Car-rental business booms ahead of Idul Fitri

Antara

The car-rental business is thriving ahead of Idul Fitri festivities in many cities across the nation, including Palembang and Semarang.

Many families argue that renting a car is much more efficient than taking the bus or the train.

By hiring a car, families can travel at their own convenience and enjoy more privacy.

Jauhari, a car rental owner in Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra, said that bookings for cars had been on the rise over the past few days. "Families are preparing to travel to their hometowns during Idul Fitri, which is only a week away," he said.

Jauhari rents various types of vehicles, the most popular being Toyota Kijangs, which are spacious enough to accommodate a family and their luggage.

The rental fee depends on the type of car. A Toyota Kijang is rented for Rp 225,000 a day, but smaller cars are cheaper to rent, such as Daihatsu Espass, which are available for Rp 175,000 a day.

Those needing to rent a car for a longer period could try Toyota Rent A Car, which is a subsidiary of the largest car marker in the country, PT Astra International Tbk.

Rahmi, a customer care employee of the company's branch in Palembang, said that cars could be rented for as long as three years. The company prioritizes renting cars to corporate clients, but to cope with the rising demand for rental cars ahead of Idul Fitri, it is also serving retail customers.

The fee is between Rp 4 to Rp 10 million, depending on the type of car and the period of rental.

The company has 400 cars in four provinces on Sumatra island, namely South Sumatra, Jambi, Bengkulu and Bangka Belitung.

In Semarang, the capital of Central Java, Doddy, 45, the owner of Aman Rent a Car, said that all his 12 cars had been booked a few days before and after the Idul Fitri holiday. Customers rent his cars for four days on average, for between Rp 350,000 to Rp 500,000 a day. The price includes a driver and fuel.