How to Automate Bookings and Unlocks in Your Car Rental Business

In today’s digital-first economy, customer expectations are evolving fast. Whether you manage a car rental fleet or operate on platforms like Turo or Getaround, speed, security, and simplicity have become essential. Manual processes like key handovers or in-person check-ins only slow down your business and frustrate customers. The solution? Automation. With tools like MoboKey, you can fully automate bookings and unlocks—making your rental business more efficient, scalable, and competitive.

Why Automate your car rental Bookings and Unlocks?

Automating these processes delivers significant benefits:

  • Faster turnover between bookings

  • No need for physical presence or staff on-site

  • Enhanced customer satisfaction

  • Lower operational costs

  • Reduced risk of key misplacement or unauthorized use

Step-by-Step: How to Automate Your Car Rental Operations and Bookings with MoboKey

1. Install MoboKey Device in Each Vehicle

MoboKey offers plug-and-play hardware that can be installed in most vehicles. Once connected, it enables:

  • Keyless entry via smartphone

  • Remote engine start (with MoboKey Pro)

  • Security features like remote engine kill

MoboKey Pro Lite supports unlocking and immobilizer control—perfect for rental businesses without remote start needs.

2. Integrate the App or Use MoboKey’s Dashboard

You can either use MoboKey’s dedicated app or integrate its SDK into your own rental platform or white-label app. This gives you:

  • Full access control

  • Booking management

  • Real-time status updates

  • Location tracking via the user’s connected phone

3. Automate Booking Confirmation and Access Granting

As soon as a user books a vehicle, you can configure MoboKey to:

  • Automatically send a digital key to the user’s phone

  • Limit access to the rental window (start and end times)

  • Restrict or disable vehicle use if payment is not verified

This removes the need for any human involvement in the booking-to-driving process.

4. Enable Remote Unlock and Lock

Once the digital key is sent, the user can:

  • Unlock and lock the vehicle via smartphone

  • Start the engine (if your plan includes engine control)

  • Get access to vehicle location and trip logs via the app

All interactions are logged, so you retain full control over your fleet even without being physically present.

5. Automate End-of-Trip Processes

When the rental period ends, MoboKey can:

  • Revoke the user’s access

  • Log trip data (duration, location, etc.)

  • Automatically lock the vehicle

  • Notify you if the vehicle wasn’t returned to the correct drop-off point

Is It Safe?

Yes. MoboKey uses encrypted Bluetooth communication and smartphone verification to ensure:

  • Only authorized users can access vehicles

  • Time-based access prevents misuse

  • Engine control prevents unauthorized startups

You can even disable a car remotely in case of emergencies using the engine kill feature.

Final Thoughts

In a world that values speed and convenience, automation is the backbone of a modern rental business. With MoboKey, you can eliminate manual key exchanges, reduce staff dependency, and create a seamless, app-based experience for your customers.

Whether you’re managing a small rental fleet or scaling a car-sharing platform, automating bookings and unlocks isn’t just smart—it’s essential.

Try out MoboKey for Car Rental now: Download your Mobokey application here: Go to Play Store or App Store!