HADDONFIELD, N.J. -

Car dealer consumer-focused rental and rent-to-own technology provider DriveItAway has found that replacement vehicle demand still exists from consumers, particularly in “stay-at-home” states.

“Yet both consumers and dealers want to comply with the social distancing laws and not endanger their health,” DriveItAway founder/chief executive officer John Possumato said in a news release.

He continued, “Nor during these uncertain times do folks want to jeopardize their financial health in laying out a large amount of cash or making a long-term financial commitment.”

To meet the challenges car dealers and consumers face in the current coronavirus environment, DriveItAway has adapted its app-based platform.

The app allows for fully remote “touchless” rental contracting and payment, meaning no person-to-person physical interaction is required, Possumato said.

He added that the company has engineered its transactions to be a rent-to-buy model, “so we can have anyone drive today with an option to buy at a later time, with a substantial amount of the rental fee going towards the ultimate purchase should they chose to exercise the option to buy.”

DriveItAway says its program offers a fully in-app rental with an option to purchase.

With that option, any dealer can allow a customer the ability to choose any used vehicle in inventory, and rent it with a purchase option with some or all of the rental payment applied toward the agreed-upon purchase price of the vehicle. The dealer can then arrange for vehicle delivery to the customer’s home, and all contracting, payment and terms are inside the app.

“We saw that many car dealers now are prohibited from selling cars or are limited to online sales only, while vehicle rental companies are allowed to do business, so we quickly adapted our rent-to-purchase model to both comply with current state restrictions, and most importantly, focus on the customer needs of a social distancing and limited financial commitment, with remote delivery and an optional buy out where rental payments go towards the purchase price if the option is exercised,” Possumato said.

DriveItAway described the three steps of the proprietary program for a consumer:

1. Pick the vehicle desired out of any dealer’s used car inventory online. Then call, email or text the dealer to establish the all-in-one monthly fee, which includes insurance and maintenance. Also establish the sale price option, with part of the monthly payment applied and deducted from the sale price, if the purchase option is exercised in the future.

2. The vehicle and monthly rental rate, amount of the rental applied in credit toward the purchase (should the renter want to purchase), and terms, are placed on the DriveItAway app. On the app, the renter can digitally establish all rental terms and payment.

3. DriveItAway delivers the clean, disinfected vehicle to the customer’s door. From a distance, the delivery coordinator will validate identity (with the license information in the app). The coordinator will confirm a vehicle condition walk around. No paperwork or direct contact is necessary, and that means no need for close interaction.

DriveItAway says its program combines the best of a rental, a purchase and a lease. Customers get the vehicle they choose, make no long-term financial commitment, keep their cash, and spend nothing on maintenance and repairs, with the option to buy the vehicle. A portion of their past payment is deducted from the purchase price.

“DriveItAway can operate in all 50 states but does not yet have dealers in many areas of the country,” Possumato said.

He added that anyone who wants to use the program, but his or her chosen dealer is not yet affiliated with the DriveItAway platform, he or she can ask the dealer to contact DriveItAway, “and we will on-board them immediately.”

Possumato said no start-up cost or membership fee is required for the dealer or consumer to use the DriveItAway app or platform during the crisis period.

“We are all in this together. Let’s all help each other,” he said.