Amex Offers Line-Item Detail for Rental Car Transactions

American Express has introduced “transactional corporate card data” for car rental transactions, which the company claims will give clients in North America and Europe more detailed information on and control over their expenditures. The company will now break down the components of expenses for major car companies, showing base rental fees, fuel, insurance, penalties, add-on equipment and vehicle delivery. The data will also provide information on the class of car rented and the duration of the rental.

AmEx claims this information will let travel managers know if employees have made upgrades or accrued penalties for which the company is charged. Doh. No more upgrading yourself to a luxury sedan when the company only authorizes a mid-size.

Data is available for Hertz, Europcar Sixt, National and Avis. Data from Europcar and Sixt are available free to any client that requests the information from Amex. The card company also has the ability to provide data from other rental providers but the client will first need to ask the rental provider.