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Best Car Rental Companies of 2023 | U.S. News
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Are you planning a vacation and looking for a rental car? With so many car rental company options, it can be difficult to choose. When selecting one, keep in mind pricing, vehicle availability, as well as rental, insurance, and location options. To help make this choice easier, we’ve researched the Best Car Rental Companies, narrowing our picks to six that offer different options across the country.
If you have a larger family, you’ll probably want a rental company that offers larger vehicles like SUVs. You might also need a company that has flexible rental options, allowing you to return your vehicle early or extend your rental period. Life is unpredictable, so having that flexibility can give you peace of mind.
If you have a smaller family or are traveling alone, you might want to opt for a smaller or faster rental car. It also might be more convenient for you to choose a company that has locations across the country.
Read on for all of our picks for the Best Car Rental Companies so you can choose the one that best fits your needs.
Despite Hertz being the most expensive company on our list, it offers many different vehicles and add-on options, which help earn it the top spot. If you’re looking for a company that offers a loyalty program, insurance and other add-ons, and a large fleet of vehicles, this is the company for you.
Let’s start with the booking process: The company’s website is extremely understandable and easy to navigate, making finding a vehicle that much easier. Once you put in the dates you need, you’ll see several vehicle options and will have the opportunity to save money by paying in full upon booking. You’ll then have the option to add on the following:
Loss damage waiver coverage
Accident liability coverage
Personal accident coverage with medical expenses
SiriusXM
Infant seat, child seat, or booster seat
You can also join the company’s free loyalty program: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. This program, among other perks, will allow you to skip going to the counter during pickup and instead go straight to your rental. You can also use the loyalty program to earn points for free rental days and vehicle upgrades. If you own a small- to mid-sized business, you can earn rewards with the free Hertz Business Rewards program. The program can help you save money on rental rates, get discounted vehicle protection, earn free rental day credits, and add an additional driver for free.
The only downside to going with Hertz is that you may end up paying more than you would with other companies, especially those on this list. However, with the add-ons and vehicles that Hertz offers, along with the individual and business loyalty programs, the extra cost might be worth it. Whether you’re a family going on a vacation or an individual going on a business trip, Hertz would be a solid choice.
Specs
Booking:
Can book online with the option of saving money by paying in full upon booking
Car availability:
Has a variety of vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, luxury, electric, and sports cars
Coverage options:
Offers six different optional insurance add-ons
Available add-ons:
Includes insurance coverage, SiriusXM, child seats, and roadside assistance
Alamo offers the best average rates out of the companies in this list, so as a budget pick, Alamo is the way to go. Compared to the top, and most expensive, company Hertz, Alamo’s rates for both sedans and SUVs are at or under half the cost.
Alamo also almost exclusively covers airports across the nation, making it the convenient option when traveling. It has more than 200 locations spanning all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. The company also offers ski rack and winter tire add-ons, which may be a great option for those traveling to snowy areas.
Another benefit to going with Alamo is the insurance products you can add on. For U.S. customers, these include:
Collision Damage Waiver
Supplemental Liability Protection
Personal Effects Insurance
Roadside Plus
Deductible Protection
International Third Party Insurance
Master Cover
However, Alamo doesn’t have the best customer reviews. Many people have complained about the company’s requirement of having a credit card to pick up a rental vehicle. Others have complained about the quality of customer service. These are all things you should keep in mind when choosing a rental car company.
Specs:
Booking:
Can book online and pay upon booking to save money
Car availability:
Has more than 80 vehicle class options
Coverage options:
Offers variety of insurance and protection options for U.S. customers
Available add-ons:
Includes a few add-on options, such as ski racks and winter tires
If you’re looking for a consistent rental car company for your business, National Car Rental is a solid choice. It offers a business car rental program that you can access immediately. Some of the benefits include:
Access to more than 1 million vehicles
Locations in more than 90 countries that will honor business rates
Dedicated account manager
Five percent discount on base rates
A business’s employees can also sign up for an Emerald Club Membership for free, which will provide them with other benefits like being able to skip the counter and earn points for free rental days. The company also offers FBO Delivery Service, which delivers luxury vehicles to private airports. However, National Car Rental doesn’t offer as many vehicle types as other companies. It also only offers four insurance coverage options, with no unique features standing out. It does offer one unique add-on: CO2 offset, which is great for environmentally conscious drivers. Other add-ons are more typical, including SiriusXM, GPS devices, and booster seats.
The lack of add-ons and comprehensive coverage options might not be a big deal for many businesses, though. Businesses will typically have insurance policies in place and won’t need additional insurance add-ons when only using rental cars for business trips.
Specs:
Booking:
Can book online, but no option to save money by paying upfront
Car availability:
Has 32 classes of cars, including exotic and luxury cars
Coverage options:
Offers four insurance and coverage products
Available add-ons:
Includes seven add-on options, such as SiriusXM and CO2 offset
With the second lowest average rates out of our listed companies, Budget is a low cost option with great features for customers, including its Fastbreak Program. Budget might not be as budget friendly compared to other companies out there, but it does offer great features for customers, including its Fastbreak Program. The free program will give you the ability to pick up and drop off your vehicle without stopping at the front desk. Even though this is typically offered with other loyalty programs, Budget also partners with many companies to offer airline and hotel points.
For hotel points, Budget is partnered with Best Western Rewards, Choice Privileges, and Wyndham Rewards. With Best Western Rewards and Choice Privileges, you can earn 1,000 points for each qualifying rental. You can also receive discounts when using your Best Western Rewards/Budget Customer Discount or Choice Privileges Budget Customer Discount number. With Wyndham Rewards, you’ll earn 100 points per day of your qualifying rental, along with other discounts when using your rewards number.
You can also earn airline points with some companies’ programs, including British Airways Executive Club, Emirates Skywards, FRONTIER Miles, Southwest Rapid Rewards, and United MileagePlus. With British Airways, you’ll earn one Avios point for each $1 you spend on a rental car. With other companies, like United, you can earn a specific number of points per rental based on your membership tier with the airline.
However, while Budget’s prices are low and its loyalty program and travel partnerships comprehensive, it may not boast the same comprehensive rental insurance or luxury vehicle selection as other rental companies.
Specs
Booking:
Can book online with the option to save money by paying upfront
Car availability:
Has around 30 options for vehicles
Coverage options:
Offers four coverage options, including Emergency Sickness Plan
Available add-ons:
Includes numerous options, such as mobile Wi-Fi and e-Toll
Not only is Enterprise on the cheaper side, but it also offers a wide range of luxury vehicle options. With more than one dozen classes to choose from, some of the options include the Audi A5 Sportback, Porsche 911, and Mercedes Benz E-Class vehicles. But so many choices can be overwhelming, which is why Enterprise has a “car finder” option to help you narrow them down.
If you own a business, you can use Enterprise’s delivery service at private airports. This service offers a large variety of luxury vehicles, which can be delivered to you when you land, making traveling for business more convenient.
However, the company doesn’t offer many insurance coverage options, and you can only prepay for your fuel at airport locations. Enterprise also doesn’t offer any discounts for paying when you book. One less typical feature it does offer is a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Offset, which is the same feature that National Car Rental offers.
Specs:
Booking:
Can book online, but no discounts for paying upfront
Car availability:
Has a wide variety of car classes available, with many luxury options
Coverage options:
Offers four coverage options, including Roadside Assistance Protection
Available add-ons:
Offers several options, including Greenhouse Gas Emissions Offset
If you want to remain loyal to a single car rental company and build points while traveling the world, Avis is the top choice. With locations in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., and 178 countries and territories worldwide, Avis vehicles and services will likely be available wherever in the world you travel.
Avis offers a strong rewards system offering points on rentals and accessories and expedited service at the base level to vehicle class upgrades and dedicated service lines. The company’s website also hosts an entire page dedicated to coupons and sales, for additional savings.
Avis also offers some unique add-on features and coverage options, including:
Mobile Wi-Fi: Offers customers the ability to connect up to five devices while on-the-go
Avis e-Toll: Allows customers to go through tolls without cash or waiting in line
Emergency Sickness Plan: Provides international visitors with coverage for potential medical expenses while in the U.S.
Despite all of this, if you’re looking for a large fleet of luxury or sport vehicles, Avis might not be the best option. When comparing it to a company like Hertz, Avis’ few available options pale in comparison. Avis also has a substantial number of negative reviews, earning a 1.3 out of 5 rating on the customer review website Trustpilot.
Specs
Booking:
Can book online with the option to pay now and save money
Car availability:
Has a small selection of sport and luxury vehicles as well as electric vehicles
Coverage options:
Offers six protection and insurance coverage options
Available add-ons:
Includes four car rental products and many car rental services
Just because a company is the cheapest option doesn’t mean it’s the best option for you, which is illustrated in our list here. With so many companies to choose from, it’s important to narrow down the features and add-ons that are important to you.
If you would like a convenient option while traveling by plane, then Alamo might be a good choice, as it almost exclusively covers airports. If you’re solely looking for the cheapest option, then Avis might be the way to go. However, if you’re looking for a company that offers many insurance and add-on options, a business program, and a free loyalty program, then Hertz is a good option.
Reputation and customer reviews
You’ll want to make sure you look at a company’s reviews, whether on Google, Yelp, or Facebook. You can also check the Better Business Bureau’s website to see if the company has accreditation, along with any complaints filed with the BBB and how they were resolved.
If a company has many complaints or bad reviews, this might be a red flag. “Real experiences from other customers can be very insightful,” said Mike Davison, founder of Superbike Newbie, a motorcycle blog.
Vehicle selection and availability
If you’re traveling alone, it may not be important for a company to offer an SUV. However, if you have a larger family, you’ll need a company that has large-sized vehicles. Some companies also cater more to businesses rather than individuals.
And if you’re looking for more of a luxury vacation, there are rental car companies that specialize in renting out luxury vehicles. One of the first decisions you should make, either way, is what type of rental car you need.
Pricing and rental rates
Sedan* Cost Per Day
SUV** Cost Per Day
Average Daily Cost
Average Weekly Cost
Hertz
$107.07
$201.19
$154.13
$1,078.91
Alamo
$60.02
$91.70
$75.86
$531.02
National Car Rental
$108.00
$157.71
$132.86
$929.99
Budget
$59.99
$91.99
$75.99
$531.93
Enterprise
$60.80
$92.85
$76.83
$537.78
Avis
$107.99
$156.99
$132.49
$927.43
*For these calculations, large sedans, such as Chevrolet Malibus and Toyota Camrys, were used, as well as the pay later option with no add-ons. **For these calculations, full-size SUVs, such as Chevrolet Tahoes and GMC Yukons, were used, as well as the pay later option with no add-ons.
When looking for a car rental company, pricing is a major factor. Of the companies on this list, Alamo and Budget are the most budget friendly picks, on average. With average weekly rates around $531, these two companies offer base rates at almost half Hertz’s average cost of $1,078.91.
To calculate costs, we chose to compare the rates of a specific sedan and SUV model that each of our top companies carried. The same dates and type of rental were plugged in for each company to view the most accurate cost per day. Large vehicle models like SUVs will almost always cost more than standard vehicles, such as a standard to full-size sedan, but sometimes the larger vehicle is necessary when traveling with extra luggage, belongings, or people. The average daily and weekly costs per company reflect the cost variance among vehicle models, rental time, and demand.
Keep in mind these prices don’t include any add-ons, insurance options, taxes, or fees. When booking a rental car, you’ll see a base cost for the car, as well as taxes, fees, and other costs that will all factor into the final cost.
Some companies also offer pay-now options, which can significantly decrease the amount you’ll have to spend on your rental car – sometimes saving you hundreds of dollars.
Even though Alamo and Budget add up as the cheapest options, it doesn’t mean those are outright the best rental companies for you. Keep other factors in mind when choosing a rental car company.
Coverage and insurance options
Your car insurance policy might cover rental cars, but if it doesn’t, you’ll want to see what each rental car company offers.
“Checking if the company has comprehensive insurance coverage is also essential for protection against the unexpected, and if you already have car insurance, you should learn what your policy covers before renting a car,” said Erin Kemp, a consumer advocate for Bumper, an all-in-one site where you can search a vehicle’s history and reports.
Some rental car companies offer rental car insurance, which can cover the following:
Damages or injuries sustained while driving (liability)
Damages to the rental car, including from vandalism and/or theft (loss/collision damage waiver)
Injuries sustained by yourself or passengers (personal accident insurance)
Personal items that are stolen (personal effects coverage)
Rental locations and convenience
If you’re flying in from out of town, you’ll most likely want to choose a company that has an airport location, like Hertz or Alamo. This will be especially convenient if you’re returning to the same airport for your flight home.
However, if you want to take a road trip across the country, it might be helpful to use a rental car company that has many locations. For example, Enterprise has more than 4,100 locations across the U.S., so this might be a better option than National Car Rental, which has 307 locations.
Flexibility in rental terms and conditions
If you have a big family or have to take an unexpected trip, you might want to go with a company that offers flexible terms and conditions. Avis, for example, offers monthly and long-term rates. With this option, called Avis Flex, you can benefit from some of the following:
Rent for longer periods and save money
Rent up to 11 months at one time
Book a one-month, one-way rental
Get discounted loss damage waiver
Budget is another company that offers monthly or long-term rentals, which can save you money.
At U.S. News 360 Reviews, our contributor Sierra Campbell researched car rental companies, including speaking to experts on the topic. We then narrowed down selections with more thorough research, considering price, client reviews, selection and availability of vehicles, car rental locations, and other factors.
Overall, we found that a car rental company offers much more than just a vehicle, and your decision should not only depend on the type of vehicle you want to drive, but also the convenience of pickup and drop-off, overall cost, available add-ons, and any perks and programs associated with the company.
WHY SHOULD YOU TRUST US?
Our contributors and editors have years of experience researching, testing, and reviewing products. Sierra Campbell, the author of this piece and a contributor to 360 Reviews, has years of experience in writing and editing pages on many topics, including car rental companies. She also has experience with booking rental cars for family members and herself. She has contributed to several online publications, including U.S. News, ConsumerAffairs, and others.
Car Rental Companies
There aren’t many hidden fees, but there are add-on options that can raise the price of your rental, which can include:
Insurance package
Upgrade charge
Damage charges
Charges for extra rental days or changing times and dates
Administrative and processing fees
Young driver, senior driver, or one-way trip charges
Fuel charges
Toll charges
Tax charges
When it comes to damages, you’ll want to make sure the car doesn’t have any damage before leaving with it. “Spotting any existing damage before hitting the road can save you from unwelcome charges at drop-off,” said Erin Kemp, a consumer advocate for Bumper, a site that provides vehicle information like specifications, safety ratings, and vehicle history reports.
If you need a rental car, you can make a reservation online or at a physical location if available. But typically you can save money on your rental if you book online in advance.
You have to be at least 21 years old to rent a car from most rental car companies. However, in New York and Michigan, you can rent a car beginning at age 18. Keep in mind that if you’re under 25 years old, there will be a surcharge fee added to your bill for each day you have the rental car.
Typically, you’ll be required to bring these documents when picking up a rental vehicle:
Valid driver’s license
Receipt or email confirmation that you received from the rental car company
Valid major credit card that can cover the security deposit amount
Proof of car insurance (if you don’t add coverage)
Each company will require different documents, which is why you’ll want to check with the company before picking up your vehicle.
If you want to extend your vehicle rental before your trip has started, you should contact the rental car company. This will likely change your full cost, and the trip will probably need to be rebooked at a higher rate instead of an extra charge just being added on.
If you wait until you pick up the vehicle, staff at the rental car company can let you know if you can extend your rental period or if you’ll need to drop off your vehicle at the end of your current reservation and then pick up a different vehicle. If you can extend your reservation, you’ll get what’s called a “last-minute rate,” which is typically a higher cost than when you book ahead of time.
The same is true if you try to extend your rental once you have the car. You’ll need to contact the car rental company to make sure you can extend the rental period with the current car you have. If so, you’ll be charged the last-minute rate.
If you have an accident in your rental car, there are a few things you should do immediately:
Check to make sure no one is injured.
Dial 911 if necessary.
Move to a safe location, such as if you’re in the middle of a roadway.
Get the contact information of the other driver, including insurance information.
You’ll then want to document the accident by taking photos and talking to any potential witnesses, if there are any. Be sure you also get contact information from any witnesses. You’ll need to contact your insurance company along with the rental car company. Sometimes your insurance will help cover some of the cost, depending on your policy. Many rental car companies also offer a loss damage waiver for an extra cost that would prevent you from being responsible for any damage done to the vehicle. This is something you may want to consider for peace of mind.
If your rental car breaks down, some rental car companies, such as Enterprise, have Roadside Assistance available. If your rental car company doesn’t offer that, your insurance company might.
If you return your rental car early, most of the time you won’t receive any money back and will still be charged for the full rental period. However, you shouldn’t be charged any extra fees for returning a car early. Check the company’s early return policy if you expect your trip to be cut short.
This can depend on the car rental company you choose. Car rental companies will usually charge a fee for returning a vehicle to a different location than what’s in the reservation. You should always check the company’s policy.
Sierra Campbell, owner of Editing by Sierra, is a contributor for U.S. News 360 Reviews. She specializes in writing, editing, and fact-checking home services, B2B, and insurance content. She also owns her own book editing business where she specializes in several genres, including romance, fantasy, and YA.
Rachel Hisle is an editor with experience in academic research and online publication. Hisle currently serves as an associate editor on the 360 Reviews team at U.S. News.
U.S. News 360 Reviews takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.
