Rental Car Availability

[Paumavista]

So I needed a car to drive from Tampa to SC (Greenville area).....checked Kayak, Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia, (and went directly to a couple of companies).....NOTHING!! Not like it was "very expensive"......no NOTHING, no cars available this week! Finally got a reservation next week and called Alamo to ask if there was a chance that I could maybe get something sooner; move up my reservation (they said I could trying calling back/checking each day); but they informed me there was a 14 day block on car rentals.....i.e. you needed to book for 14 days to get availability - WOW. Anyone else finding this?

 

[MULTIZ321]

Are you a Costco Member? Did you try Costco Travel?


Richard

 

[MULTIZ321]

Also, forgot to add did you try AutoSlash.com?

Richard

 

[simpsontruckdriver]

I am a member of Enterprise Plus, I too am finding nothing for 14 days. Sometimes 7 days. Essentially, it's the "new normal", I'm not sure why but go with it.

TS

 

[dougp26364]

Same here. I book several months out and watch prices, changing as they drop. They’re both dropping much, and when our Vegas trip got closer, boom, nothing. Not two weeks out but a couple of days out.

I thought maybe this was an anomaly or a change in marketing ploy. However, when we arrived, the vehicle class we had reserved, a mid-size SUV, wasn’t available, they were out. We were offered a minivan for the same rate, which I accepted. When we arrived at the car, they were still cleaning it. It was the only minivan on the lot. In fact, the lot was easily void of cars.

I suspect what we’re seeing is rental car agencies practicing cost control by not overbuying cars and keeping prices higher. Typically, a one week rental in Vegas is around $140-$160. This year it’s $220. My next couple of trips are the same, higher prices. I keep an eye on them and they’ve budged a little, but not a lot.

Over the years I’ve seen the rental agencies adjust pricing policy, this is just the new normal for now. In a couple of years it will probably be something else.

 

[Paumavista]

Thank you for the feedback (confirmations.....). I'm not a COSTCO member but I registered with AutoSlash and they did send me a quote (so they DID find availability!!!......while I still haven't found availability anywhere using Tavelocity, Orbitz, Expedia, etc - just checked all sites again a few minutes ago and couldn't find a single car available at any price!) - the price at Autoslash was about $300 for Thursday/Friday....compared to the $80 I was able to secure for Monday. So I am going to just hang out here....keep swimming and enjoying the warm weather......These are certainly different travel times.......