Need a car at National or Dulles?  How about adding a chauffeur to that rental, sir?  

Avis Rent A Car announced Tuesday a new pilot program called “Avis Chauffeur Drive” through which its customers at the region’s two airports and in nine other cities can rent a car and hire a professional driver at the same time.

With rental cars piling on the premiums, from satellite radios to never-lost navigation, the program  is the product of a new alliance between Avis and WeDriveU, Inc.  The California-based company provides fully insured and certified chauffeurs who provide professional driving services to customers using an Avis rental. Car and driver may meet their pick-up anywhere within a 60 mile radius of the city’s radius.

“Avis Preferred members can now let a locally-based professional driver worry about traffic, directions, parking and the bags,” said Michael Caron, vice president of product development for Avis.  “Using our service can also cost less than hiring a sedan from a limousine service, so it saves the customer money, too.”

The service costs $30 per hour with a three-hour minimum, plus standard rental car charges.  Customers can rent the vehicle and use a WeDriveU chauffeur during the entire rental period or as needed.  If a driver is used intermittently during a rental period, the three-hour minimum applies each time.  The chauffeur can pick up the Avis rental car for the customer and meet the customer wherever desired, including airline baggage claim or curbside loading zones for airport arrivals, or at a hotel or business meeting location. 

And, ah yes, the driver can also handle the return of the vehicle, avoiding those pesky waits for the shuttle bus.

The service is also available in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix and San Francisco for Avis customers enrolled in its Avis Preferred or elite programs. 

“Whether theyre juggling back-to-back business meetings or a non-stop leisure itinerary, customers now have the best of both worlds,” said Dennis Carlson, president and CEO of WeDriveU.  “We’re popular with busy executives and individuals who place a premium on productivity, convenience and value.”