Ed Perkins on Travel: Anything New in Rental Cars?

Rental car companies are hesitant to bring electric cars into their fleet.

You still need collision insurance, especially with an expensive electric model, and the best way to get it is through a credit card with primary coverage or a third-party insurer. Dreamstime/TNS

The rental car business doesn’t change much from year to year—you get the same general types of car, you face the same fueling challenges, and rental companies’ collision waivers remain way overpriced so you find alternatives. This year, however, I see some real changes.

1. Changes in the fleet. Currently when you start to look at rentals, you see many SUV options in the mix, often at prices near the lowest. You see comparatively few “compact” and “economy” models, with intermediate and standard sizes priced at near the lowest rates available.