More than 453,000 people to move from car ownership to rental this year

New research has revealed that 453,461 people are planning to move from car ownership to rental in 2021 to save money.

In the research by Ebbon-Dacs, a further 403,077 said they intend to sell their cars to help reduce the number of vehicles on the road to help protect the environment and would rent when they need to. Some 202,538 said they intend to sell their cars and rent so that they can drive better-quality vehicles.

In total, Ebbon Intelligence’s research revealed that around 9.47 million adults in the UK are planning to rent cars over the next 12 months, with 81% saying they will do so when on holiday – the main reason given for renting a car.

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) set up a pilot scheme in Coventry offering drivers £3,000 worth of mobility credits in exchange for scrapping older, high emission cars.

TfWM and the University of Warwick launched a two-year trial to look at the effectiveness of e-scooters, a demand responsive bus service and a car club in shifting travel behaviour away from private car use. 

Ebbon Intelligence is a recently launched joint venture between Zegami, an Oxford-based data visualisation platform, and automotive technology solutions provider Ebbon Group.

The new company is developing repair and damage identification systems to enable car hire companies to assess depth and detail of damage to vehicles during rentals.

Robert Pilkington, joint CEO at Ebbon Group, said: “One of the biggest challenges facing rental and mobility providers is the management of damage in a fair way for the consumer and themselves. Our AI based technology work is focussed on making this easier for both parties in a society where rentorship is on the increase.”

Roger Noble, chief executive and founder of Zegami, said: “Renting instead of owning a car can save you a fortune and, in some cases, it can also mean you get to drive a better-quality vehicle.

“Car rental firms need to ensure they are managing their fleets effectively, and this includes identifying any damage and having this repaired in a quick, cost effective and efficient manner.”