And while summer travel is expected to be down this year, Americans are likely to be more inclined to go by car versus other means of transportation, according to a AAA survey last week.
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To be sure, the surge in rental demand in large cities probably won’t offset the steep declines in the industry more broadly. Hertz Global Holdings Inc., filed for bankruptcy in May, and rental-car companies have been looking to reduce the size of their fleets.
Companies are also taking extra steps to assure customers their vehicles are safe. Enterprise, for instance, identified more than 20 “high-touch points” it is disinfecting in addition to the usual washing, vacuuming and wipe down.
On Monday, Joe Cogen was in Williamsburg returning a Thrifty rental car after a two-week road trip with his girlfriend. Unlike many New Yorkers, the musician, who lives in Long Island City, explained that he had no trouble getting a reservation.
He booked in mid-April.
--With assistance from Alex Wittenberg.
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.