For professionals in the car rental industry and developers working on car rental systems, standardisation is key. The ACRISS (Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards) car classification code is an industry-standard vehicle matrix designed to ensure uniform categorization of car models. This system allows for an ‘apples to apples’ comparison of vehicles across different rental companies and is crucial for effective coding within car rental platforms.
The ACRISS matrix is straightforward, utilizing a four-character code. Each character position represents a specific vehicle attribute, enabling up to 400 distinct vehicle types to be defined. Understanding this coding is fundamental for anyone involved in building or managing car rental systems. Let’s break down each position:
Understanding the 4-Character Vehicle Code
The four characters in an ACRISS code provide a concise description of a vehicle. Here’s what each position signifies:
- 1st Character: Vehicle Category. This is based on size, cost, power, and luxury level.
- 2nd Character: Vehicle Type. This defines the chassis type, such as van, SUV, wagon, convertible, etc.
- 3rd Character: Transmission and Drive. This indicates whether the vehicle has automatic or manual transmission and the drive type (2WD, 4WD, or AWD).
- 4th Character: Fuel Type and Air Conditioning. This specifies the fuel type (petrol, diesel, hybrid, electric, etc.) and whether the vehicle is equipped with air conditioning.
The following table details the options for each character position in the ACRISS vehicle matrix, which is essential for coding car rental systems accurately.
Example: Consider the ACRISS code CCMN. Let’s decode it using the matrix:
- C (1st character): Compact Category
- C (2nd character): 2/4 Door Type
- M (3rd character): Manual Transmission, Unspecified Drive
- N (4th character): Unspecified Fuel/Power, Without Air Conditioning
Therefore, CCMN represents a Compact Car, with 2 or 4 doors, manual transmission, and without air conditioning. Models like the Ford Focus or Opel Astra typically fall into this category.
Passenger Van Coding in Car Rental Systems
The ACRISS system also provides specific codes for passenger vans, further refining the Coding For Car Rental Systems to account for passenger capacity. This expanded matrix enhances the first character classification to pinpoint the seating capacity of passenger vans:
| PASSENGER VAN CODING* | |
|---|---|
| IV | 6+ Seats |
| JV | Elite 6+ Seats or 5+2 Seats (2 fold down seats) |
| SV | 7+ seats |
| RV | Elite 7+ Seats |
| FV | 7+ Seats, plus more space |
| GV | Elite 7+ Seats plus more space |
| PV | 8+ Seats |
| UV | Elite 8+ Seats |
| LV | 9+ Seats |
| WV | Elite 9+ Seats |
| XV | 12+ Seats |
| OV | 15+ Seats |
This detailed passenger van coding is vital for car rental systems to accurately represent fleet composition and allow customers to select vehicles based on passenger needs.
Benefits of ACRISS Coding for Car Rental Platforms
The adoption of the ACRISS coding system offers numerous advantages, particularly for coding within car rental systems:
- Standardization: Ensures consistent vehicle classification across the car rental industry, simplifying comparisons for both businesses and customers.
- Accuracy and Transparency: An independent professional assigns codes, guaranteeing accuracy and transparency in vehicle representation.
- Informed Decisions: Enables customers to make informed choices when comparing vehicle options and rates.
- Efficient System Integration: Provides a structured framework for coding vehicle data into car rental management and booking systems.
For car rental businesses and system developers, ACRISS codes are an indispensable tool for streamlining operations, enhancing customer experience, and ensuring data accuracy. To find the ACRISS code for a specific vehicle, you can utilize the Car code search tool provided by ACRISS.
By understanding and implementing ACRISS coding, car rental systems can achieve a higher level of efficiency and customer satisfaction, making it a crucial element in the development and management of car rental platforms.
