THE average size of the UK's car rental fleet will increase by 25,000 vehicles by 2001 and local firms will continue to lose market share to the multi-national companies, according to a new report. All of the major car rental companies in the UK, with the exception of Europcar, increased the size of their fleets last year, underlining both the strength of the car rental market and the continuing consolidation within the rental industry.

The report - UK Car Rental by MarketLine International - shows Avis Rent a Car as the largest rental company in the UK with a fleet size of 20,000 units up 6.3% between 1994 and 1996. Other leading UK rental companies with fleet growth 1994-96 in brackets are: EuroDollar 17,000 vehicles (6.5%), United Kenning 15,000 (22.5%), Hertz 14.500 (3.6%), Budget 12,000 (0%), Alamo 12,000 (12.4%), Europcar 10,000 (-1%), Thrifty 5,000 (19.5%), British Car Rental 4,600 (23.8%), Woods Car Rental 3,000 (22.5%).

Last year the average UK rental fleet size stood at 140,500 units - 8.8% up on 1995 - and this year the fleet size is expected to reach 148,400 units and by the year 2000 it is estimated to have expanded to 161,300 and by 2001 165,500.