Dollar Rent a car

Dollar Rent A Car is a car rental firm based in Tulsa, Oklahoma serving key destinations throughout the United States and around the world. The company, which prides itself on value and high standards of customer service, was founded in 1965 in Los Angeles, before relocating its world headquarters to Tulsa in 1994.

In 1990 'Dollar' was bought out by the US car giant Chrysler and incorporated into its Pentastar Transportation Group, along with Thrifty Car Rental, Snappy and General Rent A Car. Seven years later, Chrysler, by then Daimler-Chrysler, divested its car rental business Dollar Thrifty Automotive (DTG), which is now the parent company of Dollar Rent A Car and Thrifty Car Rental. DTG is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Dollar currently has 260 car rental locations at airports and other locations throughout the United States, along with a further 400 in 26 countries worldwide. As well as operating in the US, the company also offers rental services in Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, Russia and parts of South East Asia.

Although no longer owned by Daimler-Chrysler, Dollar still has ties with its former parent, offering customers the Chrysler 300 and the Chrysler Pacific. Other models in the US fleet include the Dodge Caravan minivan, the Jeep Cherokee, the Sebring convertible and the Dodge Neon. Dollar has more than 75,000 vehicles in the US and 188,000 worldwide.

Airports are a good hunting ground for rental companies offering companies like Dollar easy access to vacationers and business travellers alike. In a bid to secure repeat business, the firm has forged partnerships with a number of leading carriers. Dollar currently has tie-ins, including frequent flyer miles deals, with Alaska Airlines, Aloha Airlines, American, Continental, Delta, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, Northwest, Southwest, United and US Airways.

As well as corporate agreements, Dollar also runs schemes such as Dollar Dividends, which it launched at the end of last month. Under the promotion, travel agents can earn points for each vehicle rental they book with Dollar. The points can then be redeemed through an American Express reward card.

Its sister company, Thrifty Car Rental is another major player in the US and global car rental markets. The firm has over 1,000 locations in 60 countries and targets the more cost-conscious business user or holidaymaker.

Despite operating in a highly competitive market, business is booming for both Dollar and Thrifty. First quarter results this year saw parent company DTG pull in record revenues of $362 million, up 5.8 per cent on the same period last year.

"Our employees did a good job of driving balanced revenue growth with increases in both rental days and revenue per day, while keeping a sharp focus on controlling costs," said president and chief executive Gary Paxton.

For more information about Dollar Rent A Car, visit the company's website. If you are planning a foreign or domestic trip and want to hire a car, remember to check out the rates on Major Travel (www.majortravel.co.uk).