For U.S. travelers renting cars abroad, airport pickup often means long lines, paperwork, and unexpected payment hurdles. 

Woop Drive aims to change that with the launch of a fully app-based, desk-free car rental platform now live across Greece, Spain, Montenegro, the UAE, and Seychelles. The service allows tourists to book, unlock, and return rental cars using their smartphones.

Woop Drive is a digital-first car rental platform that enables travelers to rent vehicles without rental desks or physical keys. Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Vilnius, Lithuania, the company officially launched its platform this year, and now partners with professional rental fleet operators to provide a fully app-based rental experience. 

This marks a new stage for outdated car rental experiences, said Woop Drive CEO Ričardas Šukys in a Feb. 2 news release. The platform eliminates the need for rental desks, physical keys, paperwork, queues, and mandatory credit cards, along with other benefits for tourists.

This solution comes as the travel industry reaches new heights. 

Air traffic passenger levels have been increasing ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, grew every year, and are predicted to surpass 5 billion in 2026, according to the latest data by the International Air Transport Association.

“Renting a car right after you land in your destination country usually means added stress, time constraints, and hurry,” Šukys said. “Nobody wants to spend their first vacation hours at the rental desk when you’ve already booked yours online. But that’s what happens. We knew this process could be simplified and become as easy as ordering food through an app.”

A recent study by J.D. Power, “North America Rental Car Satisfaction,” also revealed that skipping the counter alone results in 36% faster pick-up and increases customer satisfaction by up to 8%.

“We’re already booking hotels and checking in online 24/7 without any issues. The biggest leap in convenience will always be full automation, and we’re finally bringing it to the car rental industry,” Šukys added.

Waits can last up to an hour at rental desks during peak hours. This process doesn’t solely depend on car rental companies, and it can be affected by external issues such as frequent flight delays or how busy airports get at certain times

Despite time spent at the counter, the car rental process often poses other unexpected issues. The single most common cause of rental rejection at the counter is payment-related problems. Woop Drive won’t require customers to freeze large security deposits, either.

At launch, more than 15,000 vehicles will be available across the platform's network, and both airport pickup and hotel delivery will be available. Šukys emphasized that their platform only works by integrating with professional rental fleets, ensuring fully insured keyless fleets.

Woop Drive plans to expand to more markets in 2026.