Self-Drive Car Rental for the Lunar New Year: A Tale of Bookers and Cancellers

As we approach the Lunar New Year, there is typically a surge in demand for self-drive car rentals, with people needing to travel long distances. This year is no exception, and since the beginning of January, many self-drive car rental companies in Ho Chi Minh City have already reached full capacity and are unable to accept any more bookings.

According to a survey by Tri Thức – Znews, despite a high number of customers, some rental shops have also witnessed an unexpected increase in order cancellations at the end of January.

A Slowdown in Bookings Just Before the Holiday

At Trung Anh self-drive car rental shop in Tân Phú District, Ho Chi Minh City, staff members shared that all their cars had been booked since the beginning of January. Currently, they only have two 4-seater and one 7-seater Toyota cars available.

Ms. Hồng Nhung, a customer service representative of the company, stated that the increase in demand during this period was anticipated, and the company had prepared by partnering with private car owners to ensure a sufficient supply of vehicles for the holiday.

According to Ms. Nhung, while the number of customers has increased compared to the low season, there has been a slight decrease in bookings as the holiday approaches. This is a slight difference from the previous Lunar New Year.

Self-drive car rentals experience a slowdown in bookings just before the Lunar New Year. Image: NVCC.

“In previous years, we received more bookings as the holiday drew closer, but this year it has been quieter. The number of customers has only decreased by around 10-15%,” added Ms. Nhung.

When asked about the possible reasons for the decline in customers, Ms. Nhung speculated that it could be due to recent traffic conditions and the implementation of new regulations, which may have made some customers hesitant to rent a car. However, she also noted that the demand for car rentals still exists, especially for those who need to travel long distances during the holiday season.

Cancellations Due to Concerns Over “Penalty Fees”

At other car rental shops, there have been unexpected cancellations in the days leading up to the Lunar New Year. When contacted, a representative from a car rental shop in Bình Tân District, Ho Chi Minh City, shared that their inventory is still available as they have not received as many bookings as expected.

“At the beginning of the month, we had a lot of customers calling, but now it has become very quiet. Some customers who initially planned to rent a car have now postponed their plans due to concerns about ‘penalty fees,'” said Mr. Tân, a staff member at the shop.

Some customers choose to cancel their car rental bookings due to concerns about “penalty fees” during the Lunar New Year. Image: NVCC.

In a conversation with Tri Thức – Znews, a representative from Trung An Khang car rental company in Ho Chi Minh City shared that, with only ten days left until the Lunar New Year, they have received a few cancellations.

“In the past few days, our company has noticed the impact of the new regulations. A regular customer just called to cancel their Lunar New Year booking because they are worried about the ‘penalty fees.’ This is the second cancellation we have received this week,” the representative from Trung An Khang said.

Increased Deposits and Extended Deposit Return Times

To address the issue of high “penalty fees,” many car rental companies have implemented new policies regarding deposits or “security fees” for long-term rentals.

According to a survey by Tri Thức – Znews, some shops have increased the deposit amount from 20 million VND to 30 million VND. If customers cannot pay the deposit in cash, they can leave their motorcycle registration certificate, with a value equivalent to the deposit amount.

At some other rental companies, customers are now required to provide additional documents, such as a household registration book or temporary residence book (KT3), if they wish to rent a self-drive car from the beginning of this year.

Customers can provide a motorcycle registration certificate worth 20-30 million VND as a deposit for a self-drive car rental.

There have also been changes in the deposit return process. For example, at a car rental company in Thủ Đức City, customers who have completed their rental period will receive their deposit back after one week. “Previously, the deposit was returned two days after the customer returned the car. However, according to the new regulations, customers need to wait for a week while we inspect the car, check for any ‘penalty fees,’ and inform them if there are any issues,” said a staff member at the company.

Overall, the self-drive car rental market during this Lunar New Year has experienced some fluctuations, with a slight decrease in customers at some establishments. Nevertheless, this service remains an important option for many families who wish to travel and reunite with their loved ones during the holiday season.

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