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High demand, low inventory drive up car rental prices in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. — As concerns over the pandemic decrease more and more people are beginning to travel again.

Annie Tanner from Colorado says she and her family are ready to get away.

“We were all quarantined last year. I think everybody wanted to get out and see the sun,” she said.

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She, like so many other visitors to the Sunshine State, is putting a huge demand on the rental car market.

Jonathan Weinberg, CEO of Autoslash, says the problem started last year when car rental companies sold off much of their inventory due to low demand.

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“All of a sudden that demand started to skyrocket and there just weren’t enough rental cars to meet this demand,” said Weinberg.

That demand has led to higher prices.

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He recommends booking your rental early and keep checking prices. If a lower price becomes available customers may be able to cancel the original booking.

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Jeff Deal

Jeff Deal, WFTV.com

I joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in 2006.

Matt Reeser

Matt Reeser, WFTV.com

Matt Reeser joined WFTV in 1998 as a news photographer and has worked for television stations in Kentucky and West Virginia.