If you've ever booked a rental car before, you know that it isn't always a straightforward process. There are so many different pick up and drop off locations, car types, of add on features to consider. Finding the right car rental site to help walk you though all of these options and get you the best rate possible is essential.
We have compiled a review of the five best car rental sites below. We'll look at the booking process and other features of the site to help you decide which site you'd like to use the next time you want to reserve a rental car.
Top 5: Car Rental Site Reviews
Product Image & Rating (Out Of 10) | Product Name | Contact |
|---|---|---|
 9.9 | ||
 9.8 | ||
 9.6 | ||
 9.4 | ||
 9.2 |
Rentalcars.com could easily become your new favorite car rental site. Most of their bookings include free cancellations, which can provide a little extra peace of mind if anything happens to change your plans. Rentalcars.com will search for available rentals from most of the major car rental companies such as Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and Thrifty.
Simply visit their website and enter the dates you'll need a vehicle and your pick up location to begin your search. You can also indicate whether you'll need to return your rental to a different location. Rentalcars.com will display a list of vehicles that match your search criteria.
You can further filter the list of vehicles you're shown to help you find the type of car you are looking for by clicking on car types across the top of the page. For each car type (economy cars, intermediate cars, SUVs, luxury cars, etc.), Rentalcars.com will tell you how many passengers and bags will fit, as well as the lowest rental price you'll be able to find.
Other options you can use to filter the results displayed are found on the left-hand side of the page. You can choose to only view cars from specific rental companies. Or, you can choose to only view cars that have certain features, such as air conditioning or an automatic transmission.
After you've determined the car you would like to rent, click on the 'Select Car' button on the right side. You'll be able to review information about the car and your rental request. If everything looks right, then you can enter your information to complete the reservation.
Rentalcars.com also offers Collision Damage Coverage that you can add on to your rental to protect you against any damages that occur to the vehicle when it is in your possession. You can choose to add this to your reservation if you wish.
Pros
Cons
You've likely heard of Priceline for booking flights and hotels, but did you know it can also help you book a rental car? They have partnered with over 290 different car rental companies, so you can be confident that you'll find the best deal available to meet your rental needs. Priceline can help you find a rental car at 18,500 different rental car locations across the globe.
Once you visit the 'Cars' section of their website, simple enter your rental location and the dates/times you'll need a vehicle. After you enter this information, Priceline will display a list of vehicles that match what you searched for. You can choose to only view specific sizes/classes of vehicles, look at Priceline's recommended search results, or view the lowest priced options first.
Each car option you'll see will show you the daily rental price as well as the total for the duration of your rental. You'll also be able to view the pick up and drop of location, how many passengers and bags the car will hold, and other details, such as when you'll need to pay for the vehicle and whether you'll receive unlimited mileage.
Some of the search results you'll view will be marked 'Exclusive Deals.' For these options, you won't see the exact car rental company your rental will be through, but you will see a few different options that you might receive.
Once you've selected the rental option you prefer, click on it to view more details about the reservation and to reserve the vehicle. You can also choose to add collision damage protection, child safety seats, or enter any special requests at this time.
Pros
Cons
Booking your next car rental with Trip.com is a decision you won't regret. Trip.com offers 24/7 customer support to help you through the booking process or answer any questions you may have. They also do not charge credit card fees and offer free cancellations for most rental reservations.
When you use Trip.com, you'll be able to compare rates among the most well-known rental companies, such as Alamo, Thrifty, Dollar, Hertz, and National. To start a search, just enter your pick up location and the dates of your trip.
Trip.com will display all the available cars for the location you searched for. Since there are likely to be a large number of results, you can also choose to filter your results by the rental car company, car type, number of seats, customer rating, and more. This will help you quickly zero in on the perfect car to meet your needs/
Each entry that you'll see in the search results will let you know the type of car you'll receive, the car rental company, the number of seats, the number of bags that will fit, the average customer rating, and other key details, like whether the car has an automatic transmission and A/C.
Once you see the car you want, click 'Select' to complete your reservation.
Pros
Cons
With Reservations.com, you'll be able to search for the best rates among all the popular car rental companies. After you enter the dates you'll need a vehicle and your pick up location, Reservations.com will display a list of all the available car options.
You'll be able to filter your results to display exactly what you want to see. Along the top of the page, Reservations.com lists the different classes of cars, as well as how many passengers and bags will fit in each type. You can click on the type of car you'd be interested in renting to narrow down the choices you are shown.
Another filtering option that Reservations.com offers is the ability to filter by rental car company. On the left side of the search results, you'll see all the available rental companies, along with their cheapest prices. You can click on any of the companies you'd like to compare.
Within your search results, you may also see a few wild card listings. The wild card listings are mystery vehicle types that are being offered for a special discount. You'll be able to view a few key details about the car, such as the number of seats it has and how many bags it can fit.
Pros
Cons
OneTravel can help you find a rental car in 30,000 rental locations. You'll be able to search among top car rental companies, such as Enterprise, National, Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Thrifty.
Once you start your search by entering your pick up location and the dates you'll need a rental car, you'll be taken to a page that displays all the different vehicles that are available. You can filter these results by vehicle type, price, rental company, and more. These filter options will help you narrow down the options and find the car that will work best for you.
After you've selected any filters you want, you will be able to see an overview of the available vehicles. The overview will include the number of seats in the vehicle, how many bags it will hold, and possible car makes and models that you may receive. The overview will also include the daily rental price as well as the total you'll pay for the rental.
Once you've found a car you're interested in, click 'Select' to view more details of the rental. These details will include if the car is an automatic, whether is has air conditioning, if you'll be able to drive an unlimited number of miles, and more specific details about the pick-up location.
If you decide to rent that vehicle, you can complete your reservation from that page. You can select any add-ons you'd like to purchase, such as luggage racks, child car seats, or rear seat DVD players. You can also choose to add collision damage coverage to protect you if you are in an accident.
Pros
Cons
Buying Guide
When you need a car for a vacation, business trip, or for use around town, you want to make sure you get a car that will fit both your needs and your budget. Car rental sites can help you fulfill this need. Each car rental site is a bit different, though, so take some time to determine exactly what you're looking for in the site you choose.
First, look for a site that will make it easy for you to filter your results by vehicle type. Many times when you're planning on renting a car, you have a specific vehicle type in mind, so being able to filter them this way will simplify the process of finding a car.
You may also want to choose a site that offers guarantees and will refund the difference if you are able to find a better deal for the same vehicle type.
If you care which rental company you use, be sure to choose a booking site that will display this information. Some booking sites offer to save you additional money by booking with a mystery company, but if you aren't comfortable with this option, choose a different site.
Finally, look for a booking site that has available customer service representatives to help you if you encounter any issues with your booking. You may want to look for a site that has a phone number to call instead of relying on contacting someone online.
Top Pick
Our favorite rental car site is Rentalcars.com. With Rentalcars.com, you'll quickly be able to enter your information and start your search. This will help you find the vehicle you need quickly and allow you to get back to everything else you need to do.
Rentalcars.com will also allow you to filter your results using criteria such as the rental car company, vehicle type, or ratings from previous customers who rented from the location you're searching for.
When you view the overview of the different vehicles available, you'll quickly be able to decide whether each vehicle is one you'd like to consider. You'll be able to view the price of the vehicle along with information about how many passengers and bags it will be able to hold.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Get the Best Deal on a Rental Car?
Try a few of the suggestions below to help ensure you are paying the best rate for a rental car:
Is It Cheaper to Rent a Car at the Airport?
No, typically, you'll end up paying more for a car rental at the airport than you would if you book slightly off-site. If possible, try to arrange transportation from the airport to an off-site location to get a better rental rate.
How Far in Advance Should I Rent a Car to Get the Best Deal?
If possible, try to book your rental car between three and six months before you'll need it. This should help you get a good rate, and it should also help ensure that you'll still have a large selection of vehicles to choose from.
Final Verdict
Once you've decided on which vehicle you'd like to rent, just click on the listing, and you'll be able to enter all of your information to complete the order.
Rentalcars.com can help you have a positive car rental experience. Check out the services they offer the next time you're in need of a rental car.
