The multi award winning carrentals.co.uk comparison source has declared that trends seen this year across Europe are likely to continue in 2010, as reduced fleet sizes continue in times of economic downturn. Although the recession shows slow signs of a recovery, the plans implemented by the continent’s leading rental operators will not be reversed any time soon.

The summer peak period is forecasted once again to mirror the chaotic scenes witnessed in areas such as Spain, where popular holiday destinations such as Alicante, Malaga and Valencia all selling out of their fleets well in advance. Worse news is that the highly inflated prices caused by reduced fleet size and sudden demand look set to continue as well.

In some European cities summer prices rose to almost double the usual rate, meaning overall average prices were pushed well higher for the year. Locations such as Airports in Toulouse, Alicante and Gibraltar saw increases of between £8 and £20 per day.

Managing Director Gareth Robinson stated: “The recession has heavily impacted upon fleet sizes this year, with car hire companies having been unable to increase the number of vehicles due to lack of funding from banks. Without the banks’ investments, companies have been forced to cope with a limited supply of vehicles, which has restricted availability in many locations and in turn seen prices increase across the board – a trend that is set to continue into 2010.”

The ongoing credit crisis led many operators to reduce costs through minimising supply which left many unprepared for the summer rush, mistakenly believing lower stocks would cope with the effects of the recession. However, a trend away from air travel and the rise of staycationing close to home meant the predicted nadir was in fact a boom period.

Carrentals.co.uk was launched in February 2003 and grew to become one of the UK’s leading online car hire companies by 2006. It has won best car hire website at the Travolution awards the past two years running.