As a little boy, Lengyel Viegas’ day began with the sound of two cars and eight wheels driving away. His father owned a car rental business, and all that he knew about this industry, he had learnt by sitting in the passenger seat and observing Agnelo, his father and owner of Viegas Car Rentals.
Back then, Agnelo had two cars that he would rent out – a Honda Jazz and Hyundai Grand i10. Word of mouth and good hospitality was how he kept the wheels of his small business rolling. He knew that people always return to quality service, and this is exactly what motivated him to always give his all, if not more.
Time flew by and the little boy who once sat in the passenger seat was now big enough to switch seats.
And although fathers are rarely ever ready to give up the driver’s seat, Agnelo was delighted to surrender the steering wheel of Viegas Car Rentals to his son, who he trusted would drive the business to great lengths and beautiful sunrises – and that is exactly what Lengyel has done ever since.
The seat belt was strapped on tight, Lengyel dropped a gear and disappeared. Of course, with his father who was now seated in the passenger seat, occasionally giving him directions as and when he might need them.
“The car rental business was established by my father years ago and I started contributing to its growth only in 2019. Our collaborative ideas and dedication have helped transform the company into what you see today,” says the 25-year-old from Taleigao.
One would’ve thought that giving an already existing business a facelift would be a piece of cake, but that was not the case for the father-son duo.
“The beginning was a blend of excitement, determination and a learning curve. We had to figure out the customers preferences and build a fleet based on that. Things got easier once we established a reliable fleet, a dedicated team and formulated a customer-centric approach,” he adds.
In the early stages, Lengyel focused on marketing strategies and building a loyal customer base.
“Business was a little slow and it was difficult to close enquiries because people were hesitant to pay advance deposits to secure bookings. We worked hard to establish a solid reputation and gain the confidence of our client base," he explains.
Then came the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown blues that brought its share of helplessness as their savings were immobilized.
But quitting was never an option and soon, they bounced back by expanding the number of vehicles available for rent and curating the right mix of vehicles to cater to different customer preferences and budgets.
All this while maintaining regular inspections, repairs, and maintenance checks to keep the vehicles running smoothly.
What started off with just two cars and eight wheels is now a fleet of around hundred vehicles, ranging from hatchbacks, sedans, MUV, SUV and more; with brands such as Suzuki, Hyundai, Toyota, Mahindra, Kia, Honda, Nexa and MG.
And it comes as no surprise that some of the bestsellers are the Mahindra Thar, Toyota Innova Crysta, Toyota Fortuner, Kia Sonet, Hyundai Creta, Mahindra Scorpio N and Maruti Fronx to name a few.
Walking down memory lane, one cherished moment that the young entrepreneur holds close to his heart is the feeling of the exhilaration that he felt upon purchasing his first car.
“As a car rental company, each vehicle we acquire becomes more than just a transaction; it transforms into a symbol of our commitment to quality service and memorable experiences for our customers,” he smiles as he waves to his customer driving the Mahindra Thar he just rented.
With a wide range of vehicles to choose from, cars in mint condition and airport pick up and drop offs, your search for the perfect car rental service stops here.
Heaven hears a million prayers every day, and while some come from complicated hearts, others are simple wishes that are almost certain to come true.
As for Agnelo and Lengyel, all they pray for their car rental business is that it continues to grow and solidifies a position as one of the most trusted choices in Goa.
CONTACT
Phone: +91 9850114297 / +91 8805524237
Email ID: viegascarrentals.info@gmail.com
Instagram: @viegascarrentalsgoa