Many travelers want to explore the holiday resort flexibly by car or plan a round trip in a rental car. However, the prices for rental vehicles have continued to rise this year and are higher than ever.

“Due to the corona pandemic and the resulting lack of demand, especially in holiday regions, the fleets of the providers have been greatly reduced and cars have been sold over the past few years. Now the demand is increasing again - but the providers lack vehicles, so prices are rising rapidly," explains Thomas Oppenheim, head of the ÖAMTC travel agency. Since buying a car is currently generally difficult due to the lack of chips and long delivery times, the high rental prices will continue, according to experts from the mobility club.

Tips from the experts on car rental booking

ÖAMTC travel expert Thomas Oppenheim gives tips for everyone who doesn’t want to or can’t do without a rental car on holiday this year:

Check prices before booking your holiday: “Before you book your flight, hotel, etc., you should find out about the prices from the respective providers. Once the flight has been booked and the trip planned, you have to accept the prices and can no longer simply switch to an alternative destination,” advises Oppenheim.

It pays to book early: “Last-minute bargains are the exception rather than the rule this year. Even if the rental prices currently seem expensive, it is worth booking now,” says the travel expert.

Compare prices and providers: The ÖAMTC expert advises: “Compare the prices and rent from reputable providers. In terms of price, large companies often offer an advantage over smaller ones, as they usually have fewer vehicles available.”

Read terms and conditions and check services: Before booking, you should check the terms and conditions and insurance cover carefully. In this way, it can be estimated in advance whether there will be additional costs – such as for child seats, navigation devices or a surcharge for young drivers under the age of 25. “It is also important to check in advance by when and under what conditions free cancellation is possible. Additional cancellation insurance can be worthwhile,” says Oppenheim.