Legal name / brand names: Argus Car Hire
Founded: 1959 (United Kingdom)
Headquarters: United Kingdom / Ireland-based (consumer brand powered from Dublin)
Type: Brand/trading name of CarTrawler Ltd (Ireland)
Categories: Car Rental Broker
Markets: Europe and global (focus UK/EU)
Parent: CarTrawler (Ireland), a B2B travel tech company
Overview:
Argus Car Hire is one of Europe’s oldest car rental brokers. It started in 1959 as a low-cost car hire brand in the UK. In 1995 Argus launched online booking, and in 2010 underwent a major website relaunch. Argus operates consumer-facing websites that aggregate vehicles from major suppliers (Avis, Hertz, etc.) and smaller local firms. The Argus site allows travelers to compare prices across brands and book online. The Argus service emphasizes transparency (no hidden fees) and has been recommended by the UK consumer group Which? since 2013. Argus is owned and powered by CarTrawler, an Irish travel technology firm, meaning Argus’s inventory and booking engine come from CarTrawler’s B2B platform.
Products and Services:
Argus itself does not own cars; it is an online broker. It offers a unified booking interface, travel insurance add-ons, and customer support. Through CarTrawler’s connections, Argus provides vehicle options in thousands of locations worldwide. It handles payment processing and customer service in-house, and provides tolls/travel insurance as extras. It also offers a “Rates Watch” loyalty club for members. As a brand, Argus focuses on leisure travelers seeking no-frills deals, particularly in holiday destinations (Spain, Greece, Italy) and popular routes from UK and Ireland.
Geography and Markets:
Argus primarily serves UK and European customers but books cars worldwide. Being part of CarTrawler, it leverages a global supplier network. It markets heavily in Ireland, the UK and other European markets through online advertising and travel partnerships. The relaunch in 2010 coincided with growing demand in EU leisure markets. Argus’s Ireland-based platform also powers car rental searches for many airlines and OTAs in Europe.
Ownership and Corporate Structure:
Argus is a brand of CarTrawler Ltd (founded 2004). CarTrawler is a private Irish company that develops car rental tech for travel partners. Argus’s parent CarTrawler has further backing from private equity (in 2020, funds acquired a stake). CarTrawler’s CEO is Greg O’Hara. Argus Car Hire remains as a trading name with customer support based in Ireland.
Some Key Dates:
– 1959: Argus Car Hire founded in UK (on-road economy rental)
– 1995: Launched online booking platform
– 2010: Major website relaunch, updating user interface and features
– 2010s: Became flagship consumer brand for CarTrawler, powering many travel sites
(Sources: Company financial reports, SEC filings, official press releases, and reputable news outlets were used.)
Official channels:
Category:
Car Rental Broker
