Self-drive car rental services are in high demand.

In recent years, instead of driving their own cars or relying on buses, many families and young people have chosen to rent self-drive cars to have more control over their travel during the Lunar New Year holiday. This surge in demand not only saves renters money and allows for more flexible schedules but also opens up effective business opportunities for individuals with idle vehicles through technology platforms.

A self-drive car rental point combined with a car wash service provides convenience for customers on Huynh Van Luy Street, Tran Bien Ward. Photo: Le Duy

Increased demand

The self-drive car rental market started to boom from the beginning of 2026. Mr. Lam Trung Hieu, who rents out self-drive cars for extended periods in Tam Hiep ward, said: "The number of customers booking rentals increased sharply in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), especially for full-day rental contracts of 7-10 days during Tet. Compared to normal days, rental prices during Tet increase by 20-40% (depending on the car model, year, and usage time). However, this price is still acceptable to many customers in exchange for convenience and privacy when traveling with their families."

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Tien (residing in Long Khanh ward), the owner of three 5-seater cars that he rents out for self-driving, said: Tet (Lunar New Year) is the busiest time of the year. According to him, many customers proactively contact him to book cars early to secure their reservations and avoid car shortages closer to Tet. Some years, his cars are rented for 15 consecutive days, with customers booking nearly half a month in advance. Compared to leaving the cars unused, renting them out during this period brings in a significant income.

Renting a self-drive car during Tet (Lunar New Year) is a cost-effective solution for many families, offering greater control over their time and flexible travel schedules. However, renters should book early, carefully read the contract, check the vehicle's condition, and review compensation clauses before accepting the car. During use, it's crucial to adhere to traffic regulations, avoid overloading, and refrain from driving at night or on bad roads to prevent accidents.

Besides direct car rentals, technology platforms like Mioto are playing a crucial role in connecting car owners and those in need. Through the app, customers can easily search, compare prices, choose suitable car models, and view reviews from previous renters. For car owners, renting through a platform reduces risk thanks to electronic contracts, insurance, and transparent payment processes.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Khanh (residing in Tran Bien ward), who rents out 7-seater cars on the Mioto app, said: "Revenue during Tet (Lunar New Year) is usually many times higher than on normal days. Just renting out a car for 7-10 days during Tet is almost equivalent to a whole month's rental income. Customers are mainly families returning to their hometowns or going on spring trips."

Conversely, many people who rent cars say that choosing self-driving gives them more control over their schedules, greater flexibility in travel, and more comfort compared to using public transportation. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Dat (from Tay Ninh , currently working at the Amata Industrial Park) said: "During the holidays, my work was arranged according to plan, and my year-end bonus was relatively generous, so I decided to rent a self-driving car to take my wife and children back to my hometown for 10 days to reunite with family. Throughout the year, I rarely need to use a car, only during Tet (Lunar New Year) do I travel a lot. After careful calculation, renting a car for an extended period is still more economical than buying a car and leaving it idle."

Stricter rental conditions

Besides the need to return home or travel , a new trend is emerging among young people: renting cars to experience them before deciding to buy one. Mr. Le Quoc Huy (residing in Trang Dai ward) shared: “I rented the exact car model I was considering buying to use during Tet. Driving continuously for several days, carrying passengers and luggage, helped me understand the car's advantages and disadvantages better than test driving it at a showroom.”

Mr. Lam Trung Hieu added: "This trend is becoming increasingly clear. Some customers rent cars not only for Tet (Lunar New Year) but also explicitly state that they want to test drive before buying. They ask very detailed questions about the engine, driving feel, fuel consumption, and maintenance costs."

According to Mr. Hieu, the demand for car rentals increases sharply during Tet (Lunar New Year), causing rental prices to adjust accordingly. While a standard 5-seater car normally costs around 1 million VND/day, during Tet, the price can increase to 1.4-1.5 million VND/day, a rise of about 40-50%. Despite the high price, many customers still accept it because cars are scarce during this time, while the demand for transportation is high.

Not only have rental prices increased, but the conditions for renting self-drive cars during Tet (Lunar New Year) are also stricter than usual. According to Mr. Hieu, most car owners require customers to rent in long-term packages, commonly from 7-10 days, or even the entire Tet holiday, instead of renting for a few days at a time like at other times of the year.

"During Tet, almost no one offers short-term rentals because it's difficult to rotate vehicles, and they miss out on opportunities for long-term rentals," said Mr. Hieu.

Along with the rental period, procedures have also been tightened to minimize risks. Typically, renters must provide their national identity card, driver's license, and sign a clear contract. In addition, renters need to ensure one of two conditions: either leave the motorbike registered in their name, or deposit a cash security deposit of 20-30 million VND (depending on the value of the motorbike). This is considered a common measure to ensure accountability throughout the rental period.

However, the above conditions only help to mitigate risks to some extent, not completely avoid them. Mr. Hieu believes that the biggest difficulty for self-drive car rental services is the incidents that occur during the customer's use of the vehicle, especially during Tet (Lunar New Year) when traffic density increases. Cars traveling long distances are very prone to collisions and scratches. In some cases, customers unfamiliar with the roads or driving at night may experience incidents, requiring repairs during peak hours.

Le Duy

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202602/dich-vu-thue-xe-o-to-tu-lai-dat-khach-dee296b/