Why 24/7 Contactless Pickup is Becoming the Industry Standard
Why 24/7 Contactless Pickup is Becoming the Industry Standard
The car rental industry is undergoing a profound transformation. Gone are the days of waiting in long queues at rental counters, signing endless paper contracts, and adhering strictly to office hours. In 2025, speed, convenience, and accessibility define customer expectations—and 24/7 contactless pickup is rapidly becoming the new norm.
In this article, we delve into why this shift is happening, its benefits for both customers and rental companies, and how technology enables a smarter, safer, and more efficient rental experience.
🚘 What Is 24/7 Contactless Pickup?
Contactless pickup means customers can pick up and return vehicles without any physical interaction with staff—often without even visiting a rental office. This process is made possible by:
- A mobile app or web portal for seamless booking and management
- Digital identification and e-signature for fast, secure validation
- Remote vehicle access enabled via telematics
- Real-time vehicle tracking and instant booking confirmations
This system operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, perfectly suited for customers with unpredictable schedules or those who value flexibility.
🔥 Why It’s Becoming the Industry Standard
1. Customers Expect Instant Gratification
Today’s customers—especially Millennials and Gen Z—are accustomed to:
- Booking taxis or rideshares within seconds (Uber, Bolt)
- Unlocking scooters and bikes with a tap on their phone
- Shopping, banking, and traveling whenever and wherever they want
Waiting in a rental office feels archaic in comparison. Contactless pickup delivers an experience that aligns with these seamless digital services.
2. Rental Companies Need Efficiency
Operating a traditional rental desk involves:
- Hiring full-time staff to handle check-ins and paperwork
- Managing bottlenecks and long queues during peak times
- Being limited by office hours, which restricts booking availability
- Increasing the chance of human error with manual processes
By adopting contactless pickup, companies can:
- Cut staffing costs significantly
- Serve a higher volume of customers daily
- Eliminate queues and improve customer satisfaction
- Extend service availability without extra payroll expenses
3. Increased Revenue Through After-Hours Booking
The ability to rent vehicles 24/7 unlocks valuable revenue streams:
- Late-night arrivals at airports or stations
- Early-morning business trips
- Weekend and holiday rentals
Cars sitting idle overnight represent lost income. Contactless pickup monetizes these downtime periods, boosting fleet utilization and profitability.
4. Post-COVID Hygiene Expectations
Though the pandemic has eased, hygiene remains a priority for many renters:
- Minimizing physical contact with staff and surfaces
- Favoring touchless interfaces
- Preferring independent access and minimal interaction
Contactless rental perfectly meets this ongoing demand for safer, low-contact travel solutions.
5. Smart Vehicle Technology Makes It Possible
The rise of connected vehicles and digital keys has revolutionized access:
- Cars can now be unlocked and locked remotely via smartphones
- Usage and location data are tracked automatically
- Access rights can be managed dynamically in real time
- Vehicle health monitoring supports proactive maintenance
Thanks to telematics, even small rental fleets can now adopt these features affordably through modern SaaS platforms.
6. Competitive Pressure
Major rental brands like Sixt, Hertz, Getaround, and Zipcar already offer 24/7 self-service rentals in many markets. For traditional operators relying on legacy systems, the risk of falling behind grows daily.
Offering contactless pickup isn’t just a nice upgrade—it’s essential to stay competitive and relevant.
🧰 What You Need to Enable 24/7 Contactless Pickup
Implementing a reliable, scalable self-service solution requires:
✅ Booking System with Real-Time Availability
- Customers must be able to view live fleet availability
- Select the exact vehicle they want
- Reserve, pay, and receive pickup instructions instantly
✅ Identity Verification & Driver Validation
- Secure, compliant digital ID upload and license verification
- Fraud prevention through automated or manual review workflows
✅ System for locking and unlocking the vehicle
✅ GPS/Telematics Tracking
✅ Cloud-Based Admin Console
- Monitor live bookings and fleet status
- Set access rules, time windows, and availability easily
🚀 How PASS2RENT Helps
PASS2RENT is built specifically for rental companies ready to embrace contactless service. Our all-in-one platform provides:
- A modern web and mobile interface for effortless customer use
- Full fleet visibility and automated booking management
- Secure driver validation and digital contract signing
- Remote vehicle unlocking capabilities
- A real-time admin control panel for comprehensive operational oversight
Whether managing 10 or 1,000 vehicles, PASS2RENT enables a seamless, 24/7 rental experience without the overhead of traditional desks.
🧭 Final Thoughts
The move to 24/7 contactless pickup is not just a trend—it’s a fundamental transformation in the car rental industry.
- Customers demand it
- Competitors provide it
- Technology enables it
If you want to future-proof your rental business and stay competitive, the time to act is now.
