Nationwide Rental Car Shortage Impacting Summer Travelers

Travel is up and people are paying for it.

"Fast and furious. We're Americans. We've been held down for 16 months. It's like, let's go,” said Mark Madeja, AAA Oklahoma. 

People eager to hit the road for the fourth of July but many are experiencing long waits and sticker shock. AAA said the travel industry continues to feel a few bumps on the road related to the pandemic.

"Somebody flipped the light. Everybody's ready to go,” Madeja said. 

The days of cheap travel and short waits are over, at least for now. 

"Rental car shortages are happening. Airfares, now that planes are filling up again,” Madeja said

Madeja said the rental car market tanked during the pandemic and several companies sold most of their inventory. Today, businesses can't buy their fleets back fast enough due to a semi-conductor chip shortage. 

"The reason why? We're all buying electronic devices. Working from home. Going to school from home. You have vehicles sitting unfinished that the car rental agencies can't buy yet,” Madeja said. 

AAA Travel Counselor Susan Meek said the supply simply can't meet the demand causing rental car prices to surge.

"We're seeing a lot of sticker shock. I'm seeing prices about double from what they were pre-COVID,” Meek said.

Meek has seen upwards of $1,000 for a 10-day rental in Tulsa, and that doesn't account for the price at the pump. 

"People will be paying the highest gas prices this Independence Day than they have since 2014," Madeja said.

Sara Bigheart flew into Tulsa International Airport from California Monday. 

"I had to be there at 5 o'clock and I couldn't believe the people. It's just buzzing all over,” Bigheart said. 

Bigheart said she’s happy she made her car reservation two weeks in advance. 

"I always have, and it just seems to go a little bit better,” Bigheart said.

Madeja recommends following up a few days before your trip to confirm your rental car is still avaliable. 

He also said this summer, ride share services, shuttles and public transportation just might be the way to go.