Because of a vehicle ban meant to improve Beijing’s traffic and air quality for the Beijing Olympics in August, the cost to rent a car in Beijing will jump as much as five times during the ban, according to ShanghaiDaily.com. The ban excludes taxis, buses and emergency vehicles.

Prices to rent a car in Beijing are expected to at least double as Beijing is expected to enact a ban that will require drivers with even-numbered and odd-numbered license plates to stay off the roads every other day from July to September, the report said.

Controls on vehicles yielded good results during a four-day trial in August, cutting the traffic flow by 30 percent on main roads in Beijing and reducing air pollution 20 to 40 percent.

Car rental firms said the price increase was due to stronger market demand and the vehicle ban. Rental firms said prices will drop to normal as soon as the ban expires, according to ShanghaiDaily.com.

But to illustrate an example of the possible price increase, the cost to rent a Buick GL8 is expected to surge to 45,000 yuan (US$6,428) a month from 17,880 yuan.