As car rentals become increasingly elusive, travelers are turning to U-Hauls for their vacations.

Linda Salamone embodies the spirit of spontaneous travel, often setting off on adventures at a moment's notice.

Therefore, when she booked a last-minute flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Orlando (MCO) in late April to attend an annual hang-gliding competition in Groveland, Florida — a trip she originally intended to take with fellow paraglider pilots — it was just another day for her. What was surprising, however, were the exorbitant rental car rates she discovered when she searched online for her three-night stay.

Upon checking for vehicles, she found the prices were around $120 per day. "I was like, 'woah,'" she remarked.

She quickly reached out to a friend known for their knack in navigating travel challenges for guidance, but they were at a loss. Inspiration struck, however, during one of her walks.

"I thought to myself, 'I'll just rent a U-Haul van,'" Salamone shared.

Salamone mentioned to TPG that she discovered a cargo van at a U-Haul location close to the Orlando airport for just $19.95 per day, with an extra $10 in mileage fees throughout her trip.

Her total rental expense was under $100 — a significant savings since she was able to avoid hotel costs by sleeping in the van during the event, thanks to friends in Florida who provided an air mattress and extra pillows. Salamone also noted that they purchased a magnetic screen from ACE Hardware to keep the mosquitoes away.

Naturally, the U-Haul rental process had its share of challenges.

Due to a flight delay, Salamone arrived late in the evening at the Orlando airport, and unfortunately, there was no one at the off-site U-Haul office when she got there. To make matters worse, the U-Haul app wasn’t functioning, preventing her from picking up the van.

However, despite not being able to access the U-Haul until the following day, Salamone told TPG that she still views the experience as a success.

"The van was clean and incredibly comfortable," she remarked. "For under $100, I essentially had both a hotel and a vehicle for my trip."

Car rental costs are skyrocketing

As travel picks up for many domestic and some international locations, limited car rental availability and soaring prices are making it challenging — and costly — to secure a rental vehicle right now. Travelers everywhere have dubbed this situation carmageddon (among other more imaginative labels).

A late April search on Orbitz for car rentals in Florida's Tampa and Key West revealed prices around $500 per week for May bookings. In Honolulu, rentals exceeded $1,000 per week for the same time frame. CNN recently highlighted that car rental rates in Maui reached an astonishing $722 per day.

While not every region is facing this dilemma (for instance, rentals in Aspen, Colorado, were listed at about $250 per week on Orbitz for the same week in early May), travelers should brace for potential sticker shock when attempting to rent a car right now — if they can find a vehicle at all.

Travelers are discovering inventive solutions

Salamone isn't alone in seeking out unconventional approaches to secure transportation on the ground.

U-Haul

Andrew Lock from the Travel Pro Show mentioned that he opted for a U-Haul rental when he noticed car rental prices in Las Vegas soaring for his mid-April trip from London. Lock, who rents a car approximately once a month and typically books directly with Hertz, has a solid understanding of the usual rental prices in Las Vegas.

"It's typically around $40 per day, but I was encountering rates near $150 per day, even on sites like AutoSlash and Costco," he stated, pointing to aggregator platforms known for competitive pricing.

Confronted with such exorbitant prices, he decided to turn to U-Haul, hoping it would offer a more economical option. Lock calculated the distance he would need to drive around Las Vegas during his five-day work trip (approximately 100 miles) and included U-Haul's $40 insurance as well. He told TPG that choosing the U-Haul over a conventional rental car was an obvious choice.

"For what I would have spent on a single day's rental, I secured the U-Haul for the entire duration of my trip."

He opted for a cargo van, which is among the smaller rental options available from U-Haul. According to Lock, driving the U-Haul van felt similar to handling a large SUV, especially when it came to parking. However, he advised fellow travelers to verify the specifics of their booking with U-Haul to avoid being upgraded to a much larger vehicle if inventory is limited.

Turo

Turo — a car-sharing platform often dubbed the "Airbnb of rental cars" — offers another alternative to conventional rental companies that has gained traction amid recent car rental challenges.

With availability across all U.S. markets, as well as in Canada and the United Kingdom, the Turo app serves as an online platform where car owners can lend their personal vehicles to those in need. Prices are frequently much lower than those found at traditional rental companies — a recent inquiry revealed rates of $23 per day for a Fiat in Los Angeles and $30 per day for a Prius in Maui, Hawaii.

Truck rentals from Home Depot

However, Turo also faces issues with inventory shortages, as Cindy Rich from Orem, Utah, experienced during her trip to Orlando in April.

She and her husband modified their flight plans at the last minute to arrive a day earlier. When they tried to rebook their car reservation made weeks prior with Thrifty, they found no vehicles available. They looked to Turo as a backup option, but Rich reported that there were no cars to be found on the app either.

"My husband had the brilliant idea to rent a truck from Home Depot," said Rich, noting that he had done it successfully on a prior trip to Colorado. The couple caught a ride to the nearest Home Depot and secured the last rental truck available — a Ford 250 flatbed utility truck — for $130 a day.

Rich shared with TPG that this solution was a lifesaver since they had no other alternatives.

"I can't even begin to think about what we would have done if my toddler daughter had been with us. The trucks from Home Depot aren't suitable for car seats,"

Strategies for avoiding excessive rental car fees

If you have an upcoming trip that necessitates a rental car and the prices seem too steep for your budget, consider these helpful tips and tricks to explore alternatives:

1. Home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowe's frequently offer pickup truck rentals, which could be a more economical option than traditional rental cars in certain areas. However, remember that these trucks may not accommodate families traveling with young children needing car seats.

2. If you're encountering steep rates for certain rental dates, consider extending your booking period for a longer trip, as this might lower the daily rate, suggested Lock. Car rental companies typically allow you to return a vehicle earlier than planned without incurring a fee, and in some instances, they may even refund the days you didn’t use.

3. Don't forget to monitor car rental prices closer to your travel dates, as they may decrease as your trip approaches.

4. For journeys between Florida and the Washington, D.C. area, consider exploring Amtrak's Auto Train to see if taking your own vehicle is a more cost-effective option. This daily service spans nearly 900 miles (17.5 hours) along the East Coast, connecting Washington, D.C., and Orlando.

5. Investigate offers from car manufacturers like Nissan and Toyota that provide "try before you buy" weekends or rental options. This can be a more affordable alternative compared to traditional rental agencies at the moment.

6. Lastly, browse aggregators like Costco and AutoSlash for discounts. Be sure to utilize your AAA and AARP memberships as well.

Thinking of hitting the road in 2021? TPG has all the tips, tricks, and advice you need.