like Brooklyn, Seattle, and Portland, Oregon. Volkswagen-owned Audi, however, has its eyes on a much bigger prize.
Last year, the German automaker acquired Silvercar, an Austin-based startup that was already making good on its promise to radically streamline the fly-and-drive process: no more janky shuttle-bus rides or dire warnings about damage wagers and refueling surcharges and, best of all, no more cigarette-burn beaters with three hubcaps and an AM radio. Through a slick smartphone app, Silvercar users can book one of the company’s Audi A4 sedans or Q5 crossovers—all brand new, all identically equipped, and, yes, all silver—at a growing roster of U.S. airports. The camera-enabled app scans a QR code on the windshield, which starts the rental period, unlocks the doors, and even pops the trunk for your bags. Moreover, the app pushes your itinerary to the car’s in-dash navigation system for a quick getaway.
Since taking the wheel, Audi has put into motion some ambitious expansion plans for Silvercar. The service is currently available in 23 locations, including newly added Orange County, Salt Lake City, Tampa, San Diego, Dulles, and a second Manhattan office, and starting today, June 5, the fleets at 14 locations now include the lovely Audi A5 Cabriolet. Rates start at $59 per day for the A4, $79 per day for the Q5, and $95 per day for the A5 Cabriolet. There are no mileage restrictions and no fees for child-seat rentals, and all vehicles include highway toll transponders that add tolls to your bill with no additional charges. Of note to newbies, the company is presently offering a 20 percent discount for first-timers who book through June 30.
Users can book—and unlock—their rental car using the Silvercar smartphone app.
Courtesy of Silvercar
