• Hertz advance rental bookings rose 16% year over year for Thanksgiving 2026; Christmas and New Year's reservations increased 7%.
• Higher airfares make 60% of respondents planning holiday travel more likely to drive.
• Among Thanksgiving travelers, 37% plan to drive instead of flying to save money.
• For Dec. 20-Jan. 4 travel, 65% plan longer trips using vacation time, remote work or both.
• Small and standard SUVs lead bookings; vehicles seating seven or more travelers are expected to sell out first.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Hertz Global Holdings Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief on October 29, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.