A rental car business in Ha Noi's Ha Dong District. — VNA/VNS Photo Van Xuyen
The demand for cars during the seven days of Tet (Lunar New Year) in Ha Noi is on the rise despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Do Toan, an owner of a car rental showroom in Xuan Dinh Ward said he had received deposits for almost 20 cars. As they were from regular customers and booked a month ago, the price is only 10 to 15 per cent higher than normal.
Toan said the rental prices for five-seat cars such as Hyundai Grand i10, Kia Morning, Toyota Vios, Nissan Sunny and Mazda3 increased from VND500,000-800,000 to VND650,000 to VND1.2 million a day.
The rental prices for seven-seat cars such as Toyota Innova, Mitsubishi Xpander, Suzuki Ertiga, Huyndai Santa Fe and Toyota Fortuner increased from VND800,000-VND1 million to VND900,000-VND1.4 million a day.
Since the Tet holiday is approaching and there is a scarcity of cars, the rental price has increased by nearly three times.
Showroom owners want to rent cars for seven or 10 days with preferential prices, as they want to have more time for their employees to enjoy the holiday.
On the car rental market this year, in addition to professional rental facilities, there are many individuals and organisations that rent out their cars during the festive season.
Phan Minh Thanh in Gia Lam District said that during the holidays, he will travel to many places and return home in Quynh Luu, Nghe An Province. The price is triple on weekdays.
He was offered a Kia Morning for 7 days for only VND5 million, averaging over VND700,000 a day. He said this is a good price for Tet as the supply does not meet demand, while on normal days this rental would cost from VND500,000 to VND600,000 a day.
However, with the development of the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of local infections is high as people return home. Although he can rent a car, he does not know whether he can meet his family.
According to experts, although the annual sales of new cars have been around 400,000 in recent years, many people do not have their own car. Large families with children often choose rental services. However, renters should pay attention to avoid unnecessary risks in the car rental process, including the vehicle's documents.
They should also inspect the exterior and interior for scratches and damage. They can take pictures of any damage to avoid having to reimburse the owner. — VNS