A Rental Car Problem Nearly Ruined Our Family Vacation. Here’s How to Avoid a Snafu

Consider these strategies to stay ahead of any disruptions

4-minute read

By

Gina Rich,

 
AARP
Published September 30, 2026
a sign switching between available and unavailable above a car in a row of other vehicles
It’s never fun to be told your reserved rental car is unavailable. Here are some ways to make sure an unavailable car doesn’t ruin your trip.
AARP (Getty Images,4)

Key takeaways

• Peak travel can result in rental car shortages when companies overbook or cars aren’t returned on time.

• Consider a backup plan, such as car-sharing services or a loyalty program that puts you at the head of the line and lets you head straight to your vehicle.

• To minimize the stressful situation, respond calmly and ask about the availability of other vehicles.

This past June, my family flew to Sacramento, California, where we planned to rent a car and drive two hours to visit family in Lake Tahoe. After schlepping our luggage onto a shuttle in 90-degree heat, we joined a long line of customers at the airport’s rental center. Finally, it was our turn, and an agent told us our SUV wasn’t available.

When my husband pointed out that we had a reservation, the agent shrugged. “It’s peak season,” he said, which did little to mollify our hungry teenagers. Two hours later, annoyed and exhausted, we drove away in a sedan. But the experience left everyone in such a bad mood that we seriously considered flying home early.

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Renting a car is a common experience for people 50 and older: Seventy-two percent of Generation X consumers rented cars in 2023–2024, while 64 percent of boomers did, according to Grand View Research, a market research and consulting firm. But even with a reservation, you might show up to find your vehicle isn’t available.

Here’s why this problem arises and how to prevent it from upending your travel plans.

Why your car isn’t there

Rental car companies tend to overbook reservations because any vehicle that sits idle costs them money, says Lauren Fix, an automotive expert who shares news and analysis on her website, Car Coach Reports. Another wrinkle: Customers might return a vehicle later than scheduled, impacting other reservations.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought more uncertainty as a sharp decline in travel prompted rental car companies to reduce their fleets and cancel new vehicle orders. Conditions have improved since then, Fix says, but high prices are still affecting the number of vehicles companies are buying.

All these factors mean your reserved car might not be available when you need it. The risk rises during busy travel times, such as holidays or the summer. Unlike airlines that overbook flights, rental agencies aren’t obligated to compensate customers if they can’t fulfill a reservation. A 2023 bill to remedy this, the Vehicle Rental Order Obligation Mandate Act, has not moved forward in Congress.

Planning ahead

To reduce the chance of not receiving a reserved car, Fix recommends joining the rental car agency’s loyalty program, which prioritizes you in the queue and often lets you skip the counter at the airport. Loyalty programs like Avis Preferred, National’s Emerald Club and Hertz Gold+ are free to join. Fix, who is a Hertz Gold+ member, says her experiences typically go smoothly.

If you’re traveling during a peak time like summer or a holiday weekend, prepare for delays at the counter. Having a backup plan, like taking a ride-share to the destination and renting a car the following day from a different agency, could have saved my family some stress.

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You can also consider car-sharing services, such as Zipcar, Enterprise CarShare or Turo, a web- and app-based service that enables vehicle owners to rent to individuals. At Turo, you can specify your exact vehicle, down to the model and color you want. Turo acknowledges that car owners may cancel a reservation; if so, the company will notify the customer and help find a replacement.

Coping when your car isn’t available

What if, despite planning, your vehicle isn’t ready when you arrive?

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Manage stress

A rental car mishap can spark surprisingly intense feelings, from anger and frustration to anxiety. “The emotional reaction can feel so out of proportion,” says Juliet Lam Kuehnle, a licensed clinical mental health counselor, speaker and author of Who You Callin’ Crazy?! This heightened reaction isn’t just about the car — it’s also about feeling like you’ve lost control of the plan, Kuehnle says. Travelers might also perceive the delay as threatening something precious and limited, like a once-in-a-lifetime family vacation.

The more upset we get, “the worse our brain gets at doing the thing we need to do, which is strategize or problem-solve,” Kuehnle says. I learned this firsthand: My family was so irritated that we bickered instead of considering other options, like heading to a restaurant to wait more comfortably.

Kuehnle suggests observing your reaction in these stressful moments. For instance, do you raise your voice, breathe faster or space out? Then, naming the problem, like “Man, that is so frustrating and not what we expected to happen,” creates space to switch from a flooded emotional state to problem-solving and logistics mode, she says. Asking, “Will this matter in a week?” can also interrupt the “urgency spiral” we’re stuck in, Kuehnle says.

Ask what else is available

If your car isn’t ready, Fix recommends asking the agent about vehicles that were just returned or those getting cleaned. This is what my husband ended up doing, and finally, we were on our way, albeit later than we’d hoped.

Keep in mind that the available vehicle might be in a more expensive category than what you reserved, and the company may try to upsell you. Ask politely if you can keep the original rate for the replacement vehicle. “You never know until you ask,” Fix says.

Gina Rich is a writer in Wisconsin. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Next Avenue, Notre Dame Magazine, Wired and other publications.

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