General
1. How can I choose the right car?
ACRISS has devised a car coding system, the `ACRISS Car Classification Code’, this identifies the features of a car so that you can be sure your client gets the same standard of car wherever they rent in Europe from an ACRISS Member.
2. My client needs a child safety seat, how can I order that?
ACRISS Members usually supply infant/child and baby seats at their locations. What they supply will usually depend on availability and the age or weight of the child, so its best to check with your client and ensure these details are added at time of booking.
3. How do I understand all the car rental jargon and abbreviations?
ACRISS Members have addressed this problem and provided definitions to help the booking process. Please refer to ACRISS Abbreviations page under Travel Agent tab. https://acriss.org/travel-agents/abbreviations2/
4. I don’t always use the same car rental company; do they all have the same vouchers?
ACRISS Members have agreed a standard voucher format so when you choose an ACRISS Member the voucher will be completed in the same way. . See ACRISS eVoucher page for more information.
5. What if I or my client wants to change the return location after the rental has started?
We realise that people change their mind for a number of reasons, however it is important that you or your client calls the original RENTAL location to make the necessary changes. A further charge may be imposed, and rates may become invalidated, particularly if you or the renter fails to do this.
6. How do I know how much TAX/VAT a country charges on rentals?
ACRISS Members always load the local tax amounts in the POLICY pages of the GDS. All mandatory taxes are included in the total price returned by the car rental company at time of booking.
7. What is ACRISS doing for Travel Agents?
We are constantly addressing the needs of the travel industry and have influenced a number of GDS and travel technology enhancements over the years to make your job easier, e.g standardised codes and formats. We now have a section on the website especially for Travel Agents. Contact Us if you have some suggestions for further improvement.
8. Can I book a delivery and collection through the GDS or other travel technology partner?
This depends on the car rental company and travel technology site used. Sometimes the car rental company needs information which cannot be carried or held through a GDS or partner site. For further information on the format and instructions on how to book through partner sites please refer to the GDS prompt guides under Travel agency tab. https://acriss.org/travel-agents/travel-agent-tools/
9. Where do I find the address and telephone number of a rental location?
ACRISS Members provide all this information in the rules during the rate shop and sell. It can also be found in the car rental company's POLICY pages in your GDS and the customer itinerary.
10. Are there any age restrictions to rent a car?
All car rental companies have a minimum age requirements in order to rent and drive a car and this can vary by rented by country and company. You will need to refer to the POLICY pages for each car rental company and add your age in the availability/sell request to check eligibility and if any extra charges apply. If there is an additional charge, it will be returned in the reservation.
11. What is the "Headline Price" ?
The "Headline Price" is the price quoted to the customer at time of booking and throughout the reservation which includes all mandatory charges, the definition of mandatory charges is anything the customer must pay that is foreseeable and unavoidable.
12. What is ACRISS doing for the traveller and car rental user?
ACRISS Members help develop and create standards in order to provide the customer with all the information needed to book car rental with confidence. ACRISS and its members work together in order for the customer to be able to make an informed choice when booking car rental.
13. How do I know what insurance or type of insurance is needed?
There are both mandatory and non mandatory insurances required by law. Additional insurances can also be purchased to help with the excess reduction/waiver and other types of non mandatory insurances are available. The Total "Headline" price will include all mandatory insurances. All additional insurances available will be listed in the POLICY page in the GDS/technology partner site or explained by the rental company when you collect your vehicle.
14. What should I do if I want to complain about my car rental experience?
If you or your client is not satisfied with the booking or car they received and wish to make a complaint, it is best to contact the customer service desk of the car rental company or 3rd party the reservation was booked through.
15. Are their any special requirements or additional fees for young drivers?
Most car rental companies and all our members charge an additional fee when the renter/driver of the rented vehicle is under the minimum age limit that is generally applied. The minimum age may vary by company and country and will be different to the legal driving age. All information can be found in the POLICY pages in the GDS, car rental website and throughout the reservation process. It is therefore important that the age of the driver is indicated at time of booking in order for the car rental company to return the applicable young driver surcharge fee. It is also important to note when booking through a 3rd party or broker that the young driver surcharge might not be known until the vehicle is picked up at the rental location.
Car Classification System and codes
1. What is the difference between the ACRISS Car Classification system and SIPP?
SIPP (Standard Interline Passenger Procedure) codes is the four-letter abbreviations that identify the major features of a rental car. The ACRISS car classification matrix is derived from the original SIPP codes which was successfully used for years by the GDS (Global Distribution Systems) using the same category, type, transmission and fuel/AC used in the matrix today. ACRISS expanded on the original SIPP coding in 2006 adding the Elite categories and recently expanding on the definitions/differences for Electric/Hybrid cars. The SIPP acronym is still used in North America.
2. What is the ACRISS Car Classification system?
ACRISS Members utilise an industry standard vehicle matrix to define car models ensuring a like for like comparison of vehicles. This easy-to-use matrix consists of four categories. Each position in the four character vehicle code represents a definable characteristic of the vehicle: Category, Type, Transmission and Fuel type/Air conditioning. Car codes are created by assigning one character from each column and combining them into a four-character car code giving each model a 4 character combination that defines the above characteristics of the car. All our members adhere and comply with the car codes assigned by our experts, ensuring the customer can easily compare and make an informed choice.
3. How do I decode a 4 letter ACRISS code assigned to the car I am/have booked?
To decode the assigned ACRISS code please refer to our Car Classification system matrix https://acriss.org/car-codes/expanded-matrix/
4. How do I find out what code a particular vehicle model has been assigned?
You can find out the assigned car code for a given vehicle model using our online "Car Code Search" option on the website see https://acriss.org/car-codes/car-code-search/
5. Is the Car Classification System and coding used everywhere?
ACRISS devised and developed the existing Car Classification System from the old SIPP system used by the GDSs. It has been updated over the years and in 2006 was expanded further to include new car types and the Elite version in categories. At present this system is recognised and used in Europe, Middle East and Africa only and for European and MEA fleet only however ACRISS has plans to expand further into other regions/markets in the coming years starting with Latin America. All our members comply with the coding assigned to the vehicles for these regions as part of the ACRISS Code of Conduct.