In East Ridge, Tenn., a family-owned car dealership felt the quake of the recession in 2009 and decided to start a car rental operation, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press. After starting the rental business as part of Tweety’s Automart at just four fleet vehicles, the dealership now runs a rental car fleet of almost 50 late-model used cars.
Terry Smith, a finance consultant for the Automart, told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that the company has bought another East Ridge car rental business, Donna’s Rent-a-Car. This second location focuses on rentals without a credit card.
