Whether you need a trustworthy car for a road trip or to use while you’re on vacation, find out what the best car rental booking sites are.
1. Alamo Rent a Car
Alamo is a low-cost rental car company that’s been around since 1974. Aside from cheaper rates, they’re also known for giving great customer service.
If you’re not looking for a luxury car, and are fine with a lower-end car, then Alamo can give you an excellent deal. Compared to other car rental companies, you can save at least 5%.
Most locations are in or near an airport, so it’ll be easy to pick up your rental car after a flight.
2. Auto Europe
Auto Europe was founded in 1954 and offers more than 20,000 pick-up locations in over 180 countries. If you’re traveling to Europe, it’s an excellent place to search for a rental car.
Managing your reservation is easy with Auto Europe because it offers free cancellations 48 hours before pick-up, and you can make changes at no cost.
If you find a better rate on a similar vehicle with the same terms, locations, and rental car fees, Auto Europe will beat the price.
3. AutoRentals.com
AutoRentals.com was launched in 2012 and is a metasearch engine for rental cars. When you search for a location, it’ll compare prices at many of the top car rental companies to find you the best deal.
You can also use the filters to sort by price, type of car, number of passengers or provider.
Overall, it’s a great place to start because you can compare many prices in one search.
4. CarRentals.com
CarRentals.com offers an easy-to-use website and its owned by Expedia. It works by comparing prices from many companies after you enter your pick-up and drop-off dates and locations.
One of the helpful features of CarRentals.com is that the prices include taxes and fees. You’ll know exactly what you’re signing up for from the start.
5. Costco Travel
If you’re a Costco member, be sure to check out the car rentals from Costco Travel. Often, the rates are the same or cheaper than going directly through the car rental company.
The benefits of booking through Costco are as follows:
- Free additional driver.
- No cancellation fee.
- No prepayment is needed.
- Easy price comparison.
- Ability to add a loyalty number.
6. Expedia
Expedia is one of the most popular online travel agencies in the world. It’s been around since 1996, has consistently offered competitive prices and great deals.
With Expedia, you can bundle your car rental with flights and hotels. It’s also a great choice because you can earn and use Expedia rewards.
Be aware that the featured deals aren’t always the best ones, and if you take a deeper look, you can find better options.
7. Hotwire
Expedia also owns Hotwire. However, you can find unbeatable deals by booking a rental car with the Hotwire Hot Rate, which reveals the car rental agency after you book.
The Hotwire Hot Rate can give you great deals because car rental agencies are selling off their unsold rental cars.
It also means the bookings are final and can’t be refunded, changed, exchanged, or transferred.
8. Kayak
Although Kayak is known as a metasearch engine for airfare, it also works well for finding car rentals. It scans hundreds of car rental sites to find you the cheapest option.
When you search on Kayak, be sure you narrow down your options by using the handy filters. It’ll help you find the perfect car at a good price.
9. Priceline
Priceline can help you book a car plus all of the other aspects of your trip. When you bundle, you’ll be able to get the best deal possible. Even if you don’t book a bundle, Priceline still shows you the lowest prices.
The only downside is that Priceline operates by showing opaque rates, which means you won’t know which company you’re booking with until you complete your booking.
10. Sixt rent a car
Sixt was founded in 1912 and is a German multinational car rental company with 2,100 locations in more than 105 countries.
If you’re just starting your search, make sure you use Sixt because there’s a good chance that you’ll find some of the lowest prices for a good car.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to rent a car at the airport or off-site?
Although renting a car at the airport is convenient, it’s usually more expensive than renting a car off-site because of the convenience.
Is it cheaper to rent a car daily or weekly?
Weekly pricing is often cheaper than daily pricing when you’re renting a car.
How old do I have to be to rent a car?
The minimum age to rent a car for most car rental companies is 21. If you’re under 25, you may be required to pay a fee for being a young driver.
Conclusion
By using the right car rental booking sites to find the best deal, you’ll get a trustworthy car at a great price. Whether you’re looking for a van or a compact car, there are plenty of options.
More resources:
- What’s a budget airline?
- How to use Skyscanner to find cheap flights
- Best white sand beaches in the U.S.
Featured image courtesy of Unsplash.
About David Em
David Em is the founder of Nola & Luna Travel, the destination for travel advice and inspiration. He launched Nola & Luna Travel to share expert advice, useful tips, unbiased reviews, and inspiration about destinations across the globe.