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Economy
Rental Car supply and demand shortage drives price increase
2021-12-27
[ZERO] Supply chain issues aren't just showing up for consumer staples, they're also starting to rear their head in rental cars.

There has been a shortage in the rental car industry since earlier this year and while travelers are "encountering higher rates and few choices," according to a new Wall Street Journal article, companies like Hertz are "struggling" to re-stock fleets after downsizing due to Covid.

For customers lucky enough to even find a car, many are being forced to downsize or book vehicles they didn't originally intend.

At the same time, rental rates are skyrocketing. The daily rate is now $81, which is up 31% from a year prior, WSJ reported. Hasn't someone told Hertz the "official" CPI number is just 6.7%?

This figure is up from about $46 per day, prior to the pandemic.

In winter destinations like Maui, Salt Lake City and Bozeman, Mont., rates are over $100 per day, WSJ reported.

The omicron variant has also caused some travelers to switch from flying to driving, further depleting supply of rental cars. One traveler who chose to drive to North Carolina from Chicago told the Journal: "It was overall a high-stress situation."
I doubt those rates include State and local taxes.
Posted by:Besoeker

#16  A demand shortage increasing prices?

I understand that there is, at least some places, locally a supply shortage, as visitors unaware of the local traditions, leave their vehicle locked so windows get broken out.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2021-12-27 15:45  

#15  /\ Your system is no doubt a violation of some Federal law. If I were you, I would submit a copy of your comment to OSHA for review and legal finding.

But, thanks for sharing Bubba.
Posted by: Besoeker   2021-12-27 13:27  

#14  I developed my system for road trips a few years back. Stripped the back seats out of my Elantra, laid some strategically cut pieces of plywood in back, converting it to a 2-seat station wagon. 1 or 2 can lay down side by side on air mattresses & take a snooze quite comfortably. Having a -30 deg F down sleeping bag works in really cold weather. For really long stretches driving, I stop every hour or two and walk 20 or more minutes. This adds substantially to the time I must travel but the exercise and stretching that results pretty much cancels out the stiffness I used to develop on long trips without long walking breaks. After I've covered 4 miles in a long day of driving I am really glad to simply sit at the wheel and relax. I usually wear support hose to prevent leg swelling and leg clots. I'm already on an anti platelet drug for other reasons anyway. I carry some camping gear to make coffee & heat food up at rest stops just in case I can't find a place to get a bite.
Posted by: Bubba Lover of the Faeries8843   2021-12-27 13:22  

#13  Definitely a 'True' statement about the ORD food, Glenmore. Hartsfield does have better food, plus the vendors are usually open.

ORD vendors seem to be on perpetual break.
Posted by: Mullah Richard   2021-12-27 09:35  

#12  I rate Ohare as worse than Hartsfield, Mullah. Food is worse, if you can find an open vendor. Baggage handling is infamously worse. Of course I never actually leave either one by ground transport.
Posted by: Glenmore   2021-12-27 09:26  

#11  Nice traffic at that Atlanta airport, BTW...
Posted by: M. Murcek   2021-12-27 09:25  

#10  Wishing u safe travels and happy times Glenmore.
Posted by: Besoeker   2021-12-27 09:25  

#9  And don't get me started on Midway.
Posted by: Mullah Richard   2021-12-27 09:23  

#8  Ohare (ORD) isn't much better, B.

Plus at Ohare, you get the joy of getting back and finding your vehicle ransacked, if even there. Private lots offer a bit more security, but not much.
Posted by: Mullah Richard   2021-12-27 09:23  

#7  Really don't want to put up with the airport/airline BS anyway, so I am not a part of the car rental shortage. Do want to get to Portland to see descendants I have not seen in almost 3 years. Four day drive, for me; 7-8 with spousal unit. If I can convince her to fly I'll drive out (with a load of daughter's 'stuff' to dump off) and then we will take a leisurely drive home.
Posted by: Glenmore   2021-12-27 09:14  

#6  You're not missing anything, Visitor.

Patricia Cornwall's in the jug in Atlanta now, but who knows which little Fauci Fascist will be his next Airborne Enforcer?
Posted by: Merrick Ferret   2021-12-27 09:08  

#5  /\ Air travel for me means traveling to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport. That in itself is a non-start, and not likely to change anytime soon.
Posted by: Besoeker   2021-12-27 08:36  

#4  We're heading to the southwest this spring to visit relatives for a week. If the rental prices don't come down, we'll probably drive as 6 days of driving, meals, fuel and hotels to get there & back would be a lot less than the flights and a car rental.

Disclosure - There are no time constraints on our end and I don't mind driving long distances.
Posted by: Mullah Richard   2021-12-27 08:25  

#3  $107/day for an urban golf cart

Surreal
Posted by: Merrick Ferret   2021-12-27 08:07  

#2  I recently looked into leasing an F-150 at a local Enterprise agency for five day trip. Price before taxes was $235. per day. Needless to say, I did not lease a pickup.
Posted by: Besoeker   2021-12-27 07:47  

#1  When does this national nightmare end?
Posted by: Merrick Ferret   2021-12-27 07:17  

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