BVRLA calls for bigger role for rental cars

Rental cars should form a greater part of the UK's overall transport system, according to a spokesperson from the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA).

John Lewis, chief executive of the organisation, hailed the importance of leased vehicles after a study by the Transport Research Laboratory found that such automobiles were generally greener and safer than the average privately-owned car, reported Automotive Guardian.

He said: "It is now clearer than ever that car rental presents a cheaper, safer and more sustainable alternative to car ownership for millions of business and leisure motorists. We hope that this research will help convince policymakers to give car rental more consideration within the general transport mix."

As well as being better maintained and safer, researchers found that CO2 emissions from rental cars were 12 per cent lower on average - suggesting long-term car hire represents a more sensible choice for environmentally aware motorists.

According to TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk, transport minister Norman Baker added his backing to the idea that rental cars should form a more significant part of the British transport network.

He explained that the government is always keen for people to use the most sustainable forms of travel, adding that the hire car has sometimes been seen as the "poor relation" of the privately owned automobile, but that this BVRLA research shows that this is not the case.