Route 66 travelers get sticker shock from recent car-rental rates

One interesting thread on the HIstoric Route 66 page on Facebook has been by prospective Route 66 travelers — especially foreigners — who nearly had a heart attack when seeing the prices on rental vehicles.

Lee Thurston in a recent post on the group stated he made a reservation a year ago for an SUV for two weeks in 2022 for a Route 66 journey from Chicago to Los Angeles. He compared it to the rates if he booked it today.

Thurston’s year-ago reservation cost about $1,800, including a one-way dropoff fee. The reservation, if booked now, would cost more than $5,500.

Fortunately for Thurston, the CEO of the car-rental company assured him the initial price still was good.

Several other people in the group also have reported steep price hikes. A few stated they’re postponing their trips because the car-rental costs have pushed them beyond their budgets.

The Wall Street Journal list month also reported higher prices and fewer vehicles available at rental companies.

The shortage of rental cars that emerged earlier this year has gotten worse as companies such as Hertz Global Holdings Inc. struggle to restock their fleets after selling off big chunks early in the pandemic, analysts and executives say. Leisure travel has also bounced back with more Americans vaccinated and booking trips, they say, further taxing already limited availability. […]
The average daily rental rate in the U.S. in December — already one of the most expensive times of the year to rent a car — was $81, up 31% from a year ago, according to travel company Kayak. Before the pandemic, the average rental rate was closer to $46 a day in December, Kayak said. […]
The spread of the new Omicron variant has further complicated the picture for travelers, prompting some to ditch air travel plans and rent a car instead.

Car-rental companies urge customers to book as early as possible to lock in rates and have more vehicle options.

The Journal reported it’s uncertain whether rates will improve much:

Auto executives say inventory levels should improve as factory output normalizes, but many companies are also looking to permanently reduce the number of vehicles they manufacture—a move that could affect how much rental-car providers pay for vehicles, analysts say.
“The car-rental situation will only get better if the car-manufacturing landscape improves,” said Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst for San Francisco-based Atmosphere Research Group. “Until then, it’s going to be one of the bleakest times to be renting a car.”

NerdWallet.com passed along advice to those who want to save money on vehicle rental:

• Avoid rentals at the airport because of the surcharges.
• Shop online not only on companies’ websites, but on Kayak, Priceline and Cheapcarrental.com.
• Don’t forget discount brands such as Advantage, Payless, Thrifty and Dollar Rental.
• Use memberships such as Costco or AAA, or use frequent-flyer miles, to leverage discounts.
• Rent economy vehicles instead of sports cars; they’re cheaper because they’re booked less often.
• Waive the additional driver fee if you can.
• Use your own insurance coverage.
• Turn down the extra amenities offered with the rental.

Another cost-saver is to skip the one-way dropoff fee by returning the vehicle to the original place of hire.

For a 2,400-mile Route 66 trip, this might not be possible under certain time constraints. However, if you miss someplace on the Mother Road during the initial journey, the return trip may well give you a second chance to visit it.

(Image of cars near a Route 66 sign in Springfield, Missouri, by Springfield Missouri CVB via Flickr)