We’ve spoken before about how safe car rental is when exploring on holiday, we’ve also covered the changes we’ve made in response to the pandemic. But we’ve rarely spoken about the future and what you can expect for car rental in 2021 and beyond. Things will be slightly different, but you’ll still be able to enjoy the freedom you’ve always loved.
Even safer car rental
Car hire has always been a safe way to travel when abroad. During a changeover, cars are cleaned inside and out, the same can’t be said for all public transport. All car rental partners we work with have committed to additional cleaning steps since the pandemic began. Interior touch points are disinfected and sanitised before each rental. Particular attention is paid to the main controls.
Secure the right car early
A casualty of the pandemic that you might not have thought of is car rental fleets. With no rentals taking place for the majority of 2020, older rental cars have been retired but the fleets may not have been replenished. There are two reasons for this. Some companies cannot afford to add to their fleet this year, whereas others may not be able to purchase the vehicles, due to a reduction in vehicle manufacturing.
Unfortunately, this means there could be a lack of availability of rental cars in 2021. If you always book a small compact hatchback, chances are in your favour and you should be able to secure the right rental car this year. However, if you require something a little specialist (automatic vehicle, 7 seater or SUV) you should book early to avoid missing out.
Prices could be slightly higher
Car hire prices in 2021 are likely to be higher than normal, as with all travel costs. Supply and demand will be a huge factor, lower availability of vehicles usually brings higher prices. It’s a double whammy for travellers. Also, many firms have missed an entire year of trading, so companies need to rebuild and recover these costs. The problem is further compounded by reduced fleets. This means car rental firms need to recover lost revenue with less vehicles, thus increasing the revenue needed per vehicle.
If you book with a reputable and fair rental company, this is unlikely to cause any extra issues. However, companies that already acted unscrupulously are only going to get worse. Where some companies would try to extract additional car hire insurance and other unfair charges, it is likely this will happen more often and for more money.
Socially-distanced pickup and return
With social distancing commonplace around the world, it’s likely that you will have to adhere to these guidelines when collecting and returning your hire car. In some countries, social distancing measures are more strict than others. With many rental companies unable to hire more employees, wait times are likely to be slightly longer when collecting your vehicle.
We’re positive for 2021
We believe in giving the best car rental advice possible and that means being honest and upfront. Car rental in 2021 is likely to be different and it may cost slightly more, but the benefits of being able to explore safely and on your own terms is 100% worth it in our eyes.
