If you are planning a trip soon, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise when you want to rent a car during the trip. Unfortunately, the car shortage that started in 2020 is still a big problem. Demand for rental cars outstrips the supply of available vehicles, so rental car prices have skyrocketed.
If you are surprised by unusually high rental car prices or the fact that rental cars are usually not available, read on. There are countless options for renting a car when traveling across the United States, but some require a little creative thinking.
Ride sharing and taxis
Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are probably the first thing that comes to mind when considering rental car alternatives. If you haven’t used any of these services yet, requesting a ride is as easy as opening the app, entering your destination, and accepting the price. Prices are usually based on distance and travel time, so ridesharing is best suited for short city breaks. Depending on your needs, these services can be your only means of transportation or they can augment your use of public transportation.
The disadvantages of ridesharing are unpredictable prices and availability. During event times and other peak or off-peak times when there are few drivers on the road, prices and availability can vary widely. It also varies from place to place, which means that if you’re used to having ridesharing available at home at odd hours, you might not find it like that at your destination. Keep this in mind if you plan a late night trip or head to the airport to catch an early flight. Many cities allow you to book a ride in advance, which can make urgent travel less stressful.
If you use a rideshare service, using the right credit card can save you a few dollars. The American Express® Gold Card and American Express Platinum Card® offer Uber credit that can be used for both rides and Uber Eats orders, while Chase and MasterCard offer Lyft benefits on many cards.
Ridesharing services are generally available in the United States, but please note that local laws apply to ridesharing, including previous bans in the United States and Canada. In cities without taxi service, traditional taxis may be the best option for on-demand transportation, so make sure you have a phone number for a local taxi service.
Public transport
In the US, most people think of public transit as the go-to for some major coastal city like New York, San Francisco, or Washington, D.C., but public transit can and is a surprisingly viable option for travelers outside these coastal centres. Those familiar with Seattle, Portland, Boston, and Chicago know that these cities have strong public transportation systems.
Many smaller cities have surprisingly affordable and accessible public transportation infrastructure if you’re willing to look. Salt Lake City probably wouldn’t make the list of cities with good public transportation, but it does have light rail connections from the airport to downtown. As another example, the Minneapolis/St. The Paul metro area has a wide variety of light rail and bus lines that connect the metro area.
One of the easiest ways to find out if public transport is worth it for you is to use Google Maps. Use the app to find directions to frequently used destinations in your city. If the app creates accessible and convenient public connections, public transit could be an option.
Off-airport rental
Most car rental companies have both airport and non-airport locations, and prices often vary between these locations. When looking at rental prices, you should check if the city center or suburbs offer a better price or availability than the airport. This may be due to high airport user charges and taxes used to support airport operations. A quick Uber or public transit ride to a place where rental cars are less popular can lead to significant savings.
Before renting outside the airport, make sure you understand when the off-airport location operates and if it accepts after-hours returns. Many off-airport locations are closed in the evenings and weekends and will charge you for the entire weekend if you leave your car on a Friday. While there are no afterhour’s rentals, you are responsible for the condition of the car until it can be officially re-registered.
