Rental Fleet Sales Decline 4.2% in 2026 Through July
August 4, 2026 · By Chris Brown · Fleet Acquisition
Rental fleet sales declined 4.2% through July 2026 compared with the same period last year, based on Auto Rental News’ analysis of sales reports submitted by a consistent set of automakers.
Participating automakers reported 731,288 rental fleet sales during the first seven months of 2026 on a comparable basis, down from 763,313 during the same period in 2025.
The results show that the year-over-year comparison weakened as 2026 progressed. Comparable sales declined 2.4% in the first quarter and 4% in the second quarter. July volume was 12.6% below July 2025.
The trend does not represent a continuous month-to-month decline. Rental fleet deliveries can vary considerably depending on automaker production schedules, rental company ordering cycles, seasonal fleet planning, and the timing of large-volume deliveries.
When all automaker submissions received for 2026 are included, reported rental fleet sales totaled 774,242 through July, up 1.4% from the 2025 total presented in the reports. However, the 2026 data includes sales from automakers without corresponding 2025 volume in the reports.
Rental Car Volume Falls as SUVs and Trucks Gain Share
The data also reveals a continued change in rental fleet composition away from traditional passenger cars to SUVs and crossovers.
Among the consistent set of reporting automakers, passenger car sales totaled 173,920 through July, down 18% from 212,112 during the same period last year.
Truck and SUV sales moved in the opposite direction, increasing 1.1% to 557,368 from 551,201. As a result, trucks and SUVs represented 76.2% of comparable rental fleet sales through July, up from 72.2% during the same period in 2025.
July added 74,315 vehicles on a comparable basis, down from 85,029 in July 2025.
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Year-Over-Year Comparison Softens
Comparable rental fleet sales totaled 335,930 during the first quarter, down from 344,021 in the first quarter of 2025.
Second-quarter sales reached 321,043, compared with 334,263 a year earlier. July added 74,315 vehicles on a comparable basis, down from 85,029 in July 2025.
The year-over-year progression was:
First quarter: down 2.4%
Second quarter: down 4%
July: down 12.6%
January through July: down 4.2%
Methodology: Auto Rental News analyzed monthly fleet sales reports collected by Bobit from automakers. Year-over-year calculations use a consistent set of reporting automakers to prevent changes in participation from distorting the results. The figures represent sales reported to Bobit and should not be interpreted as a complete accounting of all U.S. rental fleet purchases.
