Whether you flew somewhere, had your car in business, or just had to take a trip out of town, there’s a good chance you had to rent a car – and if you did, you know the rental car company that You choose makes a difference.
People judge their rental car experience based on a variety of factors. While price is obviously important, it’s not the only thing that interests them. Qualities such as customer service, an available rewards program, the number of airport locations and hubs for rental cars outside the airport and the selection of vehicles ultimately play a role in the satisfaction of the service and the determination of the best car rental company.
We rated the top 10 car rental companies in the US based on public service satisfaction. For reference, we mainly used the latest customer satisfaction surveys from sources such as: J.D. Power and Associates and Top ten ratings.
When renting a vehicle, there are other things to consider in addition to the price.
hertz
Overall, Enterprise was our choice for the best car rental company that has received high service ratings in all publications for several years. Enterprise is regularly praised for its customer service, but other companies also have their strengths – Sixt offers the largest selection of rental vehicles, for example, while National Car Rental offers membership in a particularly advantageous customer loyalty program. Dollar usually offers the best car rental reservation prices.
The rental cars vary in price. Most dealers offer a range of models for rent, with small cars being cheaper. The city where you rent and the time of year also play a role (New York is particularly expensive and vacations increase rental fees). Finally, you get the best rental car discounts when you book three to six months in advance – After that, prices will go up. If you reserve too far before a trip, higher fees may apply.
Usually, a car costs between $ 20 and $ 70 a day. However, if you rent it for a long time, you save money. They also want to book online for the best prices – websites like kayak and Cruising speed are good places to look for a rental car.
Typically, a rental car costs between $ 20 and $ 70 a day.
budget
There are also other factors to consider when booking a car. If you need more than one driver on the map or a car seat, rental companies can accommodate you, but most charge a daily surcharge. You may also be able to rent a car for a business trip from your workplace if your employer has an agreement with a particular car rental company. After all, most car companies also offer insurance plans when you rent. Adding insurance when renting a car increases the price, but it’s worth it.
Five things you should know before renting a car
1. Where are you going and how long? The answers to these questions will inform you about your rental process and the price.
2nd Are you visiting a place with a comprehensive public transport system? In this case, you may not have to rent a car.
3rd What kind of car do you need? If you travel alone and don’t travel long distances, an economical car should be enough to rent it. Evaluate based on your travel plans.
4th In addition to renting a car, do you need additional accommodation, e.g. B. a car seat or an additional driver? Would you like insurance when booking a rental car? What type of insurance do you need when you rent a vehicle?
5. Which car rental company can you get the best price from? You can find the cheapest car rental prices for the vehicle you want to rent on various websites, including the websites of individual companies.
Companies
Enterprise has been around for over 60 years and has become one of the most respected and ubiquitous companies in the entire vehicle rental business. The company cleaned up at the beginning of this year Travvy Awardsand won four gold and one silver awards in the Best Car Rentals category.
It also helps the company take pride in giving back – Enterprise has pledged $ 60 million to fight hunger worldwide and will plant 1 million trees in the U.S. each year for the next 50 years.
The unique selling point of Enterprise – the unique selling point – was to pick up customers and take them to the rental office. This is an additional service that could also help explain the company’s presence on this list.
Loyalty program: Enterprise Plus offers multiple reward levels, each giving drivers bonus points for qualified rental dollars and free auto upgrades. The number of vehicle rentals you receive per year determines your eligibility.
Points of sale worldwide: 8,000
Google Play Store app score: 4.7 out of 5.0
Sample quote: For the sample offer, we used the same criteria for each company: a five-day rental of a standard SUV that was picked up at Los Angeles International Airport and dropped off at San Francisco International Airport. The cost of the enterprise was $ 617.34. All costs reflect immediate payment and include taxes and fees, but no additional insurance.
hertz
Hertz narrowly displaced Enterprise as a top company in the J.D. Power for 2019 (the order was reversed in 2018), and it’s not hard to see why customers are so happy – those numerous awards The company has won over its customer service in recent years and speaks for its continuous performance in all important key figures.
Hertz promotes regular customer business by offering incentives for regular customers such as reward points and e-return options.
Loyalty program: The Hertz Gold Plus rewards program offers advantages for frequent customers, such as B. Collection and return via the counter, accelerated exit times and a larger selection of vehicles. Tenants also receive points for future rentals or other perks.
Points of sale worldwide: 10,200
Google Play Store app score: 4.7 out of 5.0
Price offer: $ 618.92
Avis
Avis is a giant in vehicle rental and has been in business for over 70 years. The company and its subsidiaries operate in 165 countries and have won awards on all continents (except Antarctica, natch).
Undoubtedly, much of Avis’ success is based on the goodwill that the company has achieved with its company Best price promise Service that enables a customer who finds better prices from other companies to request matching prices – and then receive an additional 10% discount.
Loyalty program: The advice Preferred rental car program offers customers accelerated service, the ability to select their vehicle through the company’s app, and other benefits. Members also earn points on rewards (with Preferred Plus members earning at higher rates).
Points of sale worldwide: 5,500
Google Play Store app score: 3.9 out of 5.0
Price offer: $ 455.99
Alamo
As the largest car rental company for international travelers visiting North America, Alamo’s business focuses on serving people on vacation. This means that the company primarily operates at airports, which are always the hotbeds of car rental.
The company prides itself on its rental car offerings and offers a variety of ways to save money on rental fees – from partner point programs with hotels and airlines to business benefit programs.
Loyalty program: The Alamo insider The loyalty program is straightforward when it comes to what it offers: a flat rate of 5% on the rental prices. Since membership is free, the program is a great opportunity to save a little more money with ease.
Points of sale worldwide: 1,200
Google Play Store app score: 4.7 out of 5.0
Price offer: $ 591.14
Economical
Although Thrifty is a subsidiary of Hertz, the company still has over 1,000 locations worldwide where it does business. Since the acquisition in 2012, Thrifty has expanded its international service presence particularly in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Loyalty program: Thrifty has one Blue chip rewards Program that offers advantages such as the possibility of adding an additional driver with a valid driver’s license for a free and priority counter service at the airport and outside the airport.
Points of sale worldwide: 1,000
Google Play Store app score: The official Thrifty app has a rating of 1.3 out of 5.0, but Thrifty Hire’s THRentals app has a rating of 4.2 out of 5.0.
Price offer: $ 499.75
National
National may be a division of Enterprise, but the company receives consistently high service rankings and positive customer reviews. National has more than 1,500 service locations worldwide and is proud of its vehicle selection, which includes more than 40 class options for cars, trucks, SUVs and vans.
Loyalty program: Joined National’s Emerald Club With this option, you can skip the counter and earn rewards for your booking – two benefits that make the process for business travelers smoother.
Points of sale worldwide: 1,500
Google Play Store app score: 4.7 out of 5.0
Price offer: $ 690.62
dollar
Originally known as the “Dollar a Day Rental Car”, Dollar may not be able to literally deliver these reservation fees, but the company still remains one of the best budget values in the industry. Being a subsidiary of Hertz and a partner of Thrifty (the two companies share over 1,500 stores worldwide) certainly doesn’t hurt Dollar’s ability to offer great car rental deals.
In addition, the company is dedicated to excellent customer service – and in combination with affordable prices, it really offers everything you need from a car rental company.
Loyalty program: dollar Express rewards With this program, customers can skip queues, add additional drivers, and earn free rental days. Membership is free. So if you ever drive with dollars, it is worth registering.
Points of sale worldwide: 1,500
Google Play Store app score: 1.2 out of 5.0
Price offer: $ 499.75
budget
As the name suggests, Budget was created to appeal to customers who are looking for a lot – and more than 60 years later, the company still ensures that it delivers “a quality product, friendly service, and value for money”.
Budget is owned by the same parent company as Avis (Avis Budget Group) and has nearly 3,000 locations worldwide – a significant advance over the original fleet of 10 vehicles.
Loyalty program: Budgets Quick break The program is designed to speed up car rental and return and provide the ability to bypass lines and park your vehicle in a specific area. Membership is free and also includes exclusive offers.
Points of sale worldwide: 3,000
Google Play Store app score: 4.3 out of 5.0
Price offer: $ 417.59
As
Ace may not be the best-known brand in car rental, but its locations form the largest chain of independent rental companies in the world. This means that the company has grown enormously without the corporate muscles of its competitors in the 53 years since it was founded.
In addition, the company’s awards prove that those who use it are more than satisfied – for both 2017 and 2018, the Temkin Experience Ratings ranked second in the overall customer experience.
Loyalty program: Ace’s Rental genius Loyalty program is as simple as it is helpful. Every dollar spent on a qualified reservation earns a tenant a point, and points can be redeemed for rental days and kilometers. The company also offers promotions where members can collect bonus points.
Points of sale worldwide: 300
Google Play Store app score: N / A
Price offer: Ace does not allow tenants to park cars far from where they originate. A standard five-day LAX SUV rental that is sold elsewhere in Los Angeles costs $ 223.93.
Sixt
Sixt, a mainstay in Germany, entered the US market in 2011 and has already made great strides – last year kayak Based on customer reviews, Sixt was ranked the fourth best car rental company in the United States.
The company’s business model differs slightly from that of other companies in that it offers more vehicle rental classes (such as convertibles, pickups, SUVs and sports cars) and better prices for luxury cars. So far it seems to be working.
Loyalty program: Sixt offers Express cards This allows holders to earn points for the money they spend. In addition to the regular express cards, there are several levels (gold, platinum and diamond) that offer discounts and additional benefits.
Points of sale worldwide: 2,100
Google Play Store app score: 4.7 out of 5.0
Price offer: $ 244.83
Written by Scott Fried for Roadshow.