What is an ACRISS Code? How It Works

ACRISS Code

A standardized four-character code used by the car rental industry to classify vehicles by category, body type, transmission, and fuel type, enabling consistent like-for-like comparisons across rental companies and booking platforms.

Victoria Landsmann

•June 25, 2026•

5 minute read

What is an ACRISS Code?

ACRISS code is a four-character vehicle classification standard maintained by the Association of Car Rental Industry Systems Standards. Each character represents a distinct vehicle attribute: size and class, body type, transmission and drive configuration, and fuel type with air conditioning. The system prevents misleading information when booking a rental car through electronic channels, whether via a travel agency, corporate booking engine, or online platform.

When a corporate traveler searches for a rental car through a global distribution system, the ACRISS code translates a supplier's vehicle listing into a comparable, standardized description. Without it, a "standard" car from one rental company might mean a completely different vehicle from another.

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How the Four-Character Code Works

Each position in an ACRISS code carries specific meaning:

Position	Attribute	Examples
1st character	Vehicle category (size, class, luxury)	M = Mini, C = Compact, I = Intermediate, F = Fullsize, P = Premium, L = Luxury
2nd character	Body type (chassis style)	B = 2-3 door, D = 4-5 door, W = Wagon/Estate, F = SUV, V = Passenger Van, T = Convertible
3rd character	Transmission and drive	M = Manual, A = Automatic, B = Auto 4WD, D = Auto AWD
4th character	Fuel type and air conditioning	R = Unspecified fuel with AC, V = Petrol with AC, E = Electric with AC, H = Hybrid with AC

A code like IDAR translates to: Intermediate, 4-5 door, Automatic, Unspecified fuel with AC. SFAR means: Standard, SUV, Automatic, Unspecified fuel with AC. The system also includes "Elite" designations (e.g., J = Intermediate Elite, R = Standard Elite) for vehicles offering higher specifications within their size category [1].

An independent motor vehicle professional commissioned by ACRISS assigns codes to manufacturers' models across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia/New Zealand, helping ensure accuracy and consistency across all member platforms.

Why ACRISS Codes Matter for Corporate Travel Programs

Travel managers building corporate travel policies use ACRISS codes to set precise vehicle parameters. Instead of vague "mid-size cars only" rules, a policy can specify allowable categories (C through S) and restrict body types (no convertibles or SUVs unless traveling with equipment).

Three practical benefits stand out for business travel programs:

Policy enforcement at the booking level. When travel policies reference specific ACRISS categories, distribution platforms can filter non-compliant options before a traveler sees them. This prevents out-of-policy bookings rather than flagging them after the fact.

Rate comparison accuracy. Corporate rate negotiations become more precise when both parties reference ACRISS codes. A negotiated rate for "IDAR vehicles" is unambiguous across all channels and distribution systems. Without standardized codes, negotiated rates can drift as suppliers redefine their own categories.

Pickup expectation management. The most common friction point in corporate car rental involves receiving a vehicle that doesn't match what was booked. ACRISS codes set clear expectations: a traveler who booked FDAR (fullsize, 4-5 door, automatic, with AC) knows what class to expect, regardless of which specific model the supplier provides.

How ACRISS Codes Flow Through Distribution Systems

ACRISS codes are embedded in data that moves between car rental companies and booking channels. When a rental company loads inventory into a GDS, each vehicle listing carries its ACRISS code. The booking platform uses that code to categorize search results, apply policy filters, and display vehicle details travelers can compare.

The system originated from Standard Interline Passenger Procedure (SIPP) codes created for airline reservation systems in the late 1980s. ACRISS adopted and expanded this framework when it was founded in 1989 by four major rental companies [2]. The classification has evolved substantially: the 2006 expansion introduced dedicated SUV coding (reclassifying the "F" type code from 4WD to SUV), and 2020 updates added codes for electric vehicles (E and C designators), plug-in hybrids (I), and autonomous vehicle readiness levels 3 through 5 [2].

Technology associates including Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport, and Navan implement ACRISS codes within their platforms, making the standard accessible to travel managers and self-booking travelers across enterprise booking tools [3]. As of 2025, thirteen car rental company members adhere to the standard across their global fleets [3].

Common ACRISS Code Examples for Business Travelers

ACRISS Code	Decoded Meaning	Typical Business Use Case
CDAR	Compact, 4-5 door, Automatic, Unspecified fuel with AC	Solo city trips, short commutes between office locations
IDAR	Intermediate, 4-5 door, Automatic, Unspecified fuel with AC	Standard corporate travel (most common business booking)
FDAR	Fullsize, 4-5 door, Automatic, Unspecified fuel with AC	Client meetings, team travel, carrying presentation equipment
SFAR	Standard, SUV, Automatic, Unspecified fuel with AC	Construction site visits, rural destinations, adverse weather
PDAR	Premium, 4-5 door, Automatic, Unspecified fuel with AC	Executive travel, client entertainment
IDAE	Intermediate, 4-5 door, Automatic, Electric with AC	Sustainability-focused programs, urban assignments

Travel managers can use these codes to define policy tiers: allow CDAR through IDAR for standard trips, require pre-approval for FDAR or higher, and restrict SFAR/PDAR to specific business justifications. This level of precision is only possible because every rental company using the ACRISS standard applies the same four-character logic to its fleet [1].

When choosing a car rental provider for a corporate program, confirming that the supplier participates in ACRISS coding is a basic due diligence step. Non-ACRISS suppliers may use proprietary categories that don't map cleanly to other vendors, creating comparison gaps in multi-supplier programs.

Reading ACRISS Codes on Booking Confirmations

Most corporate booking confirmations display the ACRISS code alongside the vehicle description. If a confirmation shows "IDAR" but the description says "Ford Focus or similar," the traveler knows they've booked an intermediate-class, 4-5 door, automatic vehicle with AC. The "or similar" language is standard because ACRISS codes classify by category rather than guaranteeing a specific make and model.

The NDC standard and GDS channels both transmit ACRISS codes, so the same classification appears whether the booking flows through a traditional distribution system or a modern API connection. This consistency is what makes ACRISS valuable for corporate programs that source vehicles from multiple rental companies across different regions.

Duty of Care: The employer obligation to protect traveling employees, which extends to ground transportation safety and vehicle suitability for the assignment.
Corporate Card: A payment card issued to employees for business expenses including car rental charges, often linked to travel policy rules that reference ACRISS categories.

Sources

[1] ACRISS, "Car Codes," acriss.org, last updated July 2025. https://www.acriss.org/car-codes/

[2] ACRISS, "ACRISS Car Codes: History and Development," acriss.org, 2025. https://www.acriss.org/about/how-acriss-does-it/acriss-car-codes/

[3] "Car Rental Industry Standards and Market Segments: A Complete Guide for 2025," Hayak Blog, November 2025. https://hayakblog.com/ru/car-rental-industry-for-2025/