Connected Car
A connected car has an internet link built in, letting it send and receive data while you drive. That powers live traffic-aware navigation, real-time information, app-based features and remote services such as locking or locating the car from a phone.
For rental fleets the connection is increasingly important behind the scenes. It can enable contactless pickups where you unlock the car through an app, keyless access, and the operator’s ability to manage and locate vehicles across a city.
For you as a driver, the visible benefits are convenience features: smarter navigation, easy media and phone integration, and sometimes app control of the rental. The flip side is awareness that a connected car can record data about journeys and usage.
It is worth a moment’s thought on privacy: connected and app-managed rentals are handy, but they do involve data. If that matters to you, it is reasonable to ask the company what its connected services collect and how they are used.
Related terms
Telematics
In-car tech that tracks a vehicle’s location, condition and how it is driven, sent back to the operator.
Contactless Rental
Collecting and returning a car with minimal in-person paperwork, handled through an app or online instead.
On-Demand Mobility
Transport you summon instantly when you need it, through an app, rather than on a fixed schedule.