Last summer, the shortage of rental cars in Corsica hit the headlines.
According to the ranking established on May 25 by the comparator Carigami, on the basis of 4,980 reservations for a rental week between June 1 and August 31, 2021, the rental car may again be a scarce commodity, and therefore expensive, on the Isle of Beauty in particular.
In the top ten cities with the highest average price, four are Corsican. If the average cost of a rental car, all models combined, currently stands at 352 euros in France, an increase of 35% compared to the same period in 2019, the last comparable year, the cost has jumped by 87% in Figari, which signs the largest increase in the ranking.
The situation of Corsica is certainly special: with its winding roads and its undeveloped public transport offer, it is
“the kingdom of car rental in France. The island is, with Paris, the most important pole
, decodes Pierre Feisthauer, in charge of development at Carigami.
This year, like last year, we are seeing strong demand from tourists wishing to stay in France. But the rise in prices is explained above all by the much lower supply ”
.
If the exact number of rental cars in circulation in France is not known, it is certain that it has melted since the start of the crisis: all rental companies have reduced their fleets due to the sharp drop in bookings. last year, but also the uncertainty about the development of tourism.
Read also: Summer vacation: rush in sight on PCR tests?
"40% fewer cars this year in France"
Additionally, as the market begins to pick up, in the United States, and now in Europe, many rental companies have been unable to order additional cars because manufacturers run out of essential parts, semiconductors.
“We estimate that there will be 40% fewer cars this year in France. There are certain destinations, where this is not a problem, such as
Toulon
and
Marseille
which are in the ranking of the cheapest cities. But in Corsica, but also in other popular destinations near the sea this summer, such as
Biarritz
(first in the top 10 of the most expensive cities) and
Nantes
(2nd), prices are increasing.
, decrypts Pierre Feisthauer.
And the worst is still to come: Carigami anticipates cancellations from rental companies in the coming weeks, as expected cars may not be delivered.
The golden rule is to book as soon as possible.
"A lot of people have already done it, because the peak of summer bookings is normally more towards the end of June"
, observes Pierre Feisthauer.
While the desire to go on vacation is strong and many people do not want to travel by train or plane yet this summer, the tension in the short-term rental market is not about to abate.
"The extension of rental periods, from 6.9 days to 7.6 days to include the days of travel, also explains the increase in average prices observed"
, adds the manager of Carigami. Another element in favor of continued price increases is the temptation, to which rental companies and other tourism professionals already seem to succumb, to increase prices in order to compensate for a very difficult 2020.
