Vehicle rental transaction system and method

1. A vehicle rental transaction system comprising:

a computer having memory and one or more processors; and

vehicle rental transaction software residing as instructions in the memory and executing on the one or more processors and configured for identifying a customer as part of a rental transaction involving a vehicle, and for sending a wireless message to the vehicle including instructions for preparing the vehicle for the customer, the vehicle rental transaction software also configured to send customer preferences of the customer directly to the vehicle to prepare the vehicle for the customer based on the customer preferences, and the profile includes instructions for vehicle settings that include: adjusting power seats and power mirrors in accordance with customer preferences in the profile, adjusting climate control settings in accordance with the profile, adjusting GPS settings in accordance with the profile, adjusting radio station settings in accordance with the profile, the vehicle settings activated in stages based at least in part on the customer preferences and a location for the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions comprise an unlock instruction for unlocking doors of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is also for obtaining the customer preferences, and wherein the instructions are tailored to satisfying the customer preferences.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the computer obtains the customer preferences from the customer profile previously completed by the customer.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the computer obtains the customer preferences during the rental transaction.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the computer obtains the customer preferences from a portable electronic device provided by the customer.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is also for sending an additional wireless message to the vehicle containing additional instructions for preparing the vehicle for the customer after a predetermined time period following the one wireless message.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is also for obtaining payment from the customer, and wherein the computer sends the message following receipt of the payment from the customer.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is a self-service kiosk.

10. A vehicle rental transaction system comprising:

a computer for displaying screens and recording selections of a customer during a rental transaction involving a vehicle, for obtaining preferences of the customer as a customer profile for using the vehicle, for obtaining payment from the customer, and for sending a wireless message to the vehicle containing instructions to unlock the vehicle and to prepare the vehicle for the customer based upon the customer profile, the instructions include vehicle settings for: adjusting climate controls, adjusting GPS settings, and adjusting a radio station, the vehicle settings activated in stages based at least in part on the customer profile and a location for the vehicle, and the customer profile updated for the customer based on other settings used in the vehicle by the customer during a rental of the vehicle, the other settings sent from a vehicle control system back to the computer.

11. A vehicle rental transaction system comprising:

a first computer having memory and one or more processors configured with executable instructions within the memory that execute on the one or more processors for displaying screens and recording selections of a customer during a rental transaction involving a vehicle, and for obtaining payment from the customer;

a second computer having memory and one or more processors configured with executable instructions within the memory that execute on the one or more processors for identifying the customer, for obtaining preferences of the customer, and for sending a wireless message to the vehicle containing instructions for vehicle settings: to adjust seats and mirrors in the vehicle and to prepare the vehicle for the customer based upon preferences defined in a profile for the customer, and the seats and mirrors are adjusted based on a weight and height defined for the customer in the profile, and the vehicle settings also directing the vehicle to adjust climate control settings, to adjust GPS settings, and to adjust a station, the vehicle settings sent directly to the vehicle to prepare the vehicle for the customer based on the preferences, the vehicle settings activated in stages based at least in part on the customer preferences and a location for the vehicle.

12. A vehicle rental transaction method comprising:

identifying, at a processor, a customer as part of a rental transaction involving a vehicle; and

sending, from the processor, a wireless message to the vehicle containing instructions for preparing the vehicle for the customer via a second processor in the vehicle, the instructions for vehicle settings that direct the second processor to prepare the vehicle by adjusting climate controls within the vehicle based on the second processor communicating with a global communications network to obtain a current temperature and humidity reading for a location of the vehicle, the vehicle settings also directing the second processor for performing the following actions: adjusting power seats and power mirrors in accordance with customer preferences in the profile, adjusting GPS settings in accordance with the profile, adjusting radio station settings in accordance with the profile, and honking a horn or flashing lights of the vehicle so that the customer can locate the vehicle profile, the vehicle settings activated in stages based at least in part on the customer preferences and a location for the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

obtaining preferences of the customer to be used to prepare the vehicle by the computer.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

displaying screens and recording selections of a customer during the rental transaction by the computer; and

obtaining payment from the customer by the computer.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the identifying step comprises:

comparing identification information presented by the customer to records of transactions initiated at another computer to determine whether to release the vehicle to the customer.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

sending an additional wireless message to the vehicle containing additional instructions for preparing the vehicle for the customer after a predetermined time period following the one wireless message.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the instructions comprise an unlock instruction for unlocking doors and a trunk of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the instructions comprise adjusting power seats and power mirrors in accordance with the preferences.