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How we rankRental car rankings

Which rental car company can you trust?

Almost every rental company is legit. What differs is the bill at the end: counter add-ons, damage claims weeks later, fuel and toll fees, and how disputes end. We rank each company on those, then again at each airport using how that branch is rated.

Ranked by airport

The same brand can be quick at one airport and slow at the next.

HNLHonolulu

11 companies ranked. Top: National Car Rental, Sixt, Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

See the ranking →OGGKahului

13 companies ranked. Top: National Car Rental, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Avis.

See the ranking →JFKNew York

10 companies ranked. Top: National Car Rental, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Sixt.

See the ranking →
National Car RentalBest overallHighest score of the 13 we checked: 63/100.Fewest surprise chargesBest price honesty score: 3/5.Fastest pickupBest pick-up and delivery score: 4/5.Budget Rent a CarSimplest rulesBest fine print score: 4/5.Thrifty Car RentalFewest damage disputesBest claims and refunds score: 3/5.

Every rental company, ranked

How we score
  1. 1National Car RentalBest overallFewest surprise chargesFastest pickupBusiness-traveller favourite: Emerald Club members pick any car in the Emerald Aisle and skip the counter.LegitPay the quote? Usually, with care63 /100
  2. 2Budget Rent a CarSimplest rulesAvis's lower-priced sister brand; accepts debit cards and young renters, but expect the usual extras at the counter.LegitPay the quote? Usually, with care58 /100
  3. 3AvisMajor airport brand with predictable published fees; watch the e-Toll programme, fuel charges and late damage bills.LegitPay the quote? Usually, with care55 /100
  4. 4Enterprise Rent-A-CarHighest J.D. Power score of the big rental brands; fees are standard, but damage-claim disputes are the recurring complaint.LegitPay the quote? Usually, with care55 /100
  5. 5SixtGerman brand with newer, often premium cars and strong Trustpilot scores; watch for post-return damage and fee disputes.LegitPay the quote? Usually, with care53 /100
  6. 6Thrifty Car RentalFewest damage disputesHertz's other budget brand. Policies mirror Dollar's, so watch the per-toll fees and the add-ons pitched at the counter.LegitPay the quote? Often not53 /100
  7. 7Alamo Rent A CarEnterprise group's leisure brand: usually cheaper, but reviewers report counter upsells and charges they say they declined.LegitPay the quote? Often not46 /100
  8. 8Dollar Rent A CarHertz's budget airport brand: often cheaper up front, but toll charges and extra fees are the usual complaints.LegitPay the quote? Often not46 /100
  9. 9HertzBig airport brand; Gold Plus Rewards lets you skip the line, but damage and add-on charges are the most common complaints.LegitPay the quote? Often not46 /100
  10. 10Fox Rent A CarBudget off-airport brand with low headline prices; expect shuttles, counter upsells and strict deposit rules.LegitPay the quote? Often not43 /100
  11. 11TuroPeer-to-peer car sharing: you rent a private host's car, so every host's rules differ. Photograph everything, because damage, smoking and fuel disputes are common.LegitPay the quote? Often not43 /100
  12. 12Payless Car RentalCheapest headline rates in the Avis Budget family, but counter insurance pressure and add-on charges are the most-reported problem.Legit, with cautionPay the quote? Frequently not36 /100
  13. 13Advantage Rent A CarMost surprise-charge complaintsLow-price, mostly off-airport brand often sold via Expedia; frequent complaints about forced insurance and add-ons at the counter.Legit, with cautionPay the quote? Frequently not31 /100

Side by side

CompanyPriceClaimsDeliveryPoliciesSupportScore
National Car Rental3343363
Budget Rent a Car3234358
Avis3233355
Enterprise Rent-A-Car3233355
Sixt3233253
Thrifty Car Rental2333353
Alamo Rent A Car2233246
Dollar Rent A Car2233246
Hertz2233246
Fox Rent A Car2223243
Turo2232243
Payless Car Rental1223236
Advantage Rent A Car1222131

Each check is scored 1–5, where 3 is average for rental cars. Open a company to see the reason and sources behind every score.