PARSIPPANY, N.J. --- Galileo International, a major global distribution system (GDS) and subsidiary of Cendant Corp., has introduced total pricing for car rentals.

The GDS' CarMaster service now include Approximate Total, which provides Galileo-connected travel agencies with a more accurate total price on car rentals by including extra charges before confirming the reservation. Approximate Total includes the base rate, taxes, surcharges, mandatory fees and any applicable drop charges.

Customers can still add extra services upon check-in, which will combine with the approximate total. Another Cendant subsidiary, Cheap Tickets, is also implementing the Approximate Total function.

Cendant also owns Avis and Budget.

"More closely approximating the true price of a car rental during the booking process alleviates any last-minute surprises, confusion or frustration at pickup for agency customers," said Eileen Kennedy, Galileo's vice president of marketing for the Americas.

Previously, an approximate total had been available on single car vendor availability screens only. Travel agents had to make separate availability requests for each car vendor. With this improvement, agents can compare multiple car rental providers based upon total charges, all on the same screen.