The 12 best car rental companies of 2023

Don’t let transportation issues put the brakes on a great vacation.

Road trips are the way to go this summer, as many prefer the open road to the friendly skies when traveling nowadays.

If you don’t have an RV or SUV of your own, renting a car is a perfect plan to travel safely and hassle-free if you need to drop it off along the way and fly home.

After mapping out your vacation, heading to the local car rental agency can also be a speed bump, as lines have been longer than ever to rent a car and prices due to car shortages have been skyrocketing.

To help navigate your car rental journey and avoid any unforeseen price hikes, we’ve done some digging to find the best car rental companies that you can book in advance. From Trip Advisor to Travelocity, see below for how to gas up and go for your summer vacation.

Trip Advisor is a one-stop shop for all your travel needs, from tickets to your car rental.

Head over to the car rental tab of the site and then browse available rides in more than 60,000 locations worldwide. Choose to look by destination to help you plan a trip from scratch, or look up your nearest airport or city to see what vehicles they have to offer you and your crew.

Skyscanner is a budget traveler’s best friend, for flights and now for cars, too.

Not only can you be super flexible with different pickup and drop-off locations, but the site will automatically compare prices between the top rental companies in the locations you’re looking at to get you the best deal.

No magic here, just good prices and a friendly Travelocity gnome.

This travel site can be used for any type of trip, include ones that need four wheels instead of two wings. Head to the car rental tab and then choose between a traditional rental car or a quick airport transfer, with options for pick-up or drop-off at hotels and airports worldwide.

AARP members, listen up.

Orbitz is a great company to use for anyone wanting to get away and needing a rental car. However, for AARP members, you can also browse cars that have AARP membership rates and deals, making your trip more fun and less expensive. They also offer options for airport transportation to and from your local airport should your journey continue overseas.

Want to rent a car but not go through the hassle of a traditional rental service?

If you prefer Uber-like services, Turo is the service for you. Individuals can rent their cars out for Turo users to borrow, with add-ons like car drop-off and pickup, extra milage and more. Have a special occasion? You can also opt to rent luxury or designer cars, too.

On a budget?

No worries, as for a limited time, save up to 35% off when you book a car at Budget and pay now. Even better, if you are an Amazon user, participate in the Budget + Amazon Road Trip event and save up to 30% off your rental and get 10% back in Amazon gift cards.

Take a road trip with Expedia.

The booking platform also does car rental, with the latest deals listed here. Plug in your destination and your requirements and let Expedia do the rest.

Beep, beep!

Get a move on to save big on car rentals with Avis now. The car rental service can be found at most airports, but booking online unlocks the best deals, like free upgrades, $15 off on three-day bookings and more.

While it may not be a dollar, you will be saving some cash when booking your car rental with Dollar Car Rental. Book now and save 5% on weekly rentals.

Need a car rental in a flash?

Zipcar is another cool platform that strays from traditional rental companies. This one is membership based, allowing you to book cars whenever and from wherever you’d like. They then have car lots across the county, for you to pick up and drop off the vehicle when your rental is over — plus, gas is included!

This enterprise is between you and your car rental company.

Enterprise is a name-brand car rental service, available at most every airport. However, we recommend booking ahead online to not only avoid lines at the counter but get in on deals have time to carefully research your car before the big trip.

Rent a car, share your ride and more with Sixt.

The service is both a traditional car rental service as well as a ride share. Choose what works best for you and either book your rental before your vacation, or sign up for the ride share service — or do both to unlock all the transportation you could need on your trip.

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