Half-term on the skids with no cars for hire

HOLIDAYMAKERS are struggling to find cars to hire in the half-term holiday amid a national shortage of stock after companies sold off their fleet during the pandemic.

Almost half of all rental companies approached by The Daily Telegraph in areas such as Cornwall and Norfolk said they had no cars for rent, with the majority stating that they were unable to purchase vehicles because of a global shortage of new cars.

None of the four car rental firms in Cornwall had models available, while half of those in Brighton and a quarter in Devon were also cleaned out.

Staff at Cornish Rentals said they had no vehicles available before mid-june.

Industry figures said soaring demand and low supply was driving the shortfall. The lack of vehicles has driven up the cost of car hire by as much as 400 per cent in some holiday destinations.