Best Car Rental Sites to Book Your Next Road Trip - The Points Guy (2023)

FAQs

How do you beat the high price car rental? ›

Save money

The longer your trip is, the more prone you are to getting into an accident. You will feel more secured using a rental car than your own vehicle knowing that your Collision Damage Waiver or Loss Damage Waiver will cover partial or even full expenses of the rental vehicle damage when you get into an accident.

If you live elsewhere, you can try to status match via email. Just send proof of your elite status with Hertz, Enterprise, or National to profile.update@avisbudget.com.

How Do You Negotiate A Car Price? Enterprise Car Sales offers no-haggle pricing on all vehicles for sale, which make it easy to compare car prices. Our transparent pricing, combined with excellent customer service, puts the customer first and has been the cornerstone of our business for more than 50 years.

Ultimately, Turo is a safe and legitimate way to rent a car from a local host. Since 2010, Turo has grown into a popular service with more than 332K total app ratings and an “Excellent” ranking on Trustpilot from consumers. To get started, you can download the app for iPhone or Android or visit the company's website.

Winner: Enterprise Plus

Once again, Enterprise comes out on top. Enterprise Plus offers the most traveler-friendly loyalty program of the three major car rental companies because: It offers members a straightforward earning rate. It has the lowest-cost redemptions.

In the early sixties, Avis launched the slogan "We try harder", positioning ourselves as the world's number two car rental company.

Should I trust my car on a road trip? ›

The first thing you're probably wondering is, “Can my car make a long trip?” Generally, the answer is "it depends." Age usually doesn't determine if you should drive your car long distances or not. An older or high-mileage vehicle that is regularly maintained should be safe to drive on a road trip.

For example, the owner's manual for Consumer Reports' 2022 Ford Maverick small pickup says “your vehicle requires a break-in period.” Ford recommends that for the first 1,000 miles owners should avoid driving at high speeds, heavy braking, aggressive shifting, or using your vehicle to tow.

Although national rental car companies like Avis and Hertz do not track speed, thousands of their customers use GPS systems every day. The systems can help customers with directions, unlock cars when keys are lost, or help in an emergency by notifying authorities when an air bag is deployed.

Credit cards:

The name you specify when making your reservation must match the name on the credit card you pay with. The same credit card also needs to be presented at the location, when you pick up your rental car. You can use most credit cards. Debit cards need to be connected to VISA or MasterCard.

Avis President's Club is the highest status in the Avis program and is awarded after 20 rentals or $6,000 spent.

Like all car rental companies, Enterprise will put a hold on your credit card or debit card when you rent a car. The hold is equal to the rental rate plus a security deposit. The company holds this sum to guard against scenarios like an accident, late return or additional fuel charge.

Enterprise employees

Most Enterprise drivers don't expect a tip, so it's a pleasant surprise. They should be tipped just like cab drivers.

Does Enterprise price match? Unfortunately, Enterprise will not match its competitors' promotions or special offers.

Requirements with regard to age, license, identification, and communication differ by region. If you don't meet the eligibility requirements in your area, you'll be unable to book a car. Check the age requirements for the car you're trying to book. You must meet established age requirements to book certain vehicles.

If you're able to obtain a vehicle and rent for that amount, chances are your car will be rented around 22+ days a month. People will also frequent your rental more often and you'll get a bunch of repeat renters. It's also pretty hard to undercut the market when you can't get a good deal on a car.

Is there good money in Turo? ›

Yes, renting on Turo can be profitable. The key is using strategies that help you get more bookings and earn consistent income. There are many, but a big one is to acquire one of the best cars on Turo, and optimize for popularity and utility.

Who is the easiest car rental company? Enterprise and Hertz offer the easiest and fastest way to rent a car. With exceptional customer service, special pick-up and drop-off lanes for members, as well as dedicated phone lines, the two companies have streamlined the rental process for customers.

Showing 10 out of 17 companies. Enterprise Holdings Inc, ALD SA, Avis Budget Group Inc, Hertz Global Holdings Inc, and Sixt SE are the top 5 car rental companies in the world in 2021 by revenue.

By almost all metrics, National Car Rental was the most expensive, followed by Alamo Rent a Car. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Budget, Hertz and Dollar ranked among the cheapest.

The price rises are mainly caused by car rental companies having sold off much of their stock of vehicles during the pandemic as demand collapsed. Now, with people taking holidays again, they are trying to rebuild their fleets, but a global shortage of semi-conductors means they are paying more for new vehicles.

On average a rental car in the United States costs $55 per day.

1900s. The earliest records of car hire can be traced as far back as 1904, when a bicycle shop in Minneapolis started offering cars for rent. A few years later, the German company Sixt was established in 1912. It first started off with three cars for rent and quickly expanded.

How Long Can You Safely Drive a Day? A good rule of thumb is to expect to safely drive 8 hours each day of your road trip. 8-hours a day is less than the 10 hours a day regulation that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires passenger-carrying drivers to follow.

The number of miles people should drive each day on a road trip depends on a number of factors, such as the length of the trip, the type of vehicle being used, weather conditions, and the driver's comfort level. A good rule of thumb is to plan to drive no more than 500 miles per day.

How often should you go on a road trip? ›

Take regular breaks along the way to stay fresh and alert, stopping roughly every 100 miles or two hours. “Also, try to avoid driving between 1 and 3 p.m., when the body's temperature is lower and people are naturally drowsy,” says The Sleep Doctor, Dr. Michael Breus.

Are long distance drives bad for your car? A long-distance drive is not bad for your car provided you have serviced your vehicle and have sufficient engine lubrication, coolant, water, and fuel. Short-distance road trips involving frequent acceleration and lower speeds actually generate more wear on engine components.

As a general rule, it's safe to drive for no longer than eight hours a day, taking breaks of at least 15 minutes every two hours. This means you can safely drive for around 500 miles, not taking into account external factors such as slowing for tolls, traffic, travelling with children, and tiredness.

The National Safety Council recommends a minimum three-second following distance. Determining the three-second gap is relatively easy. When following a vehicle, pick an overhead road sign, a tree or other roadside marker.

Enterprise GPS tracking is a type of GPS tracking for fleets so that enterprise companies can monitor vehicle assets' real-time location and activities.

All the major car rental agencies provide some type of optional GPS service, but they aren't all the same. Most GPS units are reserved when you book your vehicle, and there isn't always a lot of information available before then.

No credit check: Car rental companies take on a certain amount of risk by renting vehicles, and a credit card gives them peace of mind. Your credit card may provide rental benefits: Credit card rental discounts and additional insurance protection are common perks of renting a vehicle using some major credit cards.

How Much Does Hertz Hold as a Security Deposit? When you book with Hertz, your card will be charged a hold of up to $200 plus estimated rental charges. That sum is frozen until your credit card company returns it. Be sure to cushion your available balance and budget wisely for your trip expenses.

CAN I PAY FOR THE RENTAL OF A CAR FOR ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL? The renter of the vehicle must be present to sign the rental agreement and provide their credit card at the time of pick up. The renter cannot provide a credit or debit card belonging to someone else for their use.

Many rentals may require an authorization hold of the estimated rental charges plus $200 USD. Rentals of 4 days or more may require an authorization hold of the estimated rental charges plus $300 USD.

Will Avis match my Hertz status? ›

Just send proof of your elite status with Hertz, Enterprise, or National to profile.update@avisbudget.com. However, the status match page specifically states that it is not applicable to residents in the USA and Canada. Once matched, your new Avis status match will be valid for 12 months.

Your card will be charged the amount of the rental plus a $250 minimum hold for credit and debit cards at the time of rental. When you return your vehicle Avis will release the unused portion of the hold. The funds may take up to two weeks to be released by your bank.

Founded in the USA in 1957, Enterprise is the world's largest car rental company, serving globally, with almost 10.000 offices in almost 100 countries.

As of 2021 Enterprise Rent-A-Car operates the largest rental network globally.

Largest Car Rental Companies FAQ

Enterprise Holdings is the largest car rental company in the U.S. Enterprise Holdings has 6,000 locations across the U.S. with 1.1. million cars in service. Their estimated revenue for 2022 is $30 billion.

History. The earliest known example of cars being offered for rent dates back to 1906. The German company Sixt was established in 1912 under the name Sixt Autofahrten und Selbstfahrer (Sixt Car Cruises and Self Drivers).

Best Overall Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Enterprise ranked the highest overall in customer satisfaction, with a score above the industry average. It has over 7,600 locations and a solid loyalty and rewards program. Although Enterprise may have slightly higher rates in some cities, it's still a favorite for customer service.

Hertz. Hertz is one of the largest car rental companies in the U.S. with over 3,000 neighborhood and airport locations.

Wondering who owns Enterprise Rent-A-Car? Enterprise Rent-A-Car is a brand of Enterprise Holdings, which is owned by the Taylor family based in St. Louis, Missouri. The Taylors' ties to car rentals go all the way back to 1957, when Jack Taylor launched Executive Leasing with seven vehicles.

Is there a rental car shortage in the US? ›

The car rental industry has bounced back from a pandemic-induced shortage, which drove rates up to historic levels. Customers are noticing. There are new ways to rent cars, there's new technology — and, of course, prices have returned to earth in many cities.

Turo is a peer-to-peer car sharing platform that allows car owners to rent out their own cars to regular people. Consider it a sort of Airbnb for cars. Given high rental car prices and often limited rental car availability, alternative rental car services like Turo can be a lifesaver.

Most rent-a-car businesses operate in California (1,355), Florida (1,050), and Texas (960).

United States Car Rental Providers

The top car rental brands are Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National, Sixt, and Thrifty.

The term "Big Three" has since been sometimes used to refer to the following automakers: United States — Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis. Japan — Toyota, Nissan, and Honda. Germany — the Volkswagen Group, the Mercedes-Benz Group, and BMW.