BEIJING — Starting on Sept 20, drivers of rental cars can check and handle their traffic violations online through a mobile app, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

In the case of a traffic offense, the rental car driver can use the app developed by the ministry, and will no longer have to go to the place where the violation occurred or where the rental car is registered, said Liu Yupeng, an official with the ministry.

The move will benefit more than 3 million rental vehicle drivers every year, said Liu.

In addition, drivers will no longer have to present the vehicle registration certificate of the rented car for verification when handling traffic violations at the traffic management authority.

If rental drivers fail to handle their traffic tickets in a timely manner after being contacted by the rental company, the violations will be transferred to the rental driver's name, and the driver could face consequences or be contacted directly by the ministry to handle the infractions, said the ministry.

The car rental industry has burgeoned in recent years, with more than 20,000 car rental companies in China, according to Liu.