American Car Rental Association:
The Voice of the American Auto Rental Industry
Dedicated to the betterment of the rental car industry by supporting and promoting sensible legislation that will benefit all its members.

ACRA support legislation in five states

Written by ed4208 October 14, 2018 — Leave a Comment

ACRA is actively working to promote and support legislation at the state level that benefits our members and the auto rental industry as a whole. To highlight recent endorsements from ACRA, we share recent communications to five state legislatures:

Posted in State Laws

2018 ACRA DC Legislative Conference

Written by ed4208 October 1, 2018 — Leave a Comment

Taken in the office of Steve Cohen

The annual ACRA DC Legislative Conference, held on September 24, 25, and 26 was a resounding success. ACRA presented Congressman Steve Cohen with our ACRA Legislator of the Year award. From left to right, Rudy Callegari and William Harris from Edge Auto Rental, Congressman Steve Cohen, Sharon Faulkner, ACRA Executive Director, Wesley Hurst with Polsinelli, and our newest member, Manjunatha Kunigal with Sathvik Systems.

We want to acknowledge those associate members who supported ACRA and made certain the attendees had excellent food and drink during throughout our conference.

Card Connect kicked off the conference with a great dinner on Monday evening. Lancer Insurance provided breakfast on Tuesday morning, Polsinelli made sure we stayed hydrated all day with beverage services, PurCo generously provided lunch on Tuesday and breakfast on Wednesday before we hit the Hill, Leslie Saunders Insurance provided our afternoon break, and Alternative Claims Management, GeoTab and CarVi sponsored our annual National’s baseball game outing where the suite offered great food and drink to everyone, making sure we had some fun amidst all the hard work.

Thank you to all of our attendees!

Posted in ACRA News

The Wrong Road for Illinois

Written by ed4208 August 9, 2018 — Leave a Comment

Illinois government should never pick sides in business matters.

But, today, some are asking Gov. Bruce Rauner to take a wrong turn by favoring out-of-state special interests over businesses that employ thousands of Illinois residents and pay hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes. They are encouraging the Governor to veto bipartisan legislation (SB2641) passed by the Illinois General Assembly that would provide fair and equal treatment under the law for all car rental transactions.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) car rental providers currently are not following tax laws. Just as bad, they aren’t adhering to statutes that protect the safety of car renters.

This new bill not only would require P2P providers to stop avoiding taxes and start meeting safety standards, it also would subject them to common-sense pro-consumer rules for transparent pricing, billing and fees. Keep in mind that these rules have been in place since 1996, covering all car rental transactions at airports and at branch offices in all kinds of neighborhoods, without any questions or fanfare. Now, suddenly, certain for-profit car rental outfits are demanding to be protected from free-market competition.

Gov. Rauner has both the obligation and power to address this inequity. And that’s precisely why he should sign SB2641 … to make things right. However, if the law doesn’t become more fair and consistent, other car rental operators may be compelled to likewise market themselves as “P2P providers” just to compete in Illinois.
That would mean:

  • less tax revenue for local governments that are already strapped for resources;
  • fewer safety protections for drivers in Illinois; and
  • a hostile business climate that will make it even harder to attract other employers to Illinois.

Every other so-called P2P “disruptor” in Illinois – from Airbnb to Uber and Lyft – has already agreed to play by a basic set of rules designed to protect taxpayers and consumers. As a result, we at the American Car Rental Association hope Gov. Rauner will take this opportunity to strengthen our state’s fiscal health and safety record when it comes to car rental, too.

If he doesn’t, Illinois taxpayers will be the losers – on the hook once again to make up another inevitable revenue shortfall.

Posted in State Laws

The American Car Rental Association encourages peer-to-peer (P2P) car rental and car-sharing operators to become ACRA members

Written by ed4208 June 29, 2018 — Leave a Comment

ACRA actively encourages P2P operators to join ACRA. Here’s why we think this is a good idea:

Regulation is an unavoidable fact of life: any service that provides cars to consumers, whether called rental or sharing, and regardless of technology used or length of transaction, will eventually be subject to regulations, including airport fees, excise taxes, traffic congestion regulations, rate disclosure requirements and safety precautions.

How do we know this? Airports have to fund their operations, state and municipal governments have grown dependent on transportation taxes, cities increasingly struggle with congestion, and consumer rights groups – who have tremendous political clout – will not allow business to operate in a way that misleads consumers, or jeopardizes their safety.

Speaking with one voice: ACRA’s membership roster is comprised of hundreds of car rental and car-sharing companies, some large, some small, some who own their fleets and others who don’t. We compete with each other, sometimes fiercely, but when it comes to ACRA we work together for sound public-policy, and making sure the inevitable regulations take our concerns into account. Small neighborhood “mom-and-pop” businesses work arm-in-arm with major brands within ACRA and we have repeatedly found our diversity gives us both credibility and authority when dealing with governments, manufacturers, and the public. This has never been more important as we manage a rapidly changing vehicle technology and transportation infrastructure.

Our hope is that P2P operators will consider joining ACRA in our ongoing effort to help shape these important and long-term public-policy issues, and strengthen all of our voices by doing so.

Posted in Uncategorized

ACRA’s 5th Annual D.C. Legislative Conference

Written by ed4208 January 23, 2018 — Leave a Comment

Washington DC
September 24th, 25th, and 26th, 2018.

ACRA will hold its annual D.C. Legislative Conference in September. This three day event will allow ACRA members to meet with senators, members of congress, and their staffs on issues that affect the car rental industry.

For more information and to register, please visit the 5th Annual D.C. Legislative Conference webpage.

Posted in ACRA News

ACRA’s 4th Annual D.C. Legislative Conference

Written by ed4208 October 4, 2017 — Leave a Comment

Taken in the office of Elise Stefanik. Left to right, Eric Rothman, Kathy Egan, Sharon Faulkner, Elise Stefanik, Rudy Callegari, William Harris and Robert Muhs
The American Car Rental Association (ACRA) held it’s 4th annual D.C. Legislative Conference. It was a two day event that allowed its members to meet with senators, congressman, and their staffs on issues that affect the car rental industry.

Many wonderful ACRA Associate Members sponsored our dinners, lunches, breakfasts, and even a private suite at the Washington Nationals Baseball Game. We want to thank Michael Towers with Alternative Claims Management, Angela Margolit with Bluebird Auto Rental Systems, Paul Fischer with Intellicheck, Rick Lewist with 1st Source, Hope Porter with Jouvre, Craig Scurato with Leslie Saunders Insurance, Kathy Egan with Lancer Insurance, Shayne Reyes and David Purinton with PurCo and Shris Miller and Sean Reyes with Recall Masters. With their support and involvement, the ACRA “Day On the Hill” was a most successful event that was enjoyed by everyone.

Posted in ACRA News, Elected Officials

ACRA’s 4th Annual D.C. Legislative Conference

Written by ed4208 March 22, 2017 — Leave a Comment


ACRA invites all members, including associate certified vendors and car rental operators, to our 3rd Annual D.C. Conference. This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to see how ACRA makes a difference for the car rental industry and to experience Washington, D.C. first hand with the assistance of seasoned lobbyists. For more information, please visit the 4th Annual D.C. Legislative Conference webpage.

Posted in ACRA News

ACRA Partners with Goodyear to Provide Cost Savings to ACRA Members

Written by ed4208 October 15, 2016 — Leave a Comment

The American Car Rental Association, ACRA, has partnered with Goodyear to provide a National Account tire purchase program to US ACRA members. No matter what size rental fleet, every US ACRA member can now purchase Goodyear, Dunlop and Kelly auto and light truck tires at national account pricing through authorized local Goodyear dealers across the US. In addition, ACRA members also receive national account pricing on auto and light truck repair and preventative maintenance services through their Goodyear National Fleet Account program.

ACRA members can take advantage of:

  • Recognized brand name quality products & service
  • Convenient locations nationwide
  • Competitive and consistent pricing
  • Invoicing to meet requirements
  • Only billed for tires & service that you authorize
  • Trained and qualified personnel working on their vehicles
  • Nationwide limited warranty

Through Goodyear’s National Account website, www.goodyearfleetnetwork.com, ACRA members have access to over 4,000 Goodyear Company and independently owned locations ready to service your rental fleet tire and service needs.

Goodyear has made it easy for you to get started. Use the email address below providing your name and contact information and a Goodyear National Account representative will work with you to set up your individual account.

goodyearnationalaccounts@goodyear.com

How does the Goodyear National Account tire and service purchase program work?
After completing the application process, ACRA tire and service pricing becomes available to the approved member. Approved members may visit any authorized Goodyear National Account provider location, present their unique ACRA/Goodyear member number and receive their tire and service benefits. The member’s credit card will be billed and an electronic receipt will be emailed to the member.

How do I find the nearest Authorized Goodyear National Account dealer?
Visit www.goodyearfleetnetwork.com and click on the “Dealer Locator” tab. Enter the full address or zip code of your facility, or zip code of where you are located, or click on the “Use Your Location” button. You’ll then receive a listing of the nearest Goodyear locations ready to service your fleet needs. There are over 4,000 Goodyear National Account dealers nationwide. This site is also available on smartphones.

This program is offered to you at no charge as an ACRA member. Any questions should be directed to goodyearnationalaccounts@goodyear.com. Start savings on tires and service today.

Posted in ACRA News
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