Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc. posted a net loss of $72.2 million for the fourth quarter, the company reported in its Q4 2008 earnings call. This compares with a loss of $30.6 million a year earlier. Excluding items, the company lost $39.1 million in the latest fourth quarter.

For the full year, the company said it lost $340.4 million, compared with a profit of $1.2 million in 2007. Revenue fell 3.6 percent to $1.7 billion.

Rental revenue for the fourth quarter dropped by about 10 percent to $336.7 million, triggered by a 7 percent decrease in revenue per day and a 3.2 percent decrease in rental days, the company said.

The company said it expects vehicle rental revenues to be down 6 to 12 percent in 2009.