5 Top Car Rental Companies in USA 2023

Depending on your travel plans, you may have a few or more rental companies to choose from. It is a good idea to do some research ahead of time so that you are not forced to choose the only company with availability when you leave. Our team has ranked the best car rental in the USA companies, taking into account key factors such as reputation, cost, availability, deals, and options. Read on to see the best car rental companies for your trip.

What affects car rental costs?

• The time of year: Rental car prices are typically higher during peak travel seasons, such as summer and holidays.
• The location: Rental car prices can vary depending on the location. For example, car rentals in major cities are typically more expensive than car rentals in rural areas.
• The type of car: The type of car you rent will also affect the price. Luxury cars and SUVs are typically more expensive than economy cars.
• The length of the rental: The longer you rent the car, the lower the daily rate will be.
• The rental company: Different rental companies have different pricing structures. It is always a good idea to compare prices from different companies before you book your rental.

5. Hertz

Hertz is one of the oldest and most well-respected car rental companies in the world. It has a Trustpilot score of 4.4 out of 5 stars, based on over 7,000 customer reviews. Hertz is known for its clean vehicles, helpful service, and transparent pricing. Hertz has been in business since 1918 and has over 10,000 car rental locations worldwide. It offers a wide variety of cars, from economy cars to luxury cars and SUVs. Hertz also has a collection of high-performance cars, such as the Mercedes AMG CLA 45 and the Chevrolet Camaro SS.

Cost of Renting a Car from Hertz

Hertz’s rates are in line with the industry average, charging about $78 per day or $543 per week on average. The company includes taxes and additional fees in the final rate amounts as you shop on its website, which is helpful. You can pay at pickup or prepay to save about 20%. However, if you cancel a prepaid reservation, you will be charged $100 (or $200 if you cancel within 24 hours).

Score Big Savings with Hertz Deals

• Free rental day: Get one free rental day when you rent for at least five days.
• Electric vehicle discount: Save up to 30% by using an electric vehicle.
• Senior discount: Travelers over 50 save up to 20% off base car rental rates.
• AAA discount: AAA members save up to 35% or up to 20% with a free upgrade.
• AAA monthly rental discount: AAA members save $50 on a monthly car rental.
• AAA young renter waiver: AAA members don’t have to pay young renter fees.

Earn Rewards for Being a Loyal Customer

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards is a loyalty program that rewards repeat customers with points for every rental. Points can be redeemed for free rentals, upgrades, and other rewards. To earn points, you must rent a car from Hertz and pay for the rental with a credit card linked to your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards account.

You will earn 2 points per dollar spent on eligible rentals. You can also earn bonus points for renting certain types of cars, renting for longer periods of time, and using Hertz for business travel. One free rental day with a standard vehicle costs 950 points (or 1,900 points to reserve blackout dates). A single day with an Adrenaline Collection vehicle costs 2,787 points.

4. Budget

Budget Rent A Car was founded in 1958 and has been a leading provider of low-cost car rentals ever since. With over 1,400 locations across the United States, including 300 airports, Budget is convenient and easy to find. The company also offers great deals and discounts, making it a great option for budget-minded travelers. However, Budget’s loyalty program is not as extensive as some other companies, such as Hertz.

Cost of Renting a Car from Budget

Based on our rate analysis, Budget Rent A Car offers prices that are about 21% lower than the industry average. The average daily rate is $61 and the average weekly rate is $427. Budget also offers a 35% discount if you prepay for your reservation, but there is a $50 cancellation fee (or $150 if you cancel within 24 hours). It’s important to note that the prices you see on Budget’s website do not include taxes and fees, so you’ll need to click to the next screen to see the full price.

Score Big Savings with Budget Deals

• Save money on your rental: Budget Rent A Car offers a variety of deals and coupon codes that can help you save money on your rental.
• Get a free upgrade: Some deals and coupon codes can get you a free upgrade to a larger or nicer car.
• Earn rewards: Some deals and coupon codes can earn you rewards, such as Amazon gift cards or points that can be redeemed for future rentals.
• Save on weekly rentals: Budget Rent A Car often offers discounts on weekly rentals.
• Get a one-way rental: Budget Rent A Car also offers one-way rentals, which can be convenient if you are traveling to a different location.
• Donate to charity: Some deals and coupon codes allow you to donate a portion of your savings to charity.

Earn Rewards for Being a Loyal Customer

Budget’s loyalty program is called Fastbreak. It allows you to skip the line during pickup and drop-off. As a member, you will also earn Budget Bucks, which you can use for future rentals. You can earn 25 Budget Bucks after two qualifying rentals, and up to 52 coupons of $25 each per year. Qualifying rentals must include at least one paid day, and prepaid reservations do not count toward rewards.

3. Dollar

Dollar is a car rental company that is owned by the Hertz Corporation, along with Thrifty. It offers a different rental experience than Hertz, with slightly higher average prices. However, Dollar is known for its cheap one-way rentals. Dollar’s reward program has only one tier, which means that all members earn the same benefits.

These benefits include discounts on rental rates, free upgrades, and waived young renter fees. Dollar was founded in 1965 and has over 189 locations in the United States and 570 worldwide. This makes it smaller than other major car rental agencies.

Cost of Renting a Car from Dollar

Dollar is a great option for one-way rentals. Our research found that rental car companies typically charge an extra $524 for one-way rentals of a week in length. However, Dollar only charges an extra $364 on average, making it a more affordable option. Dollar’s standard rates are $80 per day or $557 per week on average.

You can pay at booking or at pickup. Paying at booking can save you up to 20%. If you cancel a prepaid rental, you will be charged $50 (or $100 if you cancel within 24 hours).

Earn Rewards for Being a Loyal Customer

Dollar’s loyalty program is called Express Rewards. You can join for free and enjoy the following benefits:

• Skip the check-in counter and pick up your car right from the lot.
• Get priority counter service.

Add your spouse or domestic partner as an authorized driver without a fee.
You also earn 1 point for every dollar you spend on qualifying rentals (any rental that isn’t prepaid). You can redeem points for free rentals, upgrades, and other rewards.

The cheapest free rental day is 500 points for a weekend or 625 points for a weekday. Dollar’s program doesn’t have multiple tiers, but it offers one of the cheapest free rental days out there in terms of points.

2. Avis

Avis was founded in 1946 and has grown to over 1,500 locations in the United States and 5,500 locations worldwide. It offers a wide range of vehicles, including sedans, convertibles, SUVs, and pickup trucks. Avis is part of Avis Budget Group, which also owns Budget Rent a Car. Avis’s average rates, deals, and vehicle selection are similar to Budget’s. This makes it a good choice for budget-minded travelers.

However, one of the main differences between the two companies is that Avis has a more extensive rewards program. Avis’s rewards program, called Avis Preferred, allows members to earn points on every rental. Points can be redeemed for free rentals, upgrades, and other rewards. Avis Preferred also offers members a number of other benefits, such as waived young renter fees and early access to rental cars.

If you are looking for a car rental company with a good selection of vehicles and competitive rates, Avis is a good option. If you are also interested in earning rewards, Avis Preferred is the better choice.

Cost of Renting a Car from Avis

Our cost analysis found that Avis is about 16% cheaper than the industry average, with average rates of $65 per day and $453 per week. Avis also offers a 35% discount if you pay upfront, instead of paying later. Avis has the same cancellation policy as Budget, which means you will be charged $50 to cancel more than 24 hours in advance, or $150 within 24 hours of pickup.

Score Big Savings with Aviz Deals

• Amazon customers: Save up to 30% off base rates and get 10% back on an Amazon gift card. Receive 10% of your rental back in an Amazon gift card after your rental is complete.
• AARP members: Save up to 30% off base rates.
• Union members: Save up to 35% off pay-now rates.
• Veterans Advantage members: Save up to 25%.
• Extended Stay America: Save up to 30% on a reservation.
• Universal Orlando: Save up to $200 on a vacation package.
• MGM Resorts: Get up to $75 in food and beverage credits for each night of your stay.
• Three-day rental of $175 or more: Receive $15 off.

Earn Rewards for Being a Loyal Customer

Unlike most rewards programs, Avis Preferred® grants points when you spend money on rental fares and accessories. You earn more points on accessories than rental rates. Accessories include roadside assistance, GPS systems, ski racks, satellite radio, and booster seats (insurance and protection upgrades are excluded). You need 700 points to rent a base-model vehicle for one day. The best vehicles require 3,500 points per day. You can also redeem points for accessories like GPS during your trip. The program has three tiers based on how much you rent:

• Blue: Earn 1 point per dollar spent.
• Gold: Earn 1.25 points per dollar spent.
• Platinum: Earn 1.5 points per dollar spent.

1. Fox

Fox Rent A Car is a car rental company that was founded in 1989. It has 31 U.S. airport locations, which cover many major travel destinations. Fox stands out for its great deals on last-minute rentals and one-way rentals. You can find standard cars, trucks, and SUVs from the company, plus a few luxury cars depending on the location.

Cost of Renting a Car from Fox

Budget Car Rental offers cars at a 21% discount compared to the market average, with daily rates starting at $61 and weekly rates starting at $427. You can save an additional 35% by prepaying your reservation, but there is a $150 cancellation fee if you cancel within 24 hours of pickup.

Taxes and fees are not included in the prices advertised on Budget’s website, so be sure to add them to your total when making your reservation. Budget offers a variety of vehicles, including economy cars, pickup trucks, and luxury vehicles. They also offer moving trucks through Budget Truck.

Score Big Savings with Fox Deals

Fox offers a variety of unique deals depending on your travel needs. These include flash sales, $1 one-way trips, and rotating deals for specific cities. Here are a few examples:

• Save up to 40% on weekly rentals in select cities.
• Take a one-way trip from Salt Lake City to select locations for just $1 per day.
• Receive 10% off your rental if you are a military member or first responder.
• Get 20% off your rental if you are a college student.
• Take advantage of Fox’s Hot Deals, such as $35 per day in Oakland, $38 per day in San Francisco, and $28 per day in Salt Lake City.

Earn Rewards for Being a Loyal Customer

The Fox Rewards program is a free loyalty program that rewards members with points for every dollar they spend with Fox Rent A Car. Members earn 4 points per dollar spent, excluding taxes, insurance, and extras. This means that a $40 rental day would earn you 3,200 points. Points can be redeemed for FoxBucks, which can be used to pay for future rentals.

You can get $20 for 1,600 points, $40 for 3,200 points, and so on. Alternatively, points can be redeemed for gift cards at a rate of 1 point per penny. For example, a $25 gift card would cost 2,500 points. The Fox Rewards program is a great way to save money on your car rentals. The flexible redemption options make it a good choice for members who don’t rent cars as frequently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bilal

Bilal is an auto transport blogger and internet personality who loves to share his thoughts and experiences with the world. He started blogging as a way to connect with other people who shared his interests, and he quickly gained a following for his honest, relatable writing style. Bilal Ahmed is known for his willingness to speak openly about difficult topics, and he hopes to use his platform to help others find their voice.

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