by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 2:50 PM ET, Mon July 14, 2025
Vehicle rentals are the core of a lot of corporate ground travel programs. The flexibility and the ability to access remote or far-flung locations makes rental vehicles the best contender for the job in many cases. Fluctuating costs for rentals, however, can make it tough to budget for. Good news seems to be in store, according to Amex GBT’s newly released Ground Monitor Report.
“After years of disruption, we’re now seeing car rental prices begin to stabilize across many countries,” said Sara Andell, Director of Consulting Strategy at Amex GBT Consulting. “But the picture isn’t uniform. Local conditions vary, and fast-moving geopolitical and economic developments still have the potential to shift pricing quickly.”
In Canada, prices are expected to rise modestly, by 2.5 - 3 percent. In the U.S. the increase is predicted to be a slight 1.5 - 1.9 percent.
“Strong supply in North America should keep a lid on rental price rises,” the report notes, “[but] this forecast could be blown off course by the impacts of trade tariffs on the wider US economy and the car rental sector.”
Things vary regionally around the globe. The report states that rates in the Netherlands and Nordic countries are expected to remain flat or increase by up to 2 percent, while other markets face more pressure. For instance, the U.K. could see increases of 5 percent to 7 percent, France up to 5 percent, and Australia up to 7 percent, driven by regional supply-demand mismatches, evolving fleet strategies, and service preferences.
Future-Proofing Strategies
To avoid or mitigate some of the potential pricing volatility in rentals, the Ground Monitor Report suggests designing corporate travel strategies that:
- Strengthen ties with rental partners to ensure access during high-demand periods.
- Align rental and fleet operations across departments to gain visibility and improve value.
- Incorporate ride-share options to meet shifting traveller preferences and improve data capture.
- Plan for autonomous vehicles, which may soon reshape travel policies, risk and insurance.
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