Alamo Launches First-of-a-Kind Rental Car Check in Kiosks Throughout the U.S.

An Industry First, Kiosk Cuts Average Transaction Time in Half

TULSA, Okla., Nov. 14 -- An industry first, Alamo Rent A Car announced today it will roll out new self-service kiosks at rental locations throughout the United States. The new system cuts check in time for customers by about 50 percent when compared to average counter check in times.

The kiosk roll out comes after successful testing by customers in Dallas, Las Vegas and Jacksonville, Fla.

"Self-service eliminates one more hassle from family travel," said Jerry Dow, Alamo's chief marketing officer. "Customers are already comfortable using the check in kiosk for flights, using a self-service kiosk for car rental is a natural progression."

The touch-screen kiosk allows any customer with a valid driver's license, major credit card and an existing reservation to skip the rental counter and check in directly at the kiosk. After a customer agrees to the terms and conditions, a receipt-sized rental agreement is printed from the kiosk and the customer is directed to his or her rental car on the lot. At the exit booth, the customer simply shows the booth agent his or her rental agreement and driver's license and then drives away.

The kiosk also allows the customer to review rental information, upgrade to a larger car class, add additional drivers, and purchase option items such as child car seats, a GPS unit, Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), and Pre Pay Gasoline.

By next summer, Alamo expects to have nearly 80 rental locations outfitted with the new touch-screen kiosks. Besides the test markets, the first locations to install the kiosks this month are Orlando, Detroit, Denver and Los Angeles. Boston, Philadelphia, Houston, St. Louis, Dallas, Miami, San Francisco and Atlanta will all have kiosks by March.

Alamo is a proven industry leader in developing technologies that make the travel process faster and hassle-free. The car rental kiosk is another first for Alamo, which launched the industry's first and only Online Check In system in July 2005.

With the kiosks and online check in, Alamo is the only car rental company to offer two methods to skip the line. "Alamo puts control of the entire rental process in the hands of the customer," Dow said.

Alamo Online Check In is similar to the airline online check in process. It allows Alamo customers to perform check in procedures from any computer online. Once customers check in online, they simply print the rental agreement to bring with them. When they arrive at their destination, customers can skip the rental counter and the Kiosk altogether, and go straight to their car. They can show their rental agreement and driver's license to the booth agent as they leave the lot and start their vacation.

"Both check in options are simple, fast and allow families to get their vacation underway, and, they are only available from Alamo," Dow said.

Another of Alamo's technological innovations is the first real-time Internet booking engine, which Alamo launched in 1995 -- a full year before the major online travel agents. This technology allows customers to find a location, view rates and reserve their vehicle, all at Alamo.com.

"Alamo.com will always be the best place for our customers to make a rental reservation. That's where customers will always find our guaranteed best rates, our pre-pay and save option, and the newest features that make the travel process faster and easier, and they will never pay a booking fee." said Dow.