Cheap Car Rental
Compare suppliers side by side, then use the price levers below — pickup location, dates, car class and add-ons — to bring the total down.
How do you get a cheap car rental?
Compare several suppliers for the same dates, book a free-cancellation rate early and re-check it closer to the trip, consider an off-airport branch, choose an economy or compact class, and decline counter add-ons you already have covered — especially insurance and prepaid fuel. The lowest headline rate isn't always the cheapest total, so compare the price with taxes and fees included.
Last reviewed . Rules vary by rental company — check your rental terms before you book.
The headline rate vs. what you actually pay
The daily rate is only part of a rental's cost. Airport concession fees, customer facility charges, state and local rental taxes, young-driver surcharges, additional-driver fees, toll programs and fuel charges are added on top, and they vary by location.
When you compare, compare the total for your exact dates and pickup point. A supplier with a slightly higher daily rate can still be cheaper once its fees are included.
Which car classes are cheapest
Economy and compact cars are usually the lowest-priced classes because they are the most plentiful in rental fleets. The gap to a mid-size can be small, though — at busy locations the smallest classes sell out first, and a mid-size is sometimes the cheapest car left.
Booking a class guarantees the category, not a model. If a class is sold out when you arrive, the location will normally give you a larger car at the same price.
Airport or off-airport pickup
Airport locations add fees that city and neighborhood branches don't charge, such as airport concession recovery fees and facility charges. For trips where you don't need the car on day one, picking up at a city branch can lower the total.
Weigh that against the cost and time of getting to the branch, and check its opening hours — neighborhood branches often close earlier and many are closed or have short hours on Sundays.
What affects the price
The search shows live prices for your dates. These are the things that move them.
- How far ahead you book, and how busy the location is on your dates
- Airport vs. city pickup (airport fees and facility charges)
- Car class — economy and compact are usually cheapest
- Rental length — weekly rates often cost less per day than daily rates
- Driver age — drivers under 25 usually pay a daily surcharge
- Add-ons: insurance waivers, toll programs, GPS, child seats, prepaid fuel
- One-way drop-off charges
Cheap Car Rental tips
- Book a rate with free cancellation, then re-check the price as your trip gets closer and rebook if it drops.
- Check whether your own auto policy or credit card covers rental damage before accepting the counter waiver.
- Return the car full on a full-to-full fuel policy — refueling charges are usually far above pump prices.
- If a 5- or 6-day rental costs about the same as 7 days, compare the weekly rate.
- Photograph the car at pickup and return to avoid disputed damage charges.
Rental requirements
- A valid driver's license, held for at least a year at most companies. Visitors can usually rent on their home license; if it isn't in English, carry an International Driving Permit or official translation alongside it.
- Minimum age is 21 at most major companies, and drivers under 25 pay a daily young-driver surcharge. New York and Michigan require companies to rent to drivers from 18, with surcharges.
- A credit card in the main driver's name. Some locations accept debit cards with extra checks — often a return travel itinerary at airports, a larger deposit or a credit check.
- International renters should also bring a passport.
More detail: What Documents Do You Need to Rent a Car? · What Is the Minimum Age to Rent a Car in the USA? · Can You Rent a Car With a Debit Card? Rules & Tips · International Driving Permit (IDP) — Do You Need One and How to Get It
Insurance and deposit
- Collision and loss damage waivers (CDW/LDW) are optional. Before you accept one at the counter, check whether your own auto policy or a credit card benefit already covers rental cars — many do, with conditions.
- Liability cover varies by state and company. Supplemental liability (SLI) raises the limit and is worth considering if you don't have a personal auto policy, including as an international visitor.
- A security deposit is held on your card at pickup and released after the car is returned and checked. It can take several business days to disappear from your statement, and holds are larger on debit cards and premium cars.
More detail: Do You Need Insurance to Rent a Car? · What Is a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)? · How Much Is a Rental Car Deposit? How Holds Work
Fuel policy and additional fees
- Full-to-full is usually the cheapest fuel policy: you collect the car full and return it full. Prepaid fuel only saves money if you return the tank nearly empty, and refueling charges on a car returned short are well above pump prices.
- Airport rentals include airport concession recovery fees and facility charges on top of the rate. State and local rental taxes apply everywhere.
- Other common extras: additional-driver fees, young-driver surcharges, toll-program charges, one-way drop fees, child seats and late-return charges. Read the rental terms before you pay so you know which charges are included and which are added at the counter.
More detail: Car Rental Fuel Policies Explained — Which One Should You Choose? · Hidden Car Rental Fees — The Complete Guide to What to Watch Out For · How are tolls and traffic fines handled? · Can someone else drive the car?
Top cities for Cheap Car Rental
Florida
Car rental in Orlando
Compare Orlando rental cars at MCO and around the parks — from compact cars to minivans for the whole family.
Nevada
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Skip the car for the Strip, rent one for everything else. Compare rentals at Harry Reid International's Rent-A-Car Center for Red Rock, Hoover Dam, Zion and the Grand Canyon.
Florida
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Compare Miami rental cars at MIA, Fort Lauderdale and city branches — then plan for SunPass tolls, South Beach parking and the drive down to the Keys.
Florida
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Compare Fort Lauderdale rental cars at FLL, Port Everglades-area branches and beachside locations — a smart base for all of South Florida.
Arizona
Car rental in Phoenix
Compare Phoenix rental cars at Sky Harbor's Rental Car Center — then head for Sedona, the Grand Canyon or Scottsdale.
Florida
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Compare Tampa rental cars at TPA's Rental Car Center, linked to the terminal by the SkyConnect train, and explore the Gulf Coast.
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Compare prices for your dates
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