According to car finance news reports, tourists in Europe this summer may be denied a rental car or face an inflated bill. The problem comes due to a shortage in vehicles, with hire firms failing to replace fleets due to lower tourism and financial issues.

It is thought that some countries will be more starved of rental vehicles than others, but the true picture is yet to emerge. The president of Hertz Europe, Michel Taride, reportedly commented: There's a seasonal shortage of rental cars every summer, but it seems to be more acute this year because carmakers have cut production due to the uncertain economy. There has been a big increase in domestic and US inbound travel, and holidaymakers are deciding to go away at the last minute.

Small cars are likely to be particularly hard to find, and both individual and corporate travel companies may face problems. In other motor finance news, experts called for the government to support the vehicle finance industry before long-term damage is caused.