Hertz, First Notice Systems Partner to Facilitate Replacement Car Rentals

First Notice Systems(TM), Inc., a provider in claim reporting solutions for the industry, and The Hertz Corporation, announced a strategic alliance that enhances the services insurance carriers can provide their policyholders when auto claims are reported. With the new alliance, insurance companies affiliated with First Notice are now able to offer a Hertz car rental reservation to policyholders who need alternate transportation when reporting an auto claim.

“This alliance allows auto insurance carriers to leverage complementary services that, when combined, can really assist policyholders,” said Martin Aita, Director of Administration, Suburban Development for The Hertz Corporation. “Anyone who’s been involved in a car accident knows that there’s enough to worry about without considering how to find a rental car. Policyholders whose carriers use First Notice get prompt relief; a car is reserved at a Hertz Local Edition location as soon as they report their claim.”

“Some carriers worry about authorizing car rentals too early – before a claim is evaluated by an adjuster,” added Jim Leightheiser, Vice President of Product Marketing for First Notice. “Our rules-based software uses the same decision-making process that adjusters use. It ensures that we only offer Hertz rentals to qualified claimants who have the appropriate coverage. In addition, we can limit the initial rental authorization period to last just long enough so that claim adjusters can follow up with policyholders to extend the rental as needed.”

The Integrated Service
First Notice Systems call center representatives initiate car rentals with Hertz through an automated connection. Once a caller qualifies for a rental, he or she chooses the nearest Hertz Local Edition branch. First Notice immediately transmits the rental authorization request to that branch, which makes an outbound phone call to the policyholder within one hour to finalize the rental details, including the type of car and pick-up time. When claim adjusters receive the first notice of loss report, they’re informed that a rental has been authorized for an initial period. Adjusters can then access the web-based Hertz Insurance Replacement System to manage the remainder of the rental.

Hertz Local Edition is Hertz’s network of suburban car rental locations with more than 500 suburban branches across the United States. The network offers customer pick-up service and a wide variety of current car models. In addition, special insurance replacement rates and direct billing to insurance carriers are available.

“Insurance policyholders contact First Notice in times of need,” said Will Fulton, president of First Notice Systems. “By teaming up with Hertz we can, on behalf of our insurance clients, confidently offer them a value-added service from a company known for treating customers with the utmost care. The combined service exceeds customer expectations and saves our clients money in the process.”