How is the car rental franchise landscape developing for Drivalia?

Duane Murray, franchise manager at Drivalia, talks franchisee benefits, consumer demand, and subscription models

The car rental market is thriving with sustained growth predicted, but it’s a commitment to innovation and adaptability that differentiates Drivalia. The brand is ensuring it aligns with market trends and is attracting franchisees and customers in the process. Duane Murray, franchise manager at Drivalia, explains how.

How do you expect demand to grow for vehicle rental services?
Duane: Demand for vehicle rental services is expected to rise due to several factors. Firstly, rental services now offer more flexibility in vehicle type, rental duration, and pickup/drop off locations, which caters to diverse customer needs. For occasional car users, renting is often more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly than ownership.

Increasing accessibility to travel and the demand for unique experiences boosts rental demand, especially in tourism hotspots. Businesses also frequently use rental vehicles for a
variety of purposes, indicating a growing demand for corporate rentals.

How are you meeting the challenges of the current market?
Drivalia’s strategic approach involves diversification of services, such as a brand new subscription model. There are sustainability initiatives too, as well as major investment in technology and a customer-centric approach that prioritises satisfaction and loyalty.

Additionally, Drivalia has collaborated on strategic partnerships with hotels, car parks, and dealerships to enter new customer segments and distribution channels.

How are you differentiating your brand for franchisees and customers?
We offer a diverse vehicle fleet, exceptional customer service, innovative technology, and sustainability initiatives. Customer experience is a priority, with convenient booking options, streamlined procedures, clean vehicles, and responsive support as standard.

Extensive support and ongoing training programmes are key to ensuring franchisee success. This covers site selection, setup, operational support, marketing guidance, and access to proprietary systems. We also ensure consistency across our franchise locations in branding, customer service, pricing, and policies to build trust and credibility.

How can Drivalia franchisees make the most of the earning potential?
Franchisees possess a number of a number of skills to navigate the car rental market effectively, including business acumen, customer focus, sales and marketing skills, operational excellence, leadership abilities, adaptability, attention to detail, and ethical conduct.

While potential earnings vary, based on factors like location and market demand, franchisees can potentially earn substantial incomes with some exceeding six figures annually.

What’s next for Drivalia?
Following the successful launch of the franchise programme in May 2023 and with 10 UK franchised locations now established, we plan to open a further 20 new sites in 2024, strategically positioned in major towns and cities.

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