In the classic travel film “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”, an airport shuttle drops Steve Martin off in a remote parking lot only to find that the car he has rented is no longer there. He spends the next few days getting home by all means.
Scenes like this are playing out across the country this summer. In some places there are no rental cars at any price. In other cases, an economy-size rental can cost more than the plane ticket that got you around the country.
While some do not want to be part of the madness and have postponed their travel plans, others find creative ways to secure bikes or at least to get to their destination.
The best tip: book your rental car before doing anything else.
The rental car drought
There is a shortage of rental cars because there is a shortage of new cars, a lack of microchips that control everything from entertainment systems to safety equipment.
This domino effect is slowly being reversed, allowing rental car companies to rebuild their fleets to cope with the ongoing surge in travel. For example, when travel stalled in 2020, Hertz filed for bankruptcy protection and sold hundreds of thousands of cars. The company emerged from bankruptcy in June and is adding automobiles to its inventory to cope with the boom, according to a company spokesman.
Discrepancies between supply and demand are still common. Need a minivan for a Labor Day weekend getaway? Using the Kayak.com search engine to evaluate availability, this four-day Las Vegas rental would cost at least $ 441; in Portland, Oregon, $ 1,029; and in Anchorage, Alaska, you would be out of luck at any cost.
Think outside the airport counter
Here’s a look at other ways to get where you need to go – some of which show up on online travel booking sites alongside Dollar, Budget, and Enterprise, some of which rely on others to do the driving. Consider these rental car alternatives:
-
Turo is a peer-to-peer rental car website where people share their private cars. In some cases, you can park the Turo car at the airport and use an app to unlock it. Keep in mind, however, that many of these cars are older and others may limit the number of kilometers you can drive.
-
Getaround is similar to Turo, but you can rent a car by the hour. For example, the cost of using a 2019 Honda Civic for three hours in Southern California was about $ 30.
-
Zipcar charges a small membership fee and then charges hourly or daily rates. The cars are parked in city parking lots or on university campuses. You unlock the car with an app.
-
U-Haul is known for its trailers and trucks, but in an emergency these vehicles can still provide basic transportation. For example, in Southern California, a weekly rental of a 9-foot truck is about $ 300 and includes 300 miles of travel, according to the U-Haul website. But if you’re going to a wedding, make sure the happy couple are okay when you arrive in a work van. Similar utility vehicles may be found at Budget, Penske, or other moving truck providers.
-
Taxis and ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft are great for short trips. Instead of spending a giant week on a week’s rent, you can be driven by someone else for a lot less money.
-
Would you like more legroom and a driver with a tie? These are just two of the advantages of a limo service. And while it costs more than an Uber, you can carry more people and share the extra cost.
-
Take the bus or other public transport. Here is how. In some cities, trains, subways, and buses are surprisingly efficient. If you choose this route, you will save money by buying a day or week pass and get on and off as you wish.
-
If you are looking for a car at home, buy one at your destination and use it for your vacation. Then sell, drive back or have it delivered to your home.
-
Once in a reasonable area, consider driving your own car. Yes it is faster to fly. But if you need a car and can’t find a rental car, it can make sense. Perhaps you will discover something amazing along the way.
When you need to rent a car
The story goes on
If you choose to take the rental car route, here are a few ways to keep the price down.
-
Check out a rental property in the neighborhood. There are no airport facilities fees and taxes and can be very high. Try calling the location directly if there is no availability online.
-
Book for a week. Often there is a discount for a weekly rental. In some cases, if you return it early, you will get the difference back.
-
Pay ahead of time. Depending on the provider, you can save up to 35%.
-
Use the correct credit card. If you’re looking to pay off a small fortune, use a credit card that will give you something in return, with either reward points or perks like primary insurance coverage.
-
Use your preferred status as a frequent renter. It can get you to the top of the line faster and even guarantee you a car at the highest level.
More from NerdWallet
Philip Reed writes for NerdWallet. Email: article@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @AutoReed.
The article 9 Options When You Can’t Find A Rental Car originally appeared on NerdWallet.