Four New Cities See Biggest Car Rental Price Drops in Hotwire’s Travel Savings Report
Out of the five cities in Hotwire’s monthly report, four cities were on the list for the first time including: Flushing, N.Y.; Daytona Beach, Fla.; Newark, N.J.; and Jacksonville, Fla.
Hotwire’s August 2012 Travel Savings Indicator report showed the steepest drop on average for car rental rates in the month occurred in Flushing, N.Y. The report, released Aug. 28, looks at the top five cities in North America where car rental, air and hotel rates have dropped the most compared to the same time last year.
Four of the five cities are new to the list for car rental price drops, while Billings, Mont. dropped from last month to the No. 4 spot.
When compared to this time last year, the top five car rental price reductions for August 2012 include:
Rank | Car Rental | Price | Avg. Hotwire |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Flushing, NY | -46% | $60 |
2 | Daytona Beach, FL | -36% | $25 |
3 | Newark, NJ | -29% | $40 |
4 | Billings, MT | -25% | $44 |
5 | Jacksonville, FL | -24% | $24 |
The Hotwire Travel Savings Indicator results are calculated by looking at Hotwire booking data for select regions in the current month, and comparing prices in the current month against Hotwire prices in the same month in the prior year, according to the company. Car rental prices are average prices based on bookings across all car and seat classes. Actual prices may be higher or lower than the examples provided.
To see the Hotwire Travel Savings Indicator report for July 2012, click here. You can also see the airfare and hotel price drops for August here.
More Rental Operations

Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap
A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.
Read More →
U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana
The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.
Read More →
When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?
As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)
Read More →
European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country
Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.
Read More →Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.
Read More →
Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental
Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)
Read More →
U.S. Business Travel Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise Up to 2%
Improved fleet supply should limit pricing gains in 2026-27, while insurance, repair costs, and softer residual values continue to pressure rental operations, according to Amex GBT.
Read More →
Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026
Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.
Read More →
In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend
The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.
Read More →How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]
A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.
Read More →
