Taking Silvercar — and its spiffy Audis — for a test drive
Silvercar bills itself as “the world’s first hassle-free car rental company.” You rent using a mobile application and pick up your Audi — yes, every car is a silver Audi — by scanning a code on the car with your phone. The website promises you'll forgo the lines and paperwork that hold you up at the rental counter. All vehicles come with GPS, Wi-Fi and satellite radio. Unlike traditional rental car companies which often charge exorbitant fees for gas, Silvercar charges local pump prices, plus $5.
“I believe that the future of car rental is a world without rental counters, and technology will get us there,” says Chris Brown, executive editor of Auto Rental News. “Silvercar doesn't need to be all things to all car renters. They need to serve their niche well. And so far, they have.”
I tested out Silvercar while in Colorado over Independence Day weekend. The booking process is simple — enter your location (currently, only available at eleven major airports) and dates to get a quote. Tip: Dedicate a few minutes to Googling for a discount code — the new customer one I found saved me $50. Your first rental requires some extra time and information (driver’s license number, choice of insurance coverage, credit card number), but that allows future rentals to go quickly.
Costs
Four day rental at $89/day: $356
Trip Fee: $1
Colorado Road Safety Program: $8
Vehicle License Recovery: $6
11.11% Concessions: $34.66
City tax: $15.64
Sales tax: $23.47
New Customer Online Discount: $50
Total: $394.77
Prices, with taxes and fees, for an economy car from a traditional rental agency during the same dates in Denver were almost identical to Silvercar’s costs — and were much higher for a luxury vehicle. Costs are much more disparate in other cities, however, with Silvercar prices ranging from $49 to $89 per day and traditional rentals going as low as $20 a day. Your destination and dates will determine whether the cost is worth it.
Prior to my Denver rental, Silvercar sent detailed directions for getting to them from the terminal — I made it from baggage claim to my Silvercar in 10 minutes. Two friendly “concierges” met me at the shuttle, introduced themselves and walked me through the car’s features. Two bottles of cold water were waiting for me in the cup holders, along with a charger inverter to plug in my cellphone. I was on the road 24 minutes after collecting my suitcase.
The Audi A4 is a pleasure to drive. Luxury features include a sunroof, black leather interior, satellite radio and Wi-Fi (which comes in surprisingly handy when driving in areas with bad cell service and for downloading media without paying hotel fees to connect).
The airport drop-off spot is pre-programmed into the navigation system of all Silvercars, making returns a breeze. A concierge met me as I parked and I was on a shuttle bus to the terminal one minute later.
“The travel industry, and the stuffy old world of car rental, is notorious for poor customer service,” says Jonathan Peachey, a former Virgin Group executive. "The huge lines at the car rental desk, the fake apology for not having the car you reserved, the hard sell to upgrade, the exorbitant fuel charges on return — you’ll experience none of those with Silvercar.”
I loved my Silvercar experience — it’s upscale, modern and professional, and for my dates and location, the price was right. But it is truly hassle-free? Let's compare:
Waiting in line at rental counter
Silvercar: No counters or lines; you'll spend extra time with a Silvercar concierge for your very first rental
Traditional rental company: Yes, except for certain loyalty program members
Getting car you reserved
Silvercar: Always an Audi A4
Traditional: Make and model not guaranteed
GPS
Silvercar: Included
Traditional: Extra charge
Extra driver
Silvercar: Included
Tradtional: Extra charge
Gasoline charges
Silvercar: Pump price plus $5 surcharge
Traditional: High per-gallon cost for cars returned less than full; prepay options often at market prices
“Silvercar sets the bar high for the car rental experience of the future,” says Peachey. Based on my test drive, I agree.