From car alarm systems to one of the largest car rental businesses in Lithuania

For some time now, drivers on Lithuanian roads have been noticing vehicles marked with a small stylised letter A on their doors. Photos and discussions have been spreading on social media, with people wondering what kind of club it is and how they can become part of it.

“That was exactly our goal – to spark curiosity so people would start looking for information about us,” smiles Remigijus Bajarūnas, owner of “ADMITA”, one of the largest short-term and long-term car rental companies in Lithuania. The logo displayed on those vehicle doors belongs to the company itself.

How the first cars appeared in the yard

R. Bajarūnas admits that he originally studied electronics, and his very first business was completely different. More than 20 years ago, he owned one of Lithuania’s car alarm installation companies. There was no shortage of orders – the company worked with new car dealerships, international rental companies, and other businesses.

Business is business, and invoices need to be paid. Not every company managed to settle its accounts on time, and at that moment a fairly natural solution appeared – one car after another started arriving in the “ADMITA” yard.

“We realised that financially it made more sense to put those vehicles to work by renting them out rather than selling them. We already had partnerships with car dealers and rental companies, so those business relationships naturally continued to grow. For example, dealerships would provide replacement vehicles to customers whose cars were being repaired in service centres. They did not own the vehicles themselves, so we rented them to the dealerships.

At first, this was just a side activity that helped solve our partners’ challenges. But a good business is one that solves a real problem for someone,” says Remigijus.

It did not take long – within three years the company had developed a separate car rental business. At the same time, the car alarm industry was slowly declining, as more and more manufacturers started producing vehicles with reliable factory-installed security systems. Meanwhile, “ADMITA” had already secured business continuity and gained significant weight in the car rental market.

After the first years of independent operations, “ADMITA” acquired a franchise from an international car rental brand and spent eight years operating under a global name alongside other international players at airports. As the market situation changed, that first partnership eventually ended.

Later, “ADMITA” became the Lithuanian franchise operator for one of the world’s largest car rental networks while simultaneously continuing to develop its own brand.

Finding a reliable financial partner

Today, one of Lithuania’s largest long-term and short-term car rental companies manages a fleet of 1,200 vehicles, operates bases in four Lithuanian cities, and reached a turnover of EUR 6 million in 2024.

Looking at more than 20 years of activity, such growth may not appear dramatic at first glance. In reality, the company experienced its biggest breakthrough during the last few years following the pandemic.

“The pandemic was a challenge for everyone. Every business experienced difficulties, but for us it also became the moment we met Šiaulių Bankas, now known as Artea Bank. Artea recognised our business model and growth potential.

The car rental business requires a large amount of capital. Without a reliable financing source, it would have been difficult to grow at the pace we wanted.

Together with Artea Bank, we also discovered partnership opportunities in the car leasing sector. We help ensure flexibility for customers when they need it most. Both ‘ADMITA’ and ‘Artea’ share something important – strong ambitions to grow,” says R. Bajarūnas.

In total, Artea Bank has provided the company with EUR 20 million in financing for fleet expansion and service infrastructure development.

Solving the customer’s problem

“I constantly hear the question of why we did not rush to expand earlier. But that was a conscious decision. Many companies enter the market saying they will become the biggest and cheapest rental provider overnight.

We do not simply rent cars – we solve the customer’s problem by providing safe, clean, and well-maintained vehicles without additional stress. Building that foundation took time – understanding what customers truly need, ensuring the highest service quality, implementing the best technologies, and building the strongest team in the market that truly understands what they are doing.

We stay close to the customer throughout the entire journey – from choosing the right vehicle and route planning to vehicle return and roadside assistance. Is it the cheapest option? No. Does the customer gain peace of mind and enjoy the journey? Absolutely,” says the owner of “ADMITA”, who is proud of the consistently excellent ratings the company receives on Google and other platforms.

This reputation has become so important that on accommodation and travel service platforms offering additional mobility services, “ADMITA” directly competes with international rental brands in Lithuania and is often chosen more frequently by customers.

Artificial intelligence helping customers

According to Remigijus, even the artificial intelligence solutions implemented by the company are primarily focused on solving customer concerns and reducing stress.

Remigijus Bajarūnas, owner of one of Lithuania’s largest short-term and long-term car rental companies, ADMITA.

“A car is an expensive asset. If it gets damaged, it is unpleasant for everyone, and arguing about it is even worse. Our customers know there will be no disputes. For example, when a vehicle leaves the airport parking area, it passes through gates where 150 photographs are taken automatically. The vehicle returns through the same gates later. Artificial intelligence compares the images, and the result is quick and objective.

It is no secret that some companies offering unrealistically cheap rentals generate part of their profits through disputes over damages,” explains R. Bajarūnas.

Another application of artificial intelligence is pricing management. The system analyses real-time market vehicle occupancy rates, flight schedules, hotel occupancy, and many other indicators to determine rental pricing that best reflects the balance between supply and demand.

Private parking areas, service centres, and car washes

“In reality, we also operate another business – airport parking services. It was another natural extension of our activities because cars need to be stored somewhere, and parking areas are not always full, so why not make better use of them?

We have invested heavily in our own infrastructure across Lithuania’s largest cities – parking areas, car washes, service centres, and tyre warehouses. Unlike many competitors who outsource these services, we are vertically integrated. This allows us to operate more efficiently, and the business model truly pays off,” says the head of “ADMITA”.

At the moment, the company does not provide service centre or car wash services to external customers, although Remigijus notes that everything depends on customer demand in the future.

Responding to changing customer needs, the company also launched a unique partnership with the car-sharing platform “Bolt Drive”. Users of the platform can not only rent vehicles instantly but also plan longer trips lasting several days or even weeks.

The vehicles for these rentals are supplied by “ADMITA”, while drivers can rent them directly through the mobile application.

Currently, “ADMITA” is the only “Bolt Drive” partner of this type in Lithuania, which, according to R. Bajarūnas, reflects the company’s constant search for unique opportunities in the market.

Renting motorcycles? Why not?

Another recent step by “ADMITA” may have surprised swimming enthusiasts as well. The company became a partner of the Lithuanian Swimming Championships. Even more interestingly, motorcycles carrying the stylised A logo were displayed next to the pool instead of cars. Yes – “ADMITA” also rents motorcycles.

“I personally love travelling by motorcycle and wanted to share that experience with others. As a standalone business, motorcycle rental would not survive – the season is too short and downtime is too high. On the other hand, many motorcycle enthusiasts cannot afford a truly comfortable touring motorcycle but still dream of travelling.

So we help people travel the way they truly want to. And motorcycles are also part of our uniqueness. If people noticed them – great. I am happy that our name stays in their memory,” says “ADMITA” owner Remigijus Bajarūnas.