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Despite increased investment in public transit, high-speed rail, and bicycle infrastructure, the United Statesremains a country where a car is still the most convenient way to get places.
However, when planning a trip or driving for a popular rideshare company, you may realize that it makes more sense to rent a car than to drive your personal vehicle.
The longer youâre on the road, the more likely youâll need of a long-term car rental.
But what is the best place to rent a car for an extended period of time?
In this guide, weâll take a look, exploring both the benefits of long-term car rental and the best companies to get a car for weeks or months at a time.
Table Of Contents
- What Is Long-Term Car Rental?
- 3 Reasons to Get a Long-Term Rental Car
- The 5 Best Companies for Long-Term Car Rental
- Get the Long-Term Car RentalYou Need
What Is Long-Term Car Rental?
To start, we need to define what separates a âlong-termâ car rental from a regular one.
The precise definition of a long-term commitment will vary based on the rental company, but long-term rentals generally refer to those lasting longer than a month.
We use this definition because you can often get a discount for rentals lasting for months at a time instead of just weeks.
But why would you want to rent a car for such a long time? Keep reading to find out.
Related: What are peer-to-peer car rentals and how are they different than long-term rentals?
3 Reasons to Get a Long-Term Rental Car
There are plenty of reasons to get a long-term rental car.
Here are three of the most common and compelling:
1. You Donât Want to Use Your Personal Car
This is probably the most common reason.
The classic example here is a cross-country road trip.
Unless youâre moving somewhere far away, then it probably makes more financial sense to leave your personal vehicle at home.
While you may balk at the cost of renting a car long-term, you need to consider that driving your own vehicle can have high costs in the form of depreciation and wear.
You may not have to pay extra upfront to drive your own car, but you will pay in the long run as all those extra miles cause faster wear on your vehicle.
With a rental car, you pay more upfront, but you donât have to worry about the high long-term costs.
Plus, new car models â â which rental car companies typically use â â provide impressive mileage.
The longer the trip, the more financial sense a rental car makes.
Of course, you should always do the math for yourself, as every situation is different.
Curious what the average cost per mile is to drive your vehicle? Check out this guide from AAA.
2. You Canât Use Your Personal Car
While there are lots of situations where you shouldnâtuse your personal car, there are also some situations where your personal car simply wonât work.
To start, you might be driving somewhere that your car just canât go.
If youâre planning to spend a few weeks navigating dirt roads in the mountains, you should probably leave your Prius at home in favor of a Jeep.
There are also other, less extreme situations where your personal vehicle wonât work.
For instance, if you want to drive for Uber, Lyft, or even a food delivery app, your car must meet certain age and feature requirements.
Itâs possible that your car wonât meet these despite being a perfectly fine vehicle.
If this is the case, then there are services that will allow you to rent a car for an extended period of time to use for rideshare or food delivery.
Youâll find a few recommendations for this situation on our list of the best long-term car rental companies below.
Related: the Uber driver requirements you must meet to get on the road
3. You Donât Own a Car
The final reason to rent a car for a long period of time is that you donât own a car.
If you live in a city like New York or San Francisco thatâs walkable, bikeable, and has good public transit, then a car likely isnât something you need on a daily basis.
However, there will still be situations in which you do need access to a car for an extended period of time.
Long road trips are the most common, but you might also want to do some rideshare or delivery driving work to make some extra money.
Once again, there are companies that can help you in both of these cases. These are oftentimes better options than Uber car rentals, or renting a car for Lyft.
The 5 Best Companies for Long-Term Car Rental
When youâre shopping for a long-term car rental, there are things to consider that donât matter as much for shorter rentals.
To start, you want to get great rates, as even seemingly low daily rental costs can really add up over the long term.
You also want companies that will allow you flexibility.
For instance, long-term rentals are also often one-way rentals.
For instance, if you drove from Seattle to San Diego but then want to fly back, you need to make sure that your rental company will let you return the vehicle to a car rental location in San Diego.
Finally, if youâre looking for a car to drive for rideshare or food delivery, you want to make sure the car will meet the vehicle requirements of the company you intend to work for.
Luckily, there are plenty of companies that specialize in providing this service.
Below, weâve picked five car rental companies that meet the above criteria.
Some of these companies specialize in long-term rentals for personal use, while others focus exclusively on long-term rental for commercial use.
Whatever the case, youâll find a car rental company that meets your long-term rental needs.
1. Hertz
The first company on our list is a well-known name in the car rental space.
They offer all kinds of vehicle types and car rental options, but for our purposes, weâre going to focus on the HertzMulti-Monthrental.
This product offers special car rental rates for monthly car rentals.
The precise rate will depend on the vehicle you choose, but the longer you book, the more youâll save.
There are also no mileage limits and no down payments needed upon signing.
One-way rentals are also available for an additional fee.
In order for your reservation to qualify for Hertz Multi-Month, your rental must have a minimum length of at least 63 days.
So if your trip is shorter than that, you should consider other options, as they could be cheaper.
2. Avis
The next option on the list is Avis.
This is another well-known car rental brand, and they offer an appealing long-term car rental deal.
The product is called AvisFlex, and it can save you up to 10% on monthly rentals.
This deal is in many ways more appealing than the one that Hertz offers, as itâs both more transparent and applies to rentals as short as a month.
Therefore, Avis Flex is definitely worth considering for your next road trip.
Avisis available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and can also be booked globally.
3. Turo
Our next option takes us out of the world of traditional car rental companies and into the world of tech companies.
Turo aims to be the âAirbnb of cars,â allowing private individuals to list their cars for rent on the Turo platform.
Car owners get to earn some extra money from vehicles they arenât using, and customers get a rental thatâs more flexible and convenient than getting a car from a traditional company.
Unlike Hertz and Avis, Turo doesnât have a specific long-term rental program.
However, many vehicle owners on the platform will give you a discount if you rent their cars for a month or more.
If youâre planning an especially long trip, you can even negotiate with the owner and see if theyâll give you an additional multi-month discount.
Plus, Turo offers tons of great benefits such as roadside assistance services and up to $1 million in liability insurance protection.
The car owner can even deliver the vehicle directly to you at your hotel, office, or airport so that you never have to worry about navigating to an inconvenient pick-up location.
Related: The difference between Turo and Getaround
4. Maven
Maven is not a traditional car rental company.
In addition to providing car sharing options like Turo, it also has a special service called Maven Gigin select cities.
This service focuses exclusively on people who want a long-term rental to drive for Uber, Lyft, or other gig economy apps.
You pay by the week, with weekly rates starting at $344 (and increasing for larger vehicles).
Maven Gig is a great option if you:
- Donât own a car
- Donât own a car that meets the Uber or Lyft requirements
- Donât want to use your personal car for rideshare or other work-related driving
Itâs a great service that we definitely recommend you check out.
5. Fair
The final option on our list is more of a place to get a short-term lease than a long-term rental.
At a certain point, however, the line between the two blurs.
Fairoffers what they describe as âthe future of car ownership.â
Essentially, in exchange for a flat monthly fee, you get a low-commitment car lease.
Itâs low-commitment in that, unlike a traditional lease, you arenât locked in for years.
Instead, you can choose to walk away from the program at any time.
Furthermore, you can also switch to a different vehicle whenever you like (something a traditional lease doesnât offer).
And, you can do all of this on your smartphone through the Fair app.
Furthermore, Fair also offers a long-term rental solution for Uber drivers.
This program is currently available only in select cities in California, but it will likely expand to additional markets as it gains popularity.
Get the Long-Term Car RentalYou Need
We hope this guide has shown you all the different options that exist for long-term car rental.
Whether you need a car for a road trip or a vehicle you can drive for Uber, thereâs a company out there to provide it.
If youâre not a full-time driver, but still want to rent a car to earn extra money with Uber, read our guide to Getaround promo codesto learn about a company with hourly rates and get a $60 off coupon code.
If youâre interested in long-term car storage, we also have options for you.
FAQs
Which car rental company is best? âș
- Enterprise. See at Enterprise.
- Hertz. See at Hertz.
- Avis. See at Avis.
- Alamo. See at Alamo.
- Thrifty. See at Thrifty.
Car Rental Firm Reputation
Research online customer reviews to get an idea of how the car rental service works. Check several independent websites to get a fair overview of the firm. Also, check with loved ones if they have used a car rental company in the location you plan to visit.
Enterprise takes the top spot for service, but its base price of $47 a day is not as competitive as that of its sister company, Alamo. Yet Enterprise, which has 5,800 U.S. locations, gives customers a break on many of the add-on fees that can trip you up once you get to the counter.
Is the Alamo better than the budget? âșBut there are differences. For example, Budget accepts more payment options, has lower excess rates, is more flexible with early returns and is available in more countries. However, Alamo has a wider range of vehicles and with identification requirements that are less strict.
What rental car company does Dave Ramsey recommend? âșThe Dollar Car Rental does not do a credit check and has no unnecessary questions. Dave Ramsey endorses Dollar Car Rental because he loves this.
What day is best to rent a car? âșWeekends are the best days to rent a car because most people do not need them on the weekend. Weekend rentals are a great way to take a day trip somewhere if someone doesn't want to rack up miles on their own vehicles. Most car rental places will offer price points that include unlimited mileage.
What is the easiest company to rent a car from? âșSIXT is one of the most renowned car rentals across the world and most definitely also one the easiest and fastest car rental companies in the US. If you are looking to make an entry in style, SIXT is your company because they provide the most premium cars at affordable rates.
How do I avoid getting ripped when renting a car? âș- Compare prices.
- Book as early as possible.
- Check Priceline after step 2.
- Decline extra rental car insurance.
- Bring your own GPS, toll pass and car seat.
- Don't pay extra for satellite radio.
- Beware pre-pay gas options.
Renting online can save you money.
First, you can often find better deals if you book in advance, which isn't an option when you're booking on the spot at the airport. When you book online, you can more easily compare rates via travel booking websites.
Enterprise Plus is more straightforward than Emerald Club, as members earn straight points rather than credits. Emerald Club members get more perks than their counterparts in Enterprise Plus; examples include no second drive fees and automatic upgrades in Europe.
Who has best prices on rental cars? âș
- Book Directly Through the Car Rental Agency's Website.
- Expedia.
- Momondo.
- Kayak.
- Orbitz.
- Priceline.
- Skyscanner.
- Travelocity.
Is Hertz cheaper than Enterprise? We ran multiple quote comparisons and by large, found Enterprise to be more expensive than Hertz. Prices differed from $70 to up $200 for both prepay and pay on pick-up options.
Is Hertz or Alamo better? âșThe J.D. Power 2020 North America Rental Car Satisfaction Study measured customer satisfaction with the entire airport rental car experience, from reservation to vehicle return and ranked airport-based rental car companies. Hertz topped the list for the second year in a row , followed closely by Enterprise and Alamo.
Is Enterprise cheaper than Alamo? âșBy almost all metrics, National Car Rental was the most expensive, followed by Alamo Rent a Car. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Budget, Hertz and Dollar ranked among the cheapest.
Do you tip at the Alamo? âșAs long as the kitchen is still open, your waiter will bring your dessert to you as fast as is humanly possible. Our servers work hard to ensure you have an excellent experience in our cinema, so please remember to tip them after the show.
How much does Dave Ramsey say to spend on a car? âșAs a general rule of thumb, the total value of your vehicles (anything with a motor in it) should never be more than half of your annual household income. Dave doesn't recommend buying a new carâeverâuntil your net worth is more than $1 million.
How can I save the most money on a rental car? âș- Book early â especially during peak travel season. ...
- Avoid booking at airports if possible â they can pile on fees. ...
- Use a credit card that will cover primary insurance. ...
- Plug in your Costco, AAA and other memberships.
If you carry comprehensive and liability coverage on your personal car, coverage typically will extend to your rental car within the United States. If you're renting a car in the U.S. of similar value to your personal car, in all likelihood your auto insurance coverage will be adequate for the rental.
Is it better to pick up a rental car early or late? âșArriving a few minutes early at the counter is less of a problem than arriving late. Most rental companies will let you take the car early if it's available. As a general rule, leave 45 â 60 minutes between expected landing time and the car rental pick-up time.
What are the cheapest times to rent a car? âșBut when it comes to rental cars, this might surprise you: The best time to rent a car is last minute, when they tend to be cheaper. That's according to a NerdWallet analysis conducted in March 2022 of 360 rental car prices from eight major car rental companies in the United States.
Is it cheaper to rent a car in advance or on the spot? âș
While a bit more of a gamble, procrastinating can sometimes save you money. NerdWallet found that rental car prices tend to be cheaper when booked one week in advance of the reservation date versus three months in advance.
What should I look for when renting a car? âș- Make sure you have your paperwork. ...
- Check the car exterior. ...
- Familiarize yourself with the Rental vehicle. ...
- Know where you are going. ...
- Ask what kind of fuel your rental car uses. ...
- Get back in time. ...
- Make sure you get the Full Damage Waiver Insurance. ...
- Stay on the Road.
The monthly cost is often lower than a traditional auto loan payment. You are (usually) not responsible for repairs needed on your car for the length of the lease or rental. Renting or leasing a new-model car is cheaper than buying one. You don't need to try to sell the car when you want to upgrade.
Is Turo cheaper than rental car companies? âșTuro appears to be cheaper than conventional renting agencies. However, guests must create an account and pass the verification stage before calculating the additional fees at checkout. When the extra fees are added to the base price, Turo prices can potentially exceed rental agency prices.
What are the disadvantages of car rental? âș- Higher prices. It is a fact that the rental prices are higher than the prices of public transportation. ...
- Strict terms. ...
- Extra charges. ...
- Limitations.
- Third Party Liability. Damaging someone else (bodily injury or property damage) and getting sued by the injured person. ...
- Theft if renter is careless. ...
- Collision/Loss for whatever reason. ...
- Personal Accident Medical Costs. ...
- Personal Effects Loss.
- Prepaying for Gasoline.
- Failing to Check on Your Way Out for a Place to Refuel on Your Way Back.
- Purchasing Insurance, Reason No. ...
- Purchasing Insurance, Reason No. ...
- Ignoring One Possible Caveat: âLoss of Useâ Insurance.
- Ignoring Potential Offers for Upgrades.
Outmaneuver Fees and Industry Quirks
For example, cars rented at the airport are almost always more expensive because of added taxes and fees. Rent at an off-airport location and you could save 20 percent or more.
Pre-Booking a Car Rental
online advanced bookings are the perfect way to save money and have more guarantee about your car rental. In fact, there are open points available for the comparison. Most of the traveling companies provide huge discounts (sometimes more than 15%) on pre-booking or reservation.
Year-over-year rental price growth will rise from 5.8%, as of June 2022, to 8.4% as of May 2023, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas forecast that uses data from the federal government's consumer price index.
Does it cost money to join Emerald Club? âș
$50 annual membership fee or fee-waived corporate enrollment. Bypass the counter at most major U.S. airports. Choose their own car. Earn their choice of Free Rental Days or frequent flyer miles.
What are the perks of the Emerald Club? âșGuaranteed Upgrades
Choose Rewards â Choose from Free Rental Days, frequent flyer miles or hotel rewards. Redeem your free days around the globe. Earn With Enterprise â Rent at participating Enterprise Rent-A-Car locations to earn Free Rental Days and higher status with Emerald Club.
Here are the requirements for the different tiers: Emerald Club: Rent 1 to 11 times or 1 to 39 days in a calendar year. Executive: Rent 12 to 24 times or 40 to 84 days in a calendar year. Executive Elite: Rent 25 plus times or 85 plus days in a calendar year.
Is it cheaper to rent a car and return to same location? âșIf you rent a vehicle and return it to the same location, you can usually find a competitive rate. But rent the car in one place and return it somewhere else â a one-way rental â and you'll pay hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars more.
Can you negotiate car prices with Enterprise? âșCan you negotiate prices at Enterprise Car Sales? There's no negotiation in the Enterprise car-buying process. The final sales price is posted on each vehicle.
Can you negotiate buying a rental car? âșMost rental car sales lots offer no-haggle pricing, which makes shopping less stressful. However, if you have an appetite for negotiating and want to go back and forth for a few hours at a used-car lot, you might save more money at a traditional dealership, Brauer suggests.
What gets better gas mileage economy or compact? âșThe main difference between an economy car and a compact car is the size of the vehicle. Compact cars are a bit smaller than economy cars. Both of these vehicle classes are very fuel efficient.
What is the best Hertz rate? âșWhat Is Refresh Rate? When comparing 60 Hz vs 75 Hz refresh rates, the answer is quite clear: 75 Hz is better. A refresh rate measures how many times a screen can update in one second. Higher refresh rates are associated with better video quality, reduced eye strain, and even improved gaming experiences.
Where are rental cars the most expensive? âș| 15 Most Expensive Cities to Rent a Car for Thanksgiving | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ranking | City | Total cost (4 days) |
| 1 | New York, New York | $1,044.67 |
| 2 | Newark, New Jersey | $1,028.09 |
| 3 | White Plains, New York | $746.91 |
The Enterprise named the best car rental car company in North America. The next three companies on the listâNational, Alamo and Hertz also came in above the industry average.
Who is Hertz biggest competitor? âș
hertz.com's top 5 competitors in September 2022 are: enterprise.com, budget.com, avis.com, alamo.com, and more. According to Similarweb data of monthly visits, hertz.com's top competitor in October 2022 is enterprise.com with 11.3M visits.
Which is better to rent from Alamo or Enterprise? âșEnterprise takes the top spot for service, but its base price of $47 a day is not as competitive as that of its sister company, Alamo. Yet Enterprise, which has 5,800 U.S. locations, gives customers a break on many of the add-on fees that can trip you up once you get to the counter.
Which rental car company is easiest? âșSIXT is one of the most renowned car rentals across the world and most definitely also one the easiest and fastest car rental companies in the US. If you are looking to make an entry in style, SIXT is your company because they provide the most premium cars at affordable rates.
How can I get a better price from Enterprise? âș- Check the Enterprise current deals page for any coupons, promo codes, or special offers. ...
- Use a corporate, military, or government discount code. ...
- Save on Enterprise car rentals by joining the Enterprise Plus loyalty program.
People are now travelling again and rental companies are trying to build their fleets back up to meet this demand, but there is a worldwide shortage of new cars available.â He adds: âRental companies that have been able to get cars have bought them at inflated prices.
Can you bring water into the Alamo? âșStay Refreshed. Visitors may bring their own food and drinks on site, however, no open containers are allowed inside the Alamo historic buildings or exhibit.
Why should I tip at a drive through? âșShe added that, in light of the pandemic, all customers should tip as much as they can when ordering takeout. "The money you give is helping them get through today and maybe even keeping them afloat for tomorrow. Do you really want to lose one of your favorite restaurants?" she asked.
Can you walk to the Alamo from the Riverwalk? âșVisit the Missions
Whilst many visitors take the time to visit the Alamo, which is just a couple of minutes walk from the downtown section of the River Walk, far fewer head south to the Mission reach stretch of the River Walk.
(In fact, Hertz and Enterprise are both WBA Hall of Fame honorees, which means they've been on the list of the best car-rental companies for at least 10 consecutive years.)
Which rental car is better standard or full size? âșAlso known as Mid-size or intermediate, standard rental cars usually fit about 4-5 people comfortably with some additional space for luggage. They get outstanding gas mileage and are easy for just about any traveler to handle. Full size rental cars are typically bigger and more spacious.
Is Alamo cheaper than Hertz? âș
By almost all metrics, National Car Rental was the most expensive, followed by Alamo Rent a Car. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Budget, Hertz and Dollar ranked among the cheapest.
Is it better to rent a car in the morning or afternoon? âșMake sure you get to the car rental agency early in the day. If you arrive before noon, there's a good chance you'll get a wider selection of vehicles at a better price.
Is Hertz a reliable rental car? âșHertz.com has a consumer rating of 1.93 stars from 289 reviews indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Consumers complaining about Hertz.com most frequently mention customer service, credit card and rental car problems.Hertz.com ranks 166th among Car Rental sites.
Why rent a car is the best? âșIt allows users to drive the car in whichever way he chooses to and pay a rent for the usage. For professionals who prefer to drive to and from work on a daily basis and the ones who have a travel-heavy job, it makes perfect sense for them to hire and drive a rented car rather than invest lacs of money in buying a car.
Why did Hertz get in trouble? âș47 Hertz customers have filed a lawsuit against the rental company that describes horror stories after they were allegedly falsely reported as having stolen its rental cars, and in some cases even jailed.