How far in advance should I book a rental car for July/August peak travel season?
If you plan a summer getaway in a touristic country, such as Greece, Italy or Spain, you may wonder how early you should book your rental car for July or August.
The short answer is earlier than you think, even 4-6 months prior to your departure.
The long answer depends on the car, the price and of course the destination. Let’s see everything you need to know to avoid stress and find the best price.
Why July and August need early booking
July and August are the peak months to travel across Europe (especially in the Mediterranean) and popular international destinations. Families travel during school holidays, most people don’t work at this timespan for several weeks and everybody wants to travel, drive around and enjoy the sunny weather and the long days.
Under this pressure, when most travelers want to rent a car and make road trips, there are not many available cars and last-minute car hires are not only limited, but also very expensive.
The problems of availability and high prices can be solved if you book in advance.
Which is the ideal booking window for July and August
For July and August, you should book your rental car:
- 2-3 months in advance for major cities and airports
- 3-5 months in advance for islands, coastal destinations or smaller locations
- 5-6 months if you need a specific vehicle type, such as automatic, SUV, 7–9 seater, premium models.
Booking early does not only secure availability, but it also gives you access to better prices and a wider selection of vehicles.
Read: Which rental car should we get for a family road trip, minivan or SUV?
What will happen if you book late?
If you leave your booking to the final weeks before travel can lead to:
- Significantly higher daily rates
- Limited choice (often only larger or less fuel-efficient cars)
- No availability in overcrowded locations
Read: How to get good deals and when to book? Top 5 tips on rental cars
What to avoid when you rent a car during July and August
Some locations and car categories are so popular that you may face limited availability and high prices even if you book very early.
When booking for July–August, keep in mind:
- Airports have the least availability, especially on weekends
- Automatic cars are in particularly high demand
- Family and group vehicles, such as SUVs and vans, should be booked as early as possible
- Popular tourist regions may experience shortages during local festivals or long weekends, so it is better to travel during another timespan, as even a 2-3 day shift may make a huge difference.
If you’re traveling during the July–August peak season, early booking isn’t just recommended, it is essential.
Car rental with Abbycar is the epitome of low prices, wide variety of modern vehicles and top customer service, but we recommend you book your car minimum 2-3 months before your departure to enjoy the best prices and the largest range of cars to travel with flexibility and freedom!
AbbyCar Travel Experts
Car Rental & Travel Industry Specialists
AbbyCar Travel Experts are the experienced professionals behind AbbyCar, one of Europe’s most trusted and value-for-money car rental brands, operating in over 30 countries. With more than 14 years of hands-on experience in car rentals and road-trip travel, the team has helped more than 1.5 million travellers explore their destinations with comfort and confidence. Drawing on in-depth knowledge of local routes, travel trends, and driving conditions, AbbyCar Travel Experts provide reliable, experience-based advice to help every traveller enjoy a safe, smart, and stress-free journey.
For more road-trip ideas and expert travel inspiration, visit our Road Trips Section
