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LISLE, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 31, 1995–To help control the increase in excessive mileage on its fleet, particularly during the summer travel season when rental vehicles are used for long-distance driving vacations, Budget Rent a Car Corp. Wednesday announced that it plans to expand its recent mileage cap test program to additional markets beginning in July.

Last year, Budget began testing a 100-free-miles-per-day mileage cap on minivans and Lincoln Town Cars, Continentals and Mark VIIIs, at its corporate-owned locations in the Central U.S. region. The program was developed to help reduce the high mileage that was historically occurring with these popular vehicles.

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“While the national average mileage on our overall rental fleet is just under 90 miles per day, our records showed that the average mileage on our Lincoln Town Cars, for instance, was over 140 per day –over 50% higher,” said Budget’s President and CEO William N. Plamondon.

“These caps are intended to help keep down the mileage levels on our fleet and to have those drivers who do the higher-than-average driving pay for the excessive miles they put on our vehicles.”

Compared to other car rental companies, Budget tends to have higher mileage on its fleet, largely because of its diverse mix of specialty vehicles and the strong mix of local market and airport locations. This year specialty cars (such as minivans, convertibles, luxury cars and four-wheel drives) represent 33% of the fleet, a five percent increase over the 1994 level.

“Although the cost of airline travel is decreasing somewhat, more Americans are taking shorter vacations close to home because it is a more affordable option for small groups of friends and families,” said Plamondon. More driving vacations, which originate in the local market versus an airport location, translates into higher mileage on rental vehicles.

Budget was the first major car rental company to break out of the unlimited mileage format when it recently introduced pick-up trucks at 15 major U.S. airport locations, for the $10 a day and 10 cents per mile rate. For years, some Budget local market operators have had mileage caps in place.

Another recent trends leading to the increase in higher mileage on Budget’s overall fleet comes as a result of more Americans leasing rather than buying cars. When high-mileage driving occasions come up, these individuals often rent a car rather than pay the excess mileage penalty fees associated with leasing agreements.

At a time when the overall mileage consumers put on rental cars is rising, automobile manufacturers have reduced the mileage allowances on their program cars to help protect the high resale value in the consumer retail marketplace.

Budget Rent a Car is the world’s third largest car and truck rental system with over 3,200 corporate and licensee-owned locations including 825 airport locations in over 115 countries.

CONTACT: Budget Rent a Car

Janice Cain, 708-955-7059

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