ViaTravelers

19 Best Car Rental Sites to Find Great Deals

Manager filling car rental documents standing in the showroom with car
Published on: September 19, 2022
Last updated: September 24, 2024

We take pride in providing authentic travel recommendations based on our own experiences, which is documented through our travel photography and writing only about places we have personally visited. We may earn a commission when you purchase a product or book a reservation. This has no influence on our recommendations. For more information, please read about our approach to travel publishing. Learn more ›

Kyle Kroeger

Written by Kyle Kroeger

Kyle Kroeger, founder of ViaTravelers.com, is an American immigrant living in Amsterdam. He has personally explored over 15 countries, 30 US states, and over 20 national parks across 4 continents, gaining firsthand experience in diverse global cultures. As a travel photographer, visualizing experiences is paramount to his contributions to ViaTravelers, contributing over 10,000 photos from around the world. Kyle's perspective in immersive cultural experiences stems from his time living in Italy, where he developed a deep appreciation for authentic local interactions.

Renting a car is one of the most common travel activities in the world, and it’s only getting more popular. With so many options, it can be overwhelming to find the best deal on car rentals for your next trip. But with these awesome rental car websites and apps, you no longer have to scour Google for hours to find the right price for a great rental car!

I love renting cars. It’s one of my favorite things to do when I travel because you get to explore with a new set of wheels. But it can be expensive and time-consuming if you don’t know where to look. I put together this list of the best car rental sites online.

These car rental aggregator sites offer great deals and customer service, so you won’t have to worry about paying too much or getting stuck with a clunker.

Best Rental Car Sites & Apps to Find Deals

Looking for a website to find the best deal on a rental car? Then you’ve come to the right place. When looking for your next car rental, check out one of these top car rental sites:

1. Rentalcars.com

Rentals Cars Homepage

Rentalcars.com is a car rental meta-search engine owned by Booking Holdings; their search engine and comparison tool are great. But where they shine is in their customer service.

According to users on Trustpilot, Rentalcars.com has been rated as one of the world’s top 10 car rental companies for several years, and it’s not hard to see why! You’ll find it here if you’re looking for a smooth ride from booking through pickup, drop-off, and beyond.

They have the best rental car loyalty program for sites that are not direct fleet owners, so you can get the best price and rack up rewards along the way.

2. Kayak

Kayaks Car Rental Homepage

Kayak, also owned by Booking Holdings, is a travel search engine that allows you to search for and compare cheap flights, hotels, and rental cars in one place. It is an excellent site for finding the best rental car deals.

Kayak searches the major car rental sites and shows prices for your desired dates and locations. It then provides a list of rental car companies you can book directly through Kayak or the company’s website.

Kayak also provides a complete list of locations where all these car rental companies operate, so it helps you narrow down which ones are near you and what type of vehicle they’re offering at each location. When planning your family vacation, Kayak is a great place to start.

See Related: Kayak.com Review

3. Momondo

Momondo Page

Momondo, another of Booking Holdings’ many rental companies, is a travel search site founded in 2006 by three former Expedia employees. In addition to finding the cheapest and best rental cars for your trip, Momondo also has other services such as hotel reservations, flight deals, and package deals.

Momondo offers car rental discounts from different companies through its partnerships (e.g., Avis, Hertz, and Europcar). It has received several awards from the travel industry, including being named one of the best travel sites.

See Related: How to Find Cheap Flights [An Actual Step-by-Step Guide]

4. Skyscanner

Skyscanner car hire homepage

Skyscanner is one of the best travel sites out there. It’s a great place to start when planning your next vacation and looking for that perfect flight deal. But it also has hotels and car rental options too.

The beauty of this site is its search capabilities. You can easily search by price, duration, location, and more, and Skyscanner’s search results display the best prices.

Skyscanner will even tell you which airlines are offering cheap flights and which airports have the most competitive rates at any given time.

The site also has an app available for Android and iOS devices, making it easy to find cheap flights wherever you are. Skyscanner is perfect if you want all the information at your fingertips without searching hundreds of different sites.

See Related: Skyscanner Alternatives to Book Travel

5. SIXT

SIXT Car Hire Homepage

SIXT is a German car rental company with locations in 80 countries. The site offers many car rental options, including SUVs and luxury cars. The company has been around since 1912, so you can rest assured that your rental will be well-maintained and reliable.

SIXT is an excellent choice for those looking for the best deals on their next road trip, a cross-country move, or renting a European car. With their wide selection of vehicles available at their many locations across the globe, there’s no need to waste time visiting numerous other sites to compare prices—for a lower price, go straight to SIXT.

6. Priceline

Priceline Car Rentals Homepage

Priceline, owned by Booking Holdings, is a great place to find a better deal on cheap rental cars. It’s also an excellent place to save money on hotels, flights, and car rental insurance.

Their Name Your Price bidding system is simple: you bid for the lowest price you are willing to pay for your rental, and if it’s accepted, you get it at that price. If it isn’t taken, no one pays anything—the site doesn’t charge any fees if your bid isn’t accepted. This is a unique way to get the best price on your next rental car.

See Related: Travelex Insurance Review: Is It Worth It?

7. Enterprise

Enterprise Car Rentals

What is the best rental car company for business travelers? Enterprise. With more than 6,000 locations in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, you can find a desk to work at that’s close to your hotel or apartment and then pick up a car at the exact location when you’re ready to leave town.

Plus, Enterprise has over 250 airport locations in all major cities across the U.S., including New York City and Los Angeles. So if you’re looking for a rental car in the U.S., an Enterprise rental location is near you.

Enterprise supports all kinds of travelers and offers various vehicles—from compact cars to minivans and SUVs—and good customer service (with 24/7 roadside assistance). Enterprise offers many additional protection products, including the option to purchase insurance.

The company has also been recognized as one of the best values by several websites, including Auto Rental News’ annual survey; it was voted the best value overall in 2017.

8. Hertz

Hertz Car Hire

Hertz is a global car rental company that allows customers to rent various vehicles, including luxury cars and SUVs, at more than 8,500 locations worldwide.

At Hertz, you can choose from over 30 different types of vehicle options and even add additional drivers if needed. The company prides itself on its excellent reputation and customer service—they’re happy to go above and beyond for its customers.

Hertz has a rewards program, and their website has an easy-to-navigate interface that makes it simple to select your preferred travel dates and your desired vehicle type—you’ll then get quotes for various locations all over the world with just one click.

And suppose you’re traveling internationally or need help finding the nearest location near where you’re going (or coming from). In that case, there are links in every section that allow you to access their mobile app or call center support quickly, no matter where they are located.

See Related: Rental Cars That You Can Take Out of State

9. National Car Rental

National Car Rentals

National is a car rental company that has over 1,500 worldwide locations. It specializes in providing customers with quality cars at affordable prices. National is owned by Enterprise Holdings, meaning it has access to its massive fleet of vehicles across North America.

The National Rewards program allows you to earn points for every dollar you spend on an eligible rental car reservation. You can redeem your rewards anytime, even without renting a car at that time!

See Related: Go Crush a Car At Tank Town USA!

10. Turo

Turo Car Rentals Homepage

Unlike a traditional car rental company, Turo is for those looking for a peer-to-peer car rental marketplace. The carsharing company offers a broad selection of vehicles from various manufacturers (including BMW and Mercedes). It makes it easy for customers to save money by finding their ideal car at the lowest price.

The site also offers free car rental insurance with every reservation and 24/7 roadside assistance to stay confident in your trip-planning process.

Turo is great because it gives you access to cars worldwide. You can get precisely what you want without worrying about making last-minute changes or switching to a different location due to availability issues at other car rental agencies or dealerships. Finally, since it’s peer-to-peer, users may be able to strike some excellent private deals.

See Related: How to Rent an RV: Tips for Renting an RV for a Road Trip

11. Alamo

Alamo Car Rentals

Alamo is a subsidiary of Enterprise Holdings, which owns National Car Rental and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Alamo operates over 2,000 locations across 29 states (including Puerto Rico). In addition to offering a variety of popular models, Alamo offers SUV rentals, cargo vans, and passenger buses at some locations.

Alamo’s rates are generally below average compared to other significant players like Hertz and Avis/Budget. However, Alamo has been known to be a little less flexible regarding changes or cancellations than other companies—so make sure you’re comfortable with your reservation before finalizing it.

12. Getaround

Getaround cars homepage

For a cheap rental car, I recommend checking out the app Getaround. They have an excellent selection, and their car rental prices are often lower than other companies. Not only can you rent a car directly from the owner, but you can also book it at your convenience with Getaround.

This is especially great if you’re traveling on a budget, searching for cheap car rentals, or needing a car on short notice. Just enter your zip code and find the type of car you want to rent, then select the dates, time frame, and location where you’ll be driving.

You can choose from any make or model in your area—and GetAround will likely offer more options than traditional car rental agencies. If you have an account with Getaround, you can book a car directly through the app. But if you don’t have an account or prefer to book online, visit their website and select the type of vehicle that best suits your needs.

See Related: RVShare Review: Is It Worth It?

13. Expedia

Expedia cars rental homepage

Expedia is a well-known travel website that allows users to search for flights, hotels, and car rentals. It has reasonable rates on all three of these services, especially compared to other sites. Expedia also has a good reputation for customer service and provides additional value by offering things like hotel reservations and travel insurance.

Many types of cars are available on Expedia, ranging from economy cars to luxury SUVs with room for up to eight people. If you’re booking with a partner or family member who needs a larger vehicle, this site is for you.

14. Thrifty Car Rental

Thrifty car rental

Thrifty is another famous car rental company. It’s based in the United States and owned by Hertz Corporation, so you won’t have to worry about your credit card being declined when you book an upcoming trip. Thrifty has over 4,000 locations worldwide.

The company also takes pride in its membership with the Global Thrifty Car Rental Network, which provides travelers with access to over 250 airports worldwide with convenient drop-off locations and knowledgeable staff who can assist customers wherever they are traveling.

See Related: Insured Nomads Review: Is it Legit?

15. Avis Car Rental

Avis car rental

Avis is one of the most popular travel sites, so you’ll find plenty of deals here. Most of their rental cars come with unlimited mileage. Only a few high-end car groups and a few rental locations do not. Most likely, your car rental will have unlimited mileage.

Plus, if you have any questions about Avis or their service—or anything else related to renting a car—they have a 24/7 customer support team ready to help.

If you’re looking for cheap car rentals, check out the Avis Preferred Program, which offers discounted vehicle rates. The site is also straightforward to navigate and has a search function that lets you filter search results by brand, type of car (SUV, sedan), price range, pickup date, and more.

If you’re looking for a specific model, try typing it in the search bar. The site also has an FAQ section where you can find answers to common questions about renting a vehicle from Avis.

16. Travelocity

Travelocity car rental

Travelocity is a popular travel website that offers car rentals as well. The site has an excellent customer rating and good reviews from past users, which should give you confidence in Travelocity’s ability to fulfill your car rental needs. This site is worth considering if you’re looking for excellent deals on car rentals.

Travelocity also has an app that lets users search for available vehicles, compare rental car prices, and reserve vehicles through their phones or tablets. This makes it easy to find the perfect vehicle before leaving home!

See Related: Best Apps & Sites Like Expedia For Travel

17. Dollar Rent A Car

Dollar car Rental Homepage

The Hertz Corporation owns Dollar Rent-A-Car, a larger rental car company subsidiary. They offer affordable rates for people looking to save money on their next car rental.

It’s worth noting that the Hertz Corporation also owns Dollar. Dollar has its own rewards program called Dollar Express Rewards, with several benefits for its members. Dollar Rent-A-Car is an excellent choice if you’re looking among car rental companies for options with rewards programs.

18. Budget Rent A Car

Budget Rent A Car

One of the more well-known rental companies, Budget Rent A Car, is part of the Avis Budget Group and is one of the best ways to book cheap car rentals. The company has over 1,400 locations in the US, so it’s easy for you to find what you need. Budget offers various rental cars in different sizes, styles, and prices.

You can also earn points through their loyalty program that can be redeemed for discounts on future rentals or other perks like free nights at select hotels or gift cards. You can also find a wide selection of cars at Budget that you won’t find elsewhere.

For example, the company has some of the best minivans available for rental, including the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey. You can even rent a pickup truck. The company also offers luxury vehicles like BMWs, Mercedes-Benz models, and more. Budget also allows renters to pick up at one location and drop off at another.

See Related: Best Pet Travel Insurance Options to Buy Today

19. Payless Car Rental

Payless car rental

Owned by Avis Budget Group and with a name like Payless Car Rental, it’s pretty clear this site is trying to appeal to the budget-friendly crowd. With an extensive fleet of vehicles available and options for almost any travel situation, there are plenty of reasons why anyone can benefit from using Payless Car Rentals.

To keep its customer’s rental costs low, Payless typically shares a fleet with other Avis Budget Group-owned companies, Avis Rent a Car and Budget Rent a Car, in many locations.

Payless uses sales techniques to maintain profitability, including offering fewer vehicle classes than other rental car companies.

Types of Car Rental Websites

There are a variety of websites you can use to rent a car. They range from dedicated rental car companies, such as Payless Car Rental, to travel booking sites like Expedia and Travelocity that include rental cars as an option.

There are also third-party sites like Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book that provide information about new and used vehicles so you can make an informed decision when renting one.

  • Comparison Websites: These sites let you set your rental parameters and present you with a list of potential deals.
  • Booking Websites: These sites take away all uncertainty by giving you a fixed price upfront, but they also charge higher rates than comparison websites.
  • Marketplaces There is no intermediary between these sites. Instead, you deal directly with the person who owns or leases the car.

The different types of car rental websites have their benefits and drawbacks. Comparison websites, for example, are good if you have a general idea of where you want to go and what type of vehicle would suit your needs best.

They also tend to be more cost-effective than booking directly with a company. But booking directly might be your best bet if you have specific plans.

Car rental sites come in all shapes and sizes. Some cater to specific types of customers, like the budget-friendly Payless Car Rental. Others specialize in luxury vehicles or long-term rentals. Some have massive databases that let you search for cars in any city, while others only offer deals from major airports.

With so many options, knowing which site fits your needs is essential. There are many options if you’re looking for a rental car in the United States. The best way to find the right one is to look at all your options before deciding.

FAQ

What is the cheapest way to rent a car?

The cheapest way to rent a car is through a travel agent or online website. You can also find cheap rental cars through the websites of companies that specialize in renting cars.

For example, Rentalcars.com offers discounts on rental cars booked through its website. Travelocity also has a section on its website where you can search for the best deals on rental cars.

Hertz and Avis offer online coupons for discounts on rentals booked through their websites—so be sure to check those out! Many credit card companies also have good deals for members. Finally, searching “car rental coupons” online sometimes yields results with significant savings.

What is the best rental car app for the lowest prices?

If you want to rent a car for cheap, you’ll likely need to use an app that helps you compare the highest number of car rental companies in one centralized spot without the extra fees.

That means comparing rental car prices between providers and using coupon codes whenever possible to locate the cheapest option. The best app options for the lowest price are Kayak or Rentalcars.com.

What is the best rental car app?

There are quite a few good rental car apps out there, but the one that we recommend most highly is Rentalcars.com. The app allows you to compare car rental deals many companies offer in one place.

In addition, Rentalcars.com offers the Best Price Guarantee: if you find a lower rate elsewhere, they will match it (terms and conditions apply).

Related Resources:

Loading...

Comments