10 Best Rental Car Companies Reviewed by Buyers in 2024 (2024)

How much does it cost to rent a car?

The average cost to rent a carcan vary dramatically depending on duration, date, discounts, loyalty programs and location. Look for rental deals without hidden fees by checking online discount sites and the company’s website.

• Long-term rates: Many companies offer a deep discount on the daily rate when you rent a vehicle for a week or more. Always ask about weekly rentals, since the cost of a weekly may be less than a five-day rental. Holidays and special event weekends may not be included.
• Programs and discounts: Companies that have loyalty programs may offer special promotions or have discounted rates for those employed by partner companies. Ask about employee discounts, convention rates, group pricing and other discount programs before confirming a rental.
• Weekday pricing: The price of a rental car often goes up over the weekend. If any of the rental days are weekdays, be sure to ask about special weekday rates. Check company websites for the best rates.
• Hourly: Drive cars by the hour or day. Car share programs include gas and insurance and usually have a membership fee. Each location has different rates.
• By-the-ride: Fare estimators are on the app for each service, giving you the most accurate fare estimates directly to your location. Beware of surge pricing before you agree to the ride.

What are car rental fees?

When driving a rental car, tolls, gas, parking violations and other fees are the responsibility of the driver, which can add to the total cost. Some rental companies allow renters to prepay expected costs.

• Prepaid tolls: Prepaying toll costs allows drivers to take express lanes and avoid backups on highways, toll roads, over bridges or through tunnels. Some rental car agencies offer a statewide pass for toll lanes and will bill your credit card upon return.
• Prepaid gas: Every rental car comes with a full tank of gas, but it's the renter's responsibility to return the vehicle with an equally full tank. Customers who won't have the time to refuel before dropping off a rental can prepay the fuel fee when picking up the car. Some companies will offer a partial refund if a minimal amount of fuel is used and you have prepaid for the full tank of gasoline. Ask before you purchase the prepaid fuel plan.
• Company refuel: This service is similar to prepaid gas except the fee is paid when dropping off the rental. This fee is typically higher than the per gallon fee available at gas stations.
• Violations and Fees: Parking tickets, parking garages and other fees associated with your rental are solely the renter’s responsibility.

Compact cars

Sub-compact, compact, economy or small are the standard labels used for cars that are usually suitable for four to five people and a couple of suitcases. They also have two or four doors and are likely to be automatic transmission. These are the cheapest to rent and have great gas mileage.

Mid-sized cars

The largest category is known as intermediate, standard or midsize. This size includes cars that seat five people and can fit a little more comfortably than in the smaller classes, and there is room for more luggage. While they are more comfortable than smaller class vehicles, keep in mind that mileage decreases as the car gets bigger.

Full-size cars

Full-size cars have the most storage room and passenger capacity. These vehicles are full-size vehicles and include four-door sedans with lots of features, including air conditioning, power locks and windows, an AM/FM stereo and a CD player. They will seat five people comfortably and more luggage than a mid-sized vehicle.

Luxurycars

If you need something out of the ordinary because you have a wedding function to attend, need to impress a business client or just want a fun vehicle for your vacation, this category is for you. Note that specialty lines cost extra and are limited to specific locations. Space and passenger capacity vary greatly, as does gas mileage.

SUVs

When you need to haul equipment, travel over rough roads or need more passenger space, most rental companies have a wide selection of pickups and vans including passenger, cargo and SUVs, both regular and luxury. While they hold more people and luggage, these vehicles get very poor gas mileage compared with smaller cars and are more expensive.

Hybrid and electric cars

Many car rental companies are now offering environmentally friendly hybrid or electric cars featuring great gas mileage and a low carbon footprint.

» MORE: Car rental industry statistics

Make sure you are covered by insurance

If anything happens to a rental car, the renter may be liable for the damage. Some rental car companies offer additional insurance on vehicles for a daily fee. There are different types of coverage available. There also may be coverage from your credit card, personal or business insurance policies, however it may not cover everything. Credit cards often provide coverage for rental cars, assuming you have used the card to pay for the rental and the rental is in your name. You’ll automatically have this coverage if it’s included with your credit card—no need to call or sign forms. Purchasing secondary coverage means your own auto insurance policy will pay out first.

• Individual insurance: Car owners must have liability insurance to operate their vehicles. Many rental car agencies use the driver's insurance policy to cover the rental, but you need to know what is covered in the event of an accident. If you have collision and comprehensive coverage on your own policy, it generally will extend to a rental car. However, you will still be on the hook for your deductible.
• Liability: Your own liability insurance will cover you when you’re driving rental cars. If you have really minimal liability coverage on your auto policy, you could buy the supplemental protection to boost your coverage. However, it is smarter to increase your own liability coverage.
• Road hazard: Flat tires and other issues can crop up at any time. Road hazard coverage may be included on either an individual or agency policy, or it may be available as an add-on.
• At the counter: A loss-damage waiver (LDW), also called a collision damage waiver (CDW), protects you in the event of incurred damage to the rental vehicle or theft of the car. It’s technically not insurance but rather a waiver that says the rental car company won’t proceed with litigation if the vehicle is damaged while you have it.
• Supplemental liability protection: Supplemental liability protection will pay for damage you do to others’ vehicles or property. A typical limit is $1 million. If you have no auto insurance (for example, if you don’t own a car), you should buy this.
• Personal accident insurance: Personal accident insurance covers medical costs for you and your passengers if you’re involved in an accident. This includes ambulance, medical care and death benefits.
• Personal effects coverage: Personal effects coverage pays for your belongings if they’re stolen from the rental car, up to a set dollar amount.
• Injuries: If you have health insurance, buying extra would largely be redundant. Similarly, if you are interested in death benefits, you should have a life insurance policy. Personal accident insurance also is not needed if you have personal injury protection through your auto policy.
• Be aware: Each state has their own rules on insurance for rental cars. The reason to purchase additional insurance could save you in an accident where the vehicle is damaged. You will be responsible for the non-usage of that auto during the repair time window, which means you will have the rental fee billed to you until the vehicle is rentable to others. Check with your insurance agent before buying additional insurance.

Look for package deals

Many travel agencies and online travel sites offer packages that include a rental car. Businesses may need to work out specific agreements for rentals, so many rental agencies offer packages and plans.

• Air, hotel and rental car: Many travel agencies offer a steep discount on the total price when travelers book their airfare, hotel and rental car at the same time.
• Multi-car discounts: Businesses may support a fleet of cars with occasional rentals or have many traveling employees who need rental cars. Rental companies that offer discounts for multiple rentals can save a lot of corporate dollars.
• Accident rental: Insurance policies may offer you rental car coverage while you wait for claims adjustment and repair service. The policy may pay a partial or full amount of the rental car’s cost, depending on your policy.

Take advantage of additional services

Many rental car companies offer value-added services that can smooth out the kinks of travel. Some have locations everywhere to make pickups and drop-offs faster, while others take care of all of the paperwork online or through their app. Typically airports are the most common place to rent a vehicle, although some rental car companies, ride share and car sharing services are offsite of airport properties.

• Car drop-off: Not everyone can get to a rental car location to pick up a vehicle. To make the process smoother, some rental companies drive the car to the customer. There may be an extra fee, so be sure to ask in advance.
• Rental returns: An after-hours return box can make all the difference in getting a rental car back on time. Not all offices are open 24 hours, but they should offer an after-hours service. This can be offered at any location.
• Communication: If there is a problem, customers should be able to get in touch using any method that is convenient for them. The best rental car agencies communicate over the telephone and through email, fax and live chat.
• Car pick-up: Some rental car companies, ride share and car sharing services require you to go to the vehicle. Many companies offer an app with directions to the location.

Consumer rentals

These rental agreements are designed to be used with a driver's existing insurance policy so renters can get the lowest possible rates. Companies that specialize in consumer rentals may offer insurance for those who do not own a vehicle. Renters usually need to be 21 years of age.

Business rentals

Business rental programs typically offer discounts based on the number of rental days purchased each year. These programs may also include special rates for multiple cars rented on a single reservation.

Commercial rentals

These can range from high-end luxury vehicles designed to make an impression to refrigerated trucks or moving vans.

Vacation rentals

Companies that specialize in vacation rentals typically offer weekly rates and may have recreational vehicles like RVs or camper vans.

Ride sharing

Ride sharing is a service that arranges one-time shared rides on very short notice. This type of carpooling generally makes use of three recent technological advances: GPS navigation devices to determine a driver's route and arrange the shared ride, smartphones for a traveler to request a ride and social networks to establish trust and accountability between drivers and passengers.

Car sharing

Car sharing is a model of car rental where people rent cars for short periods of time, often by the hour. They are attractive to customers who make only occasional use of a vehicle, as well as others who would like occasional access to a vehicle of a different type than they use day-to-day.

E-Z Rent-A-Car started in Orlando with a fleet of only nine cars in 1994. Today, they operate in 20 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, and several foreign countries. Their fleet includes everything from sub-compact cars to large SUVs as well as trucks, vans and convertibles.

Founded in 1957, Enterprise has more than 7,000 locations across Europe and North America.

Hertz offers rental cars in more than 150 countries across every inhabited continent. It has more than 10,300 corporate and franchise locations worldwide.

Part of Hertz Global Holdings, Thrifty Rental Car has more than 1,000 locations in 77 countries. It focuses on serving cost-conscious consumers and business travelers.

Since 1965, Dollar Rent A Car has grown to include more than 570 locations in 61 countries worldwide, includingapproximately 260locations in the United States and Canada. As a part of The Hertz Corporation, this brand belongs to the largest airport and general-use car rental business worldwide.

As the largest rental car agency serving international travelers in North America, Alamo Car Rental focuses on major destination cities. Its 171 self-service kiosks in 63 U.S. locations streamline the rental process, resulting in an easy and hassle-free rental experience and improving check-out and check-in times. Alamo is owned by Enterprise.

Founded in 1958 to appeal to the cost-conscious consumer, Budget is one of the most popular car rental brands. It serves renters in over 120 countries from its more than 3,000 locations. Budget is owned by Avis Rental Car.

National Car Rental was the first company to offer one-way rentals, computerized reservations and a loyalty program. The company is now owned by Enterprise Holdings.

As an Avis subsidiary, Payless Car Rental operates more than 120 retail locations under a combined corporate and franchise model.

Avis was the first car rental company to offer airport locations for traveling convenience. It is one of the world's largest rental car companies with more than 5,450 locations worldwide.

ACE Rent A Car has grown from a neighborhood car wash into a rental company with more than 350 locations worldwide. It focuses on top leisure destinations for vacation rentals.

Silvercar aims to make the process of renting a car easier and more luxurious. You simply download an app and use it to book your rental. Then use your phone to unlock your rental car at your destination. You don’t have to wait in line or deal with rental car agents once you arrive.

This ride share program is a smarter way to get around the city. Drive cars by the hour or day in neighborhoods, cities and airports across the globe. There are over 11,000 in their fleet.

Disclaimer

Information in this guide is general in nature and is intended for informational purposes only; it is not legal, health, investment or tax advice.ConsumerAffairs.commakes no representation as to the accuracy of the information provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from its use.