Yes, you could get a rental car during Hurricane Harvey, but it was extremely challenging and involved significant safety risks. The primary obstacles were widespread vehicle unavailability due to high demand from evacuating residents, road closures making travel to rental locations dangerous or impossible, and many rental offices closing entirely for employee safety. The situation was highly fluid and varied by specific location within the storm's path.
The key was preparation and understanding the severe limitations. Major rental companies like Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis have crisis management protocols for natural disasters. These often include waiving fees for one-way rentals and late returns, but their ability to operate depends entirely on local conditions. During the peak of the event, finding an available vehicle was largely a matter of luck and persistence.
Rental Car Availability Factors During Hurricane Harvey:
| Factor | Impact on Availability | Notes |
|---|
| Pre-Storm Evacuations | Severely Reduced | High demand depleted local fleets days in advance. |
| Airport Closures | Eliminated Major Supply | IAH and Hobby Airport closures cut off a primary rental source. |
| Flooded Lots | Destroyed Inventory | Thousands of rental cars were declared total losses due to flood damage. |
| Road Inaccessibility | Made Pickup/Drop-off Impossible | Many locations were simply unreachable by customers or employees. |
| Corporate Policies | Mixed Impact | Some waived fees; others could not physically operate. |
If you are preparing for a future hurricane, the best strategy is to book a rental car far in advance of any forecasted storm and be prepared to cancel if evacuation is not ordered. Choose a rental location on higher ground, away from flood zones. Understand that during a mandatory evacuation, resources will be stretched beyond capacity. Your safety and that of your family should be the top priority, and sometimes sheltering in place is the only viable option if travel becomes too perilous.
