by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 4:00 PM ET, Tue August 25, 2026
If you book rental vehicles for your corporate or leisure clients, the latest pricing forecast from American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) will be a welcome bit of information. Of all the travel costs that seem to be rising, vehicle rentals are not anticipated to be one of them for the rest of 2026 and into 2027.
Amex GBT’s “Ground Monitor” report shows a likely increase of vehicle rental costs in Canada and the U.S. of a modest 1.5 - 2 percent. It attributes this to restrained GDP growth and improved vehicle supply, although it should be noted the report was compiled before the latest trade dispute erupted between the two countries, which may impact automobiles and vehicle part costs. The report does mention that geopolitical factors may “put pressure on rental costs by affecting supplies of aluminum and helium used in vehicle and semiconductor production.”
Other costs that may drive prices up are the cost of auto insurance and “city charges” such as airport fees and congestion surcharges, which are becoming increasingly common.
Elsewhere in the world it’s a similar story, with rental costs projected to increase only moderately, or in some cases, remain the same. France and Spain are forecast to see rates remain essentially flat, with increases of no more than 0.5 percent. Germany is expected to see increases of 1- 2 percent, Scandinavia 1 - 2.5 percent, and the United Kingdom 0.6 - 1.3 percent. The Netherlands is the outlier, with projected increases of 4 - 5 percent, driven by changes to motor vehicle taxes that are making the cost of owning rental fleets more expensive. Australia is also set to rise more steeply, with an anticipated increase of 3 - 3.4 percent.
In South America, rates in Brazil and Chile could rise between 2 percent and 4 percent, as healthy leisure and corporate demand drive growth in the region’s car rental sector.
Another interesting facet of the report is its comparison of the cost of renting a vehicle versus using a ride hailing service to travel return from the airport in 10 major U.S. cities. In half of the cities (Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco) a one day rental car was significantly cheaper. In the other half, the difference was either negligible (Atlanta, Houston, New York) or the ride hailing service was less expensive (Charlotte and Dallas).
You can view the full report here.
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