As the Spring Festival approaches, renting a car to go home for the holidays has become a new fashion in the Ice City. Although renting a car is more expensive than taking public transportation, driving yourself saves the hassle of buying tickets and allows you to carry a lot of luggage, which is why it has attracted many people going home for the holidays. On the 9th, reporters found that some car rental companies in Harbin have had their self-drive vehicles fully booked. At the same time, industry insiders remind renters to check the vehicle condition and insurance, and to sign a contract with the rental company.
No need to queue for tickets — you can even take your parents for a drive home
Chen Da, who works in Harbin, is from Mudanjiang. Although it’s not too far from Harbin, every year he and his wife and son struggle to get train tickets to go home for the holidays. “This year we wanted to go home on the 28th of the lunar month, but train tickets are really hard to come by.” A few days ago, Chen Da heard from a colleague that many people without cars now choose to rent one to go home for the holidays, which got him thinking. He then called several car rental companies for detailed consultations, and after comparing options, he rented a Hyundai Elantra from one of them. From the 28th of the lunar month to the 6th of the first lunar month, the 7-day rental cost nearly 2,000 yuan in total. Chen Da said, “Although renting a car is a bit more expensive than taking the train, it’s more convenient. I can drive home and even take my parents for a drive. It’s worth the extra money.”
There are quite a few citizens who share Chen Da’s mindset. Yu from Harbin Shanglv Car Rental Company said, “Those who rent cars to drive themselves are generally migrants working and living in Harbin, mostly from nearby cities and counties within the province. There are also those whose families are already in Harbin, but during the holidays relatives and friends come to visit, so they rent a car to make things more convenient for their guests. Among them, those going home for the festival make up the majority.”
Prices are higher than usual — main models are Jetta and Elantra
On the 9th, reporters consulted several car rental companies in the Ice City, and the response was unanimous: “Basically, all cars are booked out for the Spring Festival.” Only a few rental companies still had a small number of vehicles left.
Reporters also learned that in addition to requiring a minimum rental period of 5 days, car rental prices during the Spring Festival are also significantly higher than usual. Small-displacement family cars that normally cost 180 yuan per day are rented out at 220–260 yuan per day during the holiday.
The person in charge of Harbin Xingda Car Rental Company told reporters that their popular family-friendly models such as Jetta and Elantra have been fully booked, and now only a few manual-transmission Zhonghua Junjie sedans remain. “There are still quite a few customers coming to inquire about renting a car to go home for the holidays these days.”
Yu from Harbin Shanglv Car Rental Company said, “This year the holiday came early. Even before New Year’s Day, people were already coming to ask about renting cars to go home.” Right after New Year’s Day, the Spring Festival bookings at Yu’s rental company were all taken. Yu also told reporters that, as far as he knows, other rental companies’ self-drive vehicles are also almost fully booked. “Especially small-displacement family cars, which are the most popular among those going home for the holidays.”
Industry insiders: Check the vehicle condition and insurance before renting
In light of the growing number of citizens choosing to rent cars for the Spring Festival holiday, a relevant person in charge from Harbin Anji Car Rental Company reminded renters to always use a qualified rental company. When signing the contract, be thorough and careful. Inspect the vehicle carefully to ensure it is in good condition, and confirm that the vehicle has comprehensive insurance. This way, if scratches or accidents occur during the rental period, the insurance company will cover the costs. Having full insurance means renters can avoid a lot of worries and also protect their own rights.
