Car rental firm Avis has launched “Network 95”, a nationwide “off-site car rental service” in China.
Covering more than 29 cities and 95 network points in high-traffic tourist areas and Central Business Districts (CBDs), Network 95 sends cars to a customers' doorstep within designated service areas.
The service has launched with two major projects, “High-Quality Tourist City Project”, which covers seven cities in China, and the “CBD City Project’, which covers urban economy centre cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu. With the combination of both projects, Avis can send cars to almost 100 service points in the country.
Rates for daily car rental vary according to the location. According to a representative from Avis China, rates generally range from RMB20 to RMB100 (US$3 to US$16), excluding fuel. Individuals can also opt for hourly, daily or monthly with-driver rental services, which covers fuel charges. Rates for a standard, Avis Chauffeur Drive in Shanghai, where a Volkswagen Passat (or similar) is used, is RMB240 (US$38) per hour; hourly rental costs for an executive car, where a Buick Lacrosse (or similar) is used costs RMB270 (US$42) per hour; and the rates for an MPV, where a Buick GL8 is used, cost RMB340 (US$53) per hour.
While foreign and international driver’s licences are not accepted in China, foreign nationals can acquire a Chinese driver’s licence. In Beijing, for a stay of less than three months, a temporary licence can be obtained at the Department of Motor Vehicles. The applicant would need to bring along his or her passport, driver’s licence, and passport photo. The procedure involves going for a medical check-up for RMB10 (US$1.50), while the licence costs another RMB10 (US$1.50). In Shanghai, the applicant needs to bring a copy of the rental car contract, passport, a translation of the passport in Chinese, and Shanghai resident permit to the Shanghai Vehicle Management Bureau, in person, to obtain the temporary Chinese licence.
To check the requirements for other cities in China contact the vehicle authorities or Avis office in that city.
Avis China has operations in more than 30 cities across mainland China, including Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu.
For more information, visit www.avischina.com
Tiffany Sandrasageran
