▷ Best Car Rental Companies in the USA in 2024

The US is one of those countries with the particularity of being so big and so diverse, that no two states are the same. This is a great thing because we have the opportunity to discover new places while staying in the same country.

However, it also makes it hard sometimes to travel in our own car, or in a single-car between states, especially due to the long distances between states, which makes it so important to be informed about where we can rent cars and get the best deals.

The options for companies to rent a car in the United States are plenty, which can make choosing one harder, as each one has its own advantages or disadvantages.

For this reason, we will learn about some of the best companies to rent a car in the USA.

Whether you want to visit New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, San Francisco, Seattle, Las Vegas, Orlando, Houston, Miami, Boston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Detroit or Washington, we have made a Ranking of the Best Car Rental companies in the USA in 2024 to help you choose your next car rental booking, which, by the way, you can do easily and at the best price on this website.

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#1 – Alamo (8.6/10) 🏆

Alamo is a well-known company for renting cars, which is often considered for people needing to rent a car. This is a company among the best, though the benefits are not always necessarily as clear as with other companies, it’s definitely worth it to find out what they have to offer.

Prices of renting with Alamo are considerably low, even if not the cheapest among the options, their prices are often better than with other popular companies, especially when booking ahead of time, which can highly reduce the rates.

Their rewards program is not the one offering the most benefits among the other options, but it is good enough to offer a 5 percent discount to all of its members, and it is free to join, which can make it a nice added to further reduce the price when renting with Alamo.

The weakest point of Alamo has to be the number of offices they have available, which is considerably less than companies as well-established as this one is, especially because they are more targeted to travelers, as most of their locations are at airports. And for those who would like to reduce the impact on the environment, Alamo does offer electric and hybrid cars for rent.

Alamo customer ratings:

⭐ Excellent cleanliness of the car
✔️ Very good service at the rental desk
⭐ Very Quick pick-up process (Average waiting time is less than 15 mins)
⭐ Very Quick drop-off process
✔️ Very good overall value for money

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#2 – Enterprise (8.5/10) 🥈

Reputation can be something that alone, can be as powerful as a good, or as a bad marketing campaign, and help many people trying to decide for a company to rent a car by simply going with the company with the overall most positive comments.

This is the case with Enterprise, and it is the case on the positive side because it is considered among many of the people who have tried different car rentals in the US as the best one. No company is perfect though, but Enterprise tends to be the option that offers more advantages than disadvantages.

First of all, their car fleet, which has some of the newest cars among the options in car rentals. Some of their oldest cars are just six months old, and with not so many miles marked on the odometer, which can bring some relief to renters who don’t want to run the risk of the car having issues.

Now, the factor that really makes or breaks a deal when it comes to deciding where to rent a car, that is, of course, the price. In the case of renting with Enterprise, prices usually make the deal, as they are one of the companies with some of the best daily prices out there.

This makes Enterprise one of the best options for those wanting to rent for less than a week. While renting for longer than just a couple of days shows prices that are still lower than several other options. And of course, always try to book with time, as this can considerably reduce the price.

For those interested in a good rewards program, Enterprise’s rewards program is an excellent one, free to join, and it really makes it feel worth it to be a part of it, both, because of the possibility of getting free rentals, and because of the extra advantages of the program.

Enterprise customer ratings:

✔️ Very good cleanliness of the car
⭐ Excellent service at the rental desk
⭐ Very Quick pick-up process (Average waiting time is less than 15 mins)
⭐ Very Quick drop-off process
✔️ Very good overall value for money

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#3 – National (8.4/10) 🥉

When considering National Car Rental, the opinions are often mixed, as there are a few things that can make National the best option for certain cases, while not necessarily the best one in others. Nonetheless, National is a car rental company with a long time around, and many customers recurrently using it.

National Car Rental is another US rental car agency based in Clayton, Missouri. National is owned by Enterprise Holdings, along with other agencies including Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Alamo Rent a Car. As you can see, the three companies of the Enterprise Holdings group lead the ranking of the best car rental companies in the USA. They work well and their customers value it.

National ranks best among companies and business travelers, thanks to their special rental program for businesses, which offer the advantage of contracted rates, that will ensure that prices will stay at the same rate, no matter the moment they decide to book a car.

The number of vehicles they have available is yet another big advantage and something that makes the difference because they not only have cars available but also trucks and vans for those requiring these types of vehicles, with reasonable prices.

Definitely, a company that many people on the business side of the market might prefer, because their business rental program is quite unique, and can make the life of companies better, which makes National an important competitor.

National customer ratings:

✔️ Very good cleanliness of the car
⭐ Excellent service at the rental desk
⭐ Very Quick pick-up process (Average waiting time is less than 15 mins)
⭐ Very Quick drop-off process
✔️ Very good overall value for money

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#4 – Dollar (8.2/10) 🔝

Dollar is one of those car rental companies that are certainly among the best ones, though it is still considerably smaller, which can make it a not as convenient option in many cases. And yet, it is still big and good enough to consider it.

Daily rentals with Dollar are not the lowest available, but they tend to be lower than average, and as it’s usually the case with car rental companies, prices get better the further you book a car in advance, which might get you very good deals.

While for weekly rents situation is much more positive, and their rates for week-long rentals are among the lowest, that is to say among the best, and they have particularly low rates for an additional driver, a few dollars lower than most companies.

One of the best aspects of renting often with Dollar is their rewards program, one of the best around, because you don’t require as many points to redeem free rentals, and the restrictions on what you can rent for free are quite clear, so no surprises involved.

The greatest disadvantage of Dollar is the fact that it is a considerably small car rental company, with the least amount of locations available. However, Dollar might be a secret weapon when an office is available where you are traveling, and you might use any other of the options when this company is not available.

Dollar customer ratings:

✔️ Very good cleanliness of the car
✔️ Very good service at the rental desk
✔️ Very Quick pick-up process (Average waiting time is less than 15 mins)
⭐ Very Quick drop-off process
✔️ Very good overall value for money

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#5 – SIXT (8.1/10) 🔝

SIXT rent a car was founded in Germany in 1912, Today is one of the leading car rental and mobility companies in the world.

SIXT is categorized in the premium segment, and they offer a selection of premium vehicles from some of the best car brands in the world, such as Cadillac, Ford, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Jeep, Chevrolet, Range Rover, and more, but they are also are very careful with prices, and offer a premium product at affordable prices accompanied by exceptional service.

SIXT is present in over 100 countries in over 2,000 locations. You will be able to easily find SIXT car rental services in almost every major city and tourist destination in the US, offering convenient locations such as main airports, train stations, cruise ports, and hotels. You can easily book your SIXT rental car on our website.

SIXT customer ratings:

✔️ Very good cleanliness of the car
✔️ Very good service at the rental desk
✔️ Very Quick pick-up process (Average waiting time is less than 15 mins)
✔️ Very Quick drop-off process
✔️ Very good overall value for money

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#6 – Thrifty (7.8/10) 🔝

Thrifty is one of the most widely recognized brands in the travel industry that caters to cost-conscious business and leisure travelers.

Established in 1958, the company has grown steadily over the decades, and today is part of the group The Hertz Corporation with headquarters in Estero, Florida.

With an extensive global presence of over 1,300 offices in 99 countries around the world, they offer a wide selection of vehicles to meet a variety of needs, from urban cars or SUVs to family cars and minivans, available for rental at major airports and cities in the USA.

Their rates are excellent value for money whether you need to rent for days, weeks, or months. Make your reservation online on this website now, just select the date and place of collection to enjoy a rental at the best possible price. No worries or hidden charges.

Thrifty customer ratings:

⭐ Excellent cleanliness of the car
✔️ Good service at the rental desk
✔️ Quick pick-up process
✔️ Very Quick drop-off process
✔️ Very good overall value for money

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#7 – Hertz (7.6/10) 🔝

Yet another car rental company with a long-time reputation, mostly as a good one. Hertz is a familiar brand among travelers and individuals who often need to rent a car, and there are several factors when it comes to deciding whether or not to go with this company for our next car rental.

When it comes to the fleet of cars available, their selection is one of the most varied ones, with options for almost every type of customer, with more simple models for those just looking for a car in good conditions, as well as fast sports cars and options on hybrid cars.

Prices are one of the aspects of renting with Hertz that can make many people consider other car rental companies, at least at first. For daily rentals, Hertz does have some of the highest rates among the options, which might not be very convenient for those needing a car for just a couple of days.

For longer rentals, though, prices of Hertz get much better, and it is possible to get better deals if booking ahead of time, rather than one day before the day we need the car. Also, renting in a non-airport location can also make prices better.

Their rewards program is a very good one, with many advantages compared to others. It is free to join, and each dollar spent on renting with the company gives points, which can be exchanged for free days of rental. This makes it good to consider joining their rewards program even if you don’t often rent cars.

If needing to rent a car for a week or longer, Hertz is one of the companies that provide more value, and their program is good enough to eventually get some days for free, for those times when you only need a car for a day. Definitely a company with a fair reputation.

Hertz customer ratings:

✔️ Good cleanliness of the car
✔️ Good service at the rental desk
✔️ Quick pick-up process
✔️ Very Quick drop-off process
✔️ Good overall value for money

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#8 – Budget (7.3/10) 🔝

Budget Rent a Car is another car rental company with a long history and an overall quite good reputation among the options available in the United States. When deciding if renting with Budget, there are some factors that could make this the way to go or not.

In terms of prices, Budget does not always have the cheapest rates, but it does tend to have better than average prices, which is already good, and prices do get better the further you book in advance, as opposed to booking to close to the date you need the car or just the day before.

One big advantage of Budget is the number of offices they have available all around the states, which makes it more probable to rent a car with Budget for most of the locations you might be traveling to, including locations outside of airports which are often less expensive, as well as a pick-up service that might be quite convenient.

Those people interested in rewards and a long-term relationship with their car rental company of choice, Budget certainly doesn’t offer the best rewards, but they do have some extra benefits, and you can join it for free.

Overall, the locations they have available, as well as good customer experience and better than average prices, even if not the lowest, can make Budget your option of choice, if not for every trip, at least for some of them.

Budget customer ratings:

✔️ Good cleanliness of the car
✔️ Good service at the rental desk
✔️ Quick pick-up process
✔️ Quick drop-off process
✔️ Good overall value for money

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#9 – Avis (7.2/10) 🔝

When renting a car, finding the cheapest deals tends to be the number one factor in order to decide which company to go with. However, Avis doesn’t always offer the best rates, especially when it comes to daily rents, and yet, they are a popular company you might want to consider.

First of all, their prices for daily rentals are among the highest, which can make it a deal-breaker for anyone looking to rent for just a couple of days. However, it is possible to get better rates the more in advance you book with Avis.

Also, when renting for longer than a few days, rates do get better, having considerably good weekly rentals, and because they have many locations available all over the United States, as well as in other parts of the world, it is more possible to find offices outside of the airport, which considerably decreases the rates.

Those who decide to join their rewards program do can get free rentals, but the amount of points needed in order to get free rentals is the highest of all. Though it is still a very good added if you find yourself renting with Avis often, as you will eventually be benefited from this.

If being careful when renting with Avis, by booking in advance, and trying to find locations that are not in-airport, as well as renting for a week-long, you can still get considerably good deals from one of the more expensive car rental companies, which is at the same time a quite popular one.

Avis customer ratings:

✔️ Good cleanliness of the car
✔️ Good service at the rental desk
✔️ Quick pick-up process
✔️ Quick drop-off process
✔️ Good overall value for money

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#10 – Advantage (6.9/10) 🔝

Advantage is a Canadian-owned car rental company headquartered in Orlando, Florida, and is one of the largest car rental companies in the United States. This business group also owns E-Z Rent-A-Car. E-Z Rent-A-Car is an Advantage subsidiary branch.

They have a wide variety of vehicles, Mini, Economy, Compact, SUVs, and VANs. Their fleet is modern and new and at economical prices.

Whether you are traveling on business or to one of those destinations you have always wanted to visit, you will travel safely and in style in one of the Advantage vehicles.

Advantage customer ratings:

✔️ Good cleanliness of the car
✔️ Good service at the rental desk
✔️ Quick pick-up process
✔️ Quick drop-off process
✔️ Good overall value for money

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SOME EXTRA TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN THE UNITED STATES

Book your car in the USA in advance

As the dates get closer and as demand rises, prices get alarmingly higher, so as soon as you are clear on the dates.

Most of the time you will be able to change your reservation free of charge up to 48 hours in advance. You can cancel it, add or remove days, or upgrade, but be sure and always read the booking conditions carefully.

In general, the earlier you book your car rental in the United States, the cheaper it will be.

Documents required to rent a car in the USA

If you are a tourist visiting the country, to rent a car in the United States you will be asked for your driver’s license, passport, and a credit card in the driver’s name. In addition, we recommend that you always bring your international driver’s license. Many times they don’t ask for it, but if they do, you must have it.

Without any of these three things, you will not be able to rent a car. Make sure your card is a credit card and not a debit card. As a general rule, car rental companies worldwide only accept credit cards as a guarantee.

In some rental companies like Dollar it is no longer a requirement to have a credit card to rent a car if you show the return ticket to your country, but be well informed!

Minimum age to rent a car in the USA

Unlike in Europe, in the United States, the minimum age to rent a car is 21 years old, with the exceptions of the states of New York and Michigan, where you can rent a car from the age of 18.

The rental companies apply extra charges if the driver is under 25 years old. For further information, please visit our guide to renting a car if you are under 25 years old.

Fuel policy

The fuel policy refers to the fuel levels with which we take and return the car. Although there are several, we recommend the “full-full” fuel policy, with any other you may have problems. Click here if you want to learn more about fuel policies.

When picking up the car they will ask you if you want to pay for the tank and return it empty. This option is usually not very profitable because of two things:

The price of the gasoline they charge you is usually higher than at the gas station (although they say the opposite).
The normal thing is that you do not return the car completely empty and you will have paid the whole deposit. Some rental companies do return the money of the remaining amount, but very few do it.

It is better to fill the tank at the nearest gas station that you can find at a good price.

If you return the car at the airport, do not wait to fill it at the last gas station because the prices are usually high, taking advantage of all the people who return their rental car.

Normally, the car rental company blocks on the credit card a deposit of fuel in case you return it empty. if you return the car empty (about 100$), when you return the car with a full tank, they will return it to you. full, they return it to you.

They also recommend keeping the ticket of the last refueling, we have never been asked for it when returning the car, but sometimes when you return it, they ask for it. never asked for it when returning the car but sometimes when picking up the rental car in the USA we have been they have recommended it to us.

Please note, that in the United States they measure in gallons, the price that you will see on the gas station signs is not per liter, it is per gallon! 1 gallon = 3.78 liters.

Mileage policy

Make sure you book a rental car with unlimited mileage, otherwise, make sure that you are not going to do more kilometers than the maximum indicated in the rental contract.

If you are going to make a route through the United States it is best to book a car with unlimited kilometers to be more relaxed.

One way charge

The “one-way” charge is the charge that some companies charge for returning the vehicle to a different office than the pick-up location.

This charge is always paid when you pick up the car and must be specified in your reservation. Click here if you want to know more about one-way rentals.

GPS

It is highly recommended that you carry a GPS because you will need it.

Many car rental companies in the United States already include it in the price, since the most modern cars already had it incorporated. But if it is not included, it will be better to hire it at the counter or use the one on your cell phone if you have a good roaming data rate.

PLATE PASS Rental

When you pick up your rental car you will be offered to rent the “Plate Pass”, this is a device that is incorporated in the car to pay the tolls without having to stop, and thus be able to pass through the fast lane without wasting time queuing.

The device has a rental cost per day, and when you return the car you pay all the tolls you have gone through.

I already advance you that to make the route along the West Coast or Route 66 is not necessary, you only pass through a toll arriving in San Francisco and you can pay it right there.

Car Rental Insurance

Most rentals in the United States include Theft Waiver, Collision Damage Waiver, and Third-party liability protection in the rental price.

They will also offer you breakdown assistance and loss of keys insurance which is not usually included in the rentals, it does not go up much and it is optional to hire it. We always recommend taking out as much insurance as possible over the counter. You never know what can happen. In case something happens you would have to face the charges of towing the car to the nearest garage.

It is always best to take out comprehensive insurance at the counter. No more complications.

Some facts and curiosities about driving in the U.S.

In the US you drive on the right side.
It is forbidden to park where there is a fire hydrant, even if there is no sign that specifies it, the same in the garage exits, there does not have to be a prohibition sign.
It is forbidden to park in the opposite direction, I mean, if the street is a two-way street you can not park in the opposite direction to the lane you are in, you must always park on the right side, in the direction of travel. WARNING! They give many fines for this issue.
You can always turn right (even if the traffic light is red) unless there is a sign indicating otherwise.
On multi-lane roads be careful because you can be overtaken in any lane, although it is not allowed, it is a common practice on US roads.
The traffic lights are on the other side of the intersection, it’s a bit strange but you soon get used to it.
At four-lane intersections without traffic lights there is a sign indicating “STOP all way”, all cars must stop and the first one to arrive first has the preference to continue.

Choosing a car rental company might be an overwhelming task for some travelers in the United States due to the many options available in the country. However, there are many clear factors that can help us more easily narrow down the options: Daily prices, weekly prices, cars available, rewards program, and locations available.

Visiting all the states of the US in your car is very difficult. But also choosing the best car rental company to rent a car is difficult. Many car rental companies are working in the US. All the companies are great, but some factors make them different. Here in this article, we choose the top car rental companies in the US. These companies provide cars on rent on a weekly or daily basis. Due to selecting the top ten companies, it becomes easy for customers to choose one of the best companies for traveling. Do you love JDM cars? There is an extensive list of JDM cars on JDM Sport Classics.

By having these variables clear, it becomes easier to choose from the wide variety of can rental companies in the US, remembering that all of the companies mentioned here are among the best on what they do and that they count on years of experience.

Usually, it would be the best to have a company to rent with more often, preferably getting the advantage of their rewards program; and have one or two you trust enough to fall back on those few occasions when your default car rental company cannot satisfy your needs.

We hope you liked this article. Now you can continue reading our article about the differences between Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar, Payless, Sixt, Thrifty, Dollar, Alamo, National, and more, or use our search engine below to book your car.