Weekend Car Rental
Planning a Friday-to-Sunday or Monday trip? Search your exact pickup and return times — rental days are counted in 24-hour periods.
Are weekend car rentals cheaper?
It depends on the location. In business-travel cities, demand drops on weekends and rates often fall with it. In leisure destinations — beach towns, theme-park cities, Las Vegas — weekends are peak demand and usually cost more. Some companies offer weekend-specific rates that require the car to be kept over Saturday night.
Last reviewed . Rules vary by rental company — check your rental terms before you book.
How rental days are counted
Rental days are 24-hour periods starting at your pickup time. Pick up Friday at 5pm and return Sunday at 6pm and you've used two days plus an hour — which most companies charge as a third day after a short grace period.
Set your return time a little later than you expect to arrive back. It usually costs nothing extra if it stays within the same 24-hour period.
Check branch hours for the weekend
Airport locations are usually open long hours every day. Neighborhood branches are the problem: many close early on Saturday and are closed on Sunday, which can force a Monday return or an after-hours drop.
If you use an after-hours key drop, you remain responsible for the car until staff check it in, so photograph the car, fuel gauge and odometer when you leave it.
What affects the price
The search shows live prices for your dates. These are the things that move them.
- Local demand pattern — business city vs. leisure destination
- Holiday weekends, events and school breaks
- Pickup and return times (an extra hour can add a day)
- Airport vs. neighborhood pickup
Weekend Car Rental tips
- Book early for holiday weekends — Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day and Thanksgiving sell out.
- In business cities, compare a Friday-to-Monday rental with a Saturday-to-Sunday one.
- Confirm Sunday opening hours if you're returning to a neighborhood branch.
- Return with a full tank on a full-to-full policy to avoid a refueling charge.
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 Weekend Car Rental
New York
Car rental in New York City
Rent for the trips out of the city, not the drive through Midtown. Compare cars at JFK, LaGuardia, Newark and borough branches.
Illinois
Car rental in Chicago
Compare Chicago rental cars at O'Hare, Midway and downtown — for the suburbs, Indiana Dunes, Milwaukee and Wisconsin's lakes.
Massachusetts
Car rental in Boston
Explore Boston on foot and by T, then rent for New England. Compare cars at Logan's Rental Car Center and city branches.
District of Columbia
Car rental in Washington DC
Use the Metro for DC's monuments; rent a car for Virginia and Maryland. Compare rentals at DCA, IAD, BWI and city branches.
California
Car rental in San Francisco
Skip the car for the city, rent one for Napa, Big Sur, Yosemite and Tahoe. Compare rentals at SFO's Rental Car Center and downtown branches.
Georgia
Car rental in Atlanta
Compare Atlanta rental cars at the ATL Rental Car Center and city branches — and plan around the metro's famous traffic.
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FAQ
Weekend Car Rental — FAQs
Everything you need to know about renting a car
Compare prices for your dates
Enter your pickup location and dates to see which suppliers have cars for this kind of rental and what they cost.
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