Compared to a lot of things in the big, complicated world or travel, how to rent a car is pretty straightforward. You book the car, you get the car, you return the car. And barring any unforeseen incidents involving moose in the middle of the road, it's a fairly seamless experience. That said, there are some nuances to car rental that can save you both money and time if you know what you’re doing.
Getting familiar with where to rent, how to avoid fees, and what alternatives are out there can go a long way towards maximizing your car rental experience. Here’s a look at everything you need to know about how to rent a car, from the documents you'll need for booking to a walk-through of newer car delivery and car-sharing startups.
How to rent a car
Booking a rental car is much like booking a hotel or airfare. Simply peruse your options through any number of online travel agencies, or book with the rental car companies directly.
Most larger US airports have a rental car center, where all the big companies are located. Still, look closely at the rental car company you book with to see if it’s “on-airport” or at a satellite location, as this can mean the difference between getting your car quickly or having to wait for a shuttle bus and riding 10–15 minutes away. If you do book off-airport, make note of how long the trip takes and factor that in when returning the car.
To rent a car, you’ll need a valid US or international driver’s license, a major credit card, and often proof of insurance. Rental car companies will offer to sell you insurance (more on that later); if you decline, you’ll need to show proof of your own. Some rental car companies will allow you to rent with a debit card, though you’ll generally be required to provide additional documentation like multiple forms of ID, proof of insurance, and proof of a return flight. Some even run credit checks, and most require a larger deposit.
Generally, rental car companies require drivers to be 25 years of age or older. Some will rent to drivers between the ages of 21 and 24 for an extra fee, and put restrictions on which cars they can rent. The company Enterprise doesn't charge a young driver fee for the –24 age bracket, though it will often restrict them to certain car classes.
Also, a rental car reservation doesn’t necessarily guarantee you a car. Does this make sense? Probably not, and there’s an entire episode of Seinfeld devoted to this oddity. Most reservations don’t require a deposit and are free to cancel, which makes car rental exceptionally flexible. The downside: This lack of guarantee means, if you show up to the airport during an especially busy time or during a severe weather event, you may not get the car you reserved. Or any car at all.
How to avoid rental car fees
Rental car companies have a variety of additional fees they’ll tack on to the price of your rental. While not quite as predatory as, say, the fees you pay for tickets to see Taylor Swift, they can add up. Some aren’t avoidable, like state and city taxes. Others, however, you can get around. Here’s a quick overview:
Collision damage waiver
Some rental car agencies will try and scare you into buying their collision damage waiver by saying things like, “So, you’re comfortable being completely liable for any damage caused if you, for example, hit a school bus and turn it into a giant rolling fireball?” Don’t get freaked out. Yes, the CDW does provide good protection, but costs $20 a day or more.
Your travel rewards credit card often provides rental car insurance if you use it for the rental, so always check with your card company first. Also, your personal auto insurance sometimes covers rental liability, so look into that as well.
Gas and electric vehicle fees
The little sign at the rental counter inviting you to prepay the entire tank is tempting: The price per gallon they charge to prepay is substantially less than the average price in the city. But don’t be fooled. Unless you know, for a fact, you’re going to use an entire tank of gas during your trip, you’ll end up giving them whatever gas is left for free. That said, if you do opt to pay for gas yourself, make sure you return it full, or to the level you got it. Refill costs can be up to $15 a gallon, so poke around and find the closest gas station to the airport and budget time to stop there before returning your car.
Electric vehicles aren’t exempt from this charge either. There’s no “pre-pay your EV charge” sign at the counter, and rarely do agents discuss your recharging options when you check out. Don’t let this lull you into thinking you can bring the car back however you like. Return the car with less charge than you got it, and you’ll be dinged with an equally eye-popping fee as you would for traditional gas. So charge up the night before you return the car, or plan time to do it on the way.
Damage fees
Even if you’re in a hurry, always take a few minutes to inspect the car for any damage it might have before leaving the lot. The people charged with inspecting it pre-rental aren’t always sticklers for detail, and sometimes miss large scratches and dings. Of course, the people charged with inspecting a car post-rental have the attention to detail of a Marine Corps Drill Instructor, and will attempt to charge you for any small discrepancy. That's not to say they’re at all dishonest, but it’s as much your responsibility as theirs to note any damage before you leave.
Airport concession fees
Renting in the city is almost always cheaper than renting at the airport because of airport concession fees—basically, convenience fees the airport charges agencies to operate on airport grounds. If you have the time, and the cost of getting to and from the city is minimal, you can avoid this fee by renting off-airport. Just be sure to leave extra time to get to your flight after returning the car.
Tolls
Toll roads are tricky, since you don’t really have an option of avoiding them in some cities, and rental car companies can tack on “administrative fees” of up to $15 per toll if you opt not to rent their transponders. Transponder rental charges can range from $7–15 a day, plus the cost of tolls. Others allow all-you-can-drive tolling for a flat rate.
While it can be time-consuming, the smart move is to map out where you think you’ll be driving, and figure out if you’ll need to rent the transponder. If you plan really far ahead, you can buy your own transponder like EZ Pass and SunPass and activate it before the trip, loading it with toll funds and avoiding the fees.
Alternative rental car companies
Like most industries, rental cars are no longer limited to traditional methods. Alternative ways of renting cars have popped up in the sharing economy, which can save money and allow car rentals only for the hours you need them.
Turo
Turo lets you rent cars from private owners, giving you more options than you’d find at traditional rental car lots. So if your ideal vacation car is a 2023 Hyundai Elantra, Turo is where you’ll find it. The downside is that Turo’s vehicles are people’s private cars, not professionally cleaned rentals. So sometimes your car can have a few dings and a strange smell. On the other end of the spectrum, it’s an easy resource for finding less-common cars like Teslas and high-end SUVs as well.
Turo can offer considerable savings, especially in cities with astronomical airport fees and tourism taxes. The cars aren’t always available for airport delivery, so you’ll have to select it as an option and pay the delivery fee. Some owners will drop the car off curbside like a proper valet, others park it in the airport garage and stick you with the parking cost. So be sure to iron out who is responsible for that before you rent.
Kyte
Kyte is effectively a rental car delivery service, where a driver cleverly dubbed a “Kyte surfer” brings your car wherever you request it. The cars are all two years old or newer, and offer a seamless experience in terms of pick-up and dropoff. The cars are limited to a handful of categories—economy, sedans, SUVs, and premium SUVs—and Kyte only operates in a dozen cities. You can also save a few bucks if you want to pick your car up at one of Kyte’s designated lots, though you’re on your own to get there. Cars have a limit of 300 miles per day, but you can pay an extra $15 per day if you want unlimited.
Zipcar
Zipcar is ideal if you’re in a large city and only need a car for a few hours. Maybe you’re in San Francisco and want to take a day trip to Napa. Or you’re in New York and thought a jaunt to the Jersey Shore would be fun. You need only open your Zipcar account, find the nearest lot where its cars are parked, and unlock your steed. Rates run about $10-15 an hour, up to about $85 a day, and you can return the car to the same place you got it. Zipcar also has cars on several college campuses, if you or your child needs one to make a Target run.
Getaround
Getaround is another peer-to-peer car-sharing service, combining the hourly convenience of Zipcar with the private owner fleet of Turo. Basically, you open up the Getaround app, see which cars are available near you, then reserve it on the spot. The car unlocks via a Bluetooth connection to your phone, and the keys are magically inside. Returning the car is equally as easy, as you leave the keys inside and lock it with your phone. Getaround also offers an in-person key exchange option, if you prefer the human touch of the car rental experience.