Luxury car rentals for business travelers

By Lauren Kerensky

Updated: 12:15 p.m. ET Aug. 24, 2007

Your business trip itinerary is tightly packed — red-eye flight, a two-day stay jammed with meetings and an early morning return. You'll definitely need a car to get around town. A stroll through the average rental lot, however, chock full of mid-size sedans and minivans, might be enough to make you want to call a cab.

But who says your trip has to be all work and no play?

Today, luxury rental car outfitters can set you up with a vehicle right from the airport. Many of the big-name companies, like Hertz, Budget and Dollar, have Prestige or Style Series collections featuring BMWs, Mercedes and Hummers. And for those with bigger budgets, some specialty companies will put you behind the wheels of vehicles you've only dreamed of driving.

What's driving interest in these rentals is a desire by top executives to maintain the comforts of home on the road. If you regularly drive an Infiniti, you're probably not going to be happy renting an "econobox," says Joe Brancatelli, founder of the business-travel Web site Joe Sent Me. There's also an aspirational aspect to consider: If you drive a Ford at home, this may be your only chance to get the feel of a Ferrari.

For those looking to try out a fantasy car, Beverly Hills Rent-a-Car, which has outposts in California and Arizona and now in Las Vegas, has a plethora in its garage. Bentley, Rolls Royce and Ferrari are just a few of the brands on its roster. Got your heart set on a car that isn't in stock? No worries.

More from Forbes.com Click below for more slide shows Executive travel tips Luxury adventures for CEOs Business owner's guide to cutting travel costs World's best low-cost carriers Eco-friendly business travel tips

"There's no make or model that we can't get," says Kurt Siejkowski, vice president of marketing for Beverly Hills Rent-a-Car. He recalls purchasing a Lamborghini Gallardo for one customer, as well as an Aston Martin Vantage at the request of another.

Just make sure you plan ahead. Though most rentals only need to be booked three days ahead of time, due to the exclusive nature of high-end cars, it's best to schedule special requests as far as six months in advance.

VIP pickup
Driving in style and impressing clients often comes with other perks, too.

Maserati Even though it's $650 a day, this rental from Beverly Hills Rent-a-Car saves a lot of cash, as the purchase price of the Maserati Quattroporte comes in at $88,000.

While some high-end rental companies, such as Rent-a-Vette in Las Vegas and Image Rent-a-Car in New York City, do use traditional shuttle buses to transport you to rental lots, the services go beyond the usual. Place a call after your arrival and the shuttle will come and wait for you.

Beverly Hills Rent-a-Car and Concierge Car Service in Chicago take things a step further, offering VIP services in which someone meets you at the airport in your rental, gives you a tutorial and hands over the keys. And if you'd rather enjoy the ride from the backseat, these companies will provide you with a chauffeur.

The cost of luxury
While the rental prices of the more outrageous cars are much more affordable than their purchasing costs — renting an Aston Martin Vantage Roadster for a day is $1,950 vs. the $189,000 sticker price — they're hardly economical. A day with a Maybach, for instance, will cost you $3,500.

Companies are often willing to foot the bill of luxury rentals from mainstream outlets for their chiefs, however, since the cost is tiny compared to the expense of first-class travel.

If you've got the green light to splurge a little on your next business trip, just be sure you don't forget what brought you to town in the first place.

During a trip last year, Hertz gave Brancatelli a Mazda Miata Convertible, which he had to turn down since it would not fit his luggage as well as two people he was picking up.

"You've got to be a little practical," he says.

Print this Email this Blog this  IM this

MORE FROM BUSINESS TRAVEL

Business Travel Section Front

Luxury car rentals for business travelers Ultimate computer gadgets Next big thing: Hotels in a box World's best business-class carriers Card speeds up travel at Little Rock airport World's best business-class lounges On-demand airline aims to replace driving European business travelers on 48-hours notice Most spacious seats in the sky United boosts service for business travelers Business Travel Section Front   Add Business Travel headlines to your news reader: