The vehicle rental industry’s essential role in supporting the UK economy and meeting the travel needs of its citizens has been set out in a new report from the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA).

The association’s Car and Van Rental in the UK report aims to provide unique insights into the shape of the market and delivers a fresh perspective on how the sector is meeting the UK’s increasingly complex transport requirements. 

As well as featuring the latest data, the report includes analysis and insight from transport consultants, Steer. It examines the role of car rental within the wider transport ‘ecosystem’, including new developments such as Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and the extent to which transport modes overlap each other.

The potential for car rental to link with public transport and other shared travel modes in providing an alternative to privately owned vehicles is also explored.

The 55-page report is the culmination of six separate research projects undertaken by the association in 2018, including a survey of 4,500 customers, a market-sizing omnibus survey, an operators’ study, a series of senior executive interviews and detailed analysis of both the economic impact and sustainability credentials of the rental sector.

BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney said: “Whether you need a picture of the vital role that the rental sector plays in daily life or want to understand how the market is adapting to new technology and business models, this report is a must-read.

“The vehicle rental sector has an annual turnover of over £5 billion, buys 400,000 vehicles per year and delivers flexible, affordable transport to millions of people and businesses.

“This is a story that needs to be told and we hope our new report does it justice.”

Highlights of the report are available on the BVRLA website. Members of the association can download a full version for free, while non-members can purchase it at a cost of £695 (+VAT).

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