Find out more about our ranking of car rental agencies below.
1. Budget: Best overall
BBB rating: A+
Trustpilot rating score: 1.4/5.0
JD Power 2022 North America Rental Car Satisfaction Study℠ Score: 788/1,000
Number of locations: 1,466 in the US, over 4,900 worldwide
Average rental cost for one week: $427
overview
Budget ticks a lot of boxes: it has low average prices, wide availability, good upgrade options, and a large fleet to choose from. Depending on location and availability, you can even purchase luxury electric vehicles, sports cars, and SUVs. Opting to pay in advance can save you about $20 to $50 on a week-long rental, though it does subject you to Budget’s cancellation policy. You pay $50 to cancel anytime up to 24 hours before the reservation. After that, it will cost you $150 to cancel last minute.
Another perk is Budget’s Deals section on its website. This is a rotating list of coupon and discount codes that you can use to save in different situations. Finally, with Budget’s free Fastbreak program, you can skip the line at the counter for quick pick-up and drop-off – although some customers on Trustpilot report having to wait in line anyway when it’s busy.
The final result
Budget is ideal for travelers who want to save money and use a global company with availability in most major cities and airports.
2. Hertz: Best customer experience
BBB rating: A+
Trustpilot review score: 4.4/5.0
JD Power satisfaction rating: 836/1,000
Number of locations: 2,800+ in the US, 10,300+ worldwide
Average rental cost for one week: $543
overview
Hertz is one of the most famous car rental companies. You can find Hertz at many major and minor airports, as well as in a variety of cities and neighborhoods. We gave Hertz the Best Customer Experience award because it has the highest Trustpilot score of any company on our list – almost 7,000 customers give it an average rating of 4.4 out of 5.0.
Hertz also has a huge selection of vehicles. It’s called the ultimate collection. The collection includes everything from sports cars and convertibles to Mercedes G-Wagen and Range Rovers. Some of the high-end vehicles are only available to Five Star and President’s Circle tier members.
As far as perks go, Hertz has plenty. The rental company has a rewards program with three tiers depending on how often you rent. You can redeem points for free rental days and other benefits. Business travelers receive reduced rates and a free additional driver. Finally, Hertz partners with AAA to offer special perks to AAA members. These include a 20 percent discount on rental car prices and fee waivers for young renters and additional drivers. Dollar and Thrifty also offer some perks for AAA members as they are subsidiaries of Hertz.
The final result
Hertz offers a premium rental experience and the best selection of vehicles and upgrades of any rental company.
3. Avis: Best value for money
BBB rating: A+
Trustpilot review score: 1.3/5.0
JD Power satisfaction rating: 816/1,000
Number of locations: 1,580+ in the US, 5,500 worldwide
Average rental cost for one week: $453
overview
Avis Rent-A-Car offers rates that are about 16 percent cheaper than the industry average, according to our cost analysis. You can pay at the counter when you pick up your car, or pay in advance and save up to 30 percent. Avis also offers many offers and discounts. Here are some examples based on affiliation:
AARP members can save up to 30% off base rates Military and veterans save up to 25% Union members save up to 35%
At this point, Avis also has a deal with Amazon. If you choose to pay at the time of booking, you can get 10 percent back on an Amazon card after logging into your account.
The final result
Avis can help many travelers save money on car rentals.
4. Dollar: Best for one-way rentals
BBB rating: A+
Trustpilot review score: 3.2/5.0
JD Power satisfaction rating: 799/1,000
Number of locations: 189 in the US, 570 worldwide
Average rental cost for one week: $557
overview
Dollar has been in business since 1965 and is now owned by Hertz. It offers reasonable pricing for individual locations that are within the industry average. However, it is characterized by favorable tariffs for one-way rentals. Dollar charges approximately $364 more for a week’s one-way rental compared to the industry average charge of $524.
Dollar also offers discounts for travelers with the following associations:
AAA Members American Institute of CPAs BJ’s Wholesale Club Members Union Members The Bottom Line
With affordable one-way car rental rates, Dollar is worth considering for that road trip you’ve always wanted to take.
5. Fox: The best last minute deals
BBB rating: A
Trustpilot review score: 4.1/5.0
JD Power Satisfaction Rating: N/A
Number of locations: 31 in the US, 232 worldwide
Average rental cost for one week: $437
overview
Fox Rent-A-Car is a smaller company than others on our list – it operates from 31 airport locations in the US and about 200 more worldwide. If you’re traveling to an airport with a Fox location, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Our team has found that Fox offers some of the best promotions in the business. For example, as of this writing, you could save 40 percent on all rentals in Salt Lake City and Houston, and 40 percent on SUV and minivan rentals in Seattle. The company also advertises $1 per day rentals for certain one-way trips. This applied to rentals that began in Salt Lake City and ended in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Santa Ana, San Diego, or San Francisco.
At the bottom of the Fox Deals page is a rotating list of hot rental deals. See this section for daily rates starting at $19 for specific locations. These car hire deals are for rentals within a week or two, so it’s worth hesitating when shopping at Fox.
The final result
Fox is a cheap option for last minute rentals at major airports.
6. Company: Best availability
BBB rating: F
Trustpilot review score: 2.3/5.0
JD Power satisfaction rating: 865/1,000
Number of locations: 4,163 in the US, 10,000 worldwide
Average rental cost for one week: $633
overview
Enterprise Rent-A-Car is the largest rental car company in the US, so it’s available almost everywhere. “We’ll pick you up” has been the company’s slogan for many years, and it still applies today. You can pre-arrange pickup from an Enterprise rental office near you. They will still sign the paperwork at the office first since Enterprise doesn’t deliver cars.
Enterprise’s fleet offers everything a traveler could expect, from economy cars to large pickup trucks and luxury cars. If you want to treat yourself, you can opt for an Audi A8, Porsche 911 or BMW 5 Series. You can also use rewards points through Enterprise Plus to upgrade to a better car or get free rental days.
Enterprise’s only downside is that, on average, it’s slightly more expensive than other companies in the industry. But with so many locations, it’s a good option for those who want to stick with one company and earn points.
The final result
Enterprise offers reliable service and a wide range of vehicles at thousands of locations around the world.
