by Donald Wood
Last updated: 8:10 AM ET, Thu March 26, 2026
As the ongoing partial government shutdown continues to
impact airports across the United States, car rental giant Hertz is noticing a growing
trend; more travelers are taking to the roads to avoid congestion at America’s
busiest airports.
According to data from Hertz, search traffic to the car
rental company’s website increased around 15 percent, signaling that travelers
are considering other ways or back up plans to reach their spring and summer destinations.
The report also found that around 33 percent of Hertz
customers are currently renting cars specifically for road trips and driving
vacations, which helps them avoid the crowded Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) lines at U.S. airports.
To ensure a smooth car rental experience, Hertz is offering recommendations
to travelers, including prepaying for refueling at pickup to lock in pricing, booking
at a neighborhood location to avoid airport disruptions, and for those who must
fly, adding flight information to protect the car rental reservation.
As part of the research from Hertz, the car rental company
is now offering up to 25 percent off last-minute reservations and one-way car
rentals at thousands of airports and neighborhood locations across the country.
For travelers taking to the skies during the government shutdown,
many major U.S. carriers— including Delta Air Lines and United Airlines—have issued
travel alerts and started waiving change fees for customers passing through
some of the country's hardest-hit hubs.
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