Car Rental Pricing Statistics: 2022

Of all of the issues which have skilled huge value swings throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, rental automobiles noticed one of many greatest — and that swing was straight up. Renters in summer time 2021 obtained hit particularly laborious when rental automotive costs reached an all-time excessive that July. Whereas costs have barely dipped from these highs, they’re nonetheless larger each month up to now in 2022 than earlier than the pandemic.

However not all rental automotive costs are created equal, even when the rental automotive is in any other case the identical. Relying on the corporate or metropolis you’re renting from, you would possibly pay considerably roughly than the common. Even renting from an airport versus a downtown location in the identical metropolis might need a drastically totally different price.

BaghdadTime carried out an evaluation of 360 rental automotive costs (together with taxes and costs) to raised perceive rental automotive pricing tendencies. The evaluation regarded on the value of a weeklong rental throughout eight main rental automotive firms primarily based on the corporate’s lowest-priced out there automotive (usually a small sedan). Knowledge was gathered for 20 areas, and it coated each the price to hire from an airport location versus the identical firm’s close by downtown counterparts.

Listed below are the outcomes of our automotive rental pricing information assortment.

The cities with the most affordable rental automobiles

BaghdadTime’s evaluation checked out areas of the U.S. with the ten largest airports primarily based on enplanements utilizing 2020 Federal Aviation Administration information. Enplanements are paying passengers who board an plane, together with these boarding one other as a part of a layover.

Charlotte, North Carolina, was the one metropolis in our information set to fall under $500 for a mean weekly rental value. In the meantime, Chicago was the one metropolis with a mean weekly rental value above $600.

When trying particularly at airport rental places, outcomes had been largely much like the general averages, with some slight deviations. Listed below are the most important U.S. airports, ranked by common weekly automotive rental value, from most cost-effective to most costly:

The primary airports servicing Orlando, Florida; Charlotte/Douglas; and Dallas-Fort Value all had the bottom common rental automotive costs and had been the one three airports with common weekly rental costs under $600. On the opposite finish, Chicago O’Hare Airport had the very best common costs — $743 for a weekly rental.

The most cost effective rental automotive firm

Inside every metropolis, BaghdadTime additionally checked out costs damaged down by eight main rental automotive manufacturers: Enterprise, Funds, Hertz, Greenback, Thrifty, Avis, Alamo and Nationwide.

On this evaluation, Nationwide virtually at all times had the highest rental automotive costs, with common weekly rental automotive costs of practically $700. The most cost effective automotive rental firm, Enterprise, provided automotive leases at a mean weekly value of simply $480.

The most effective time to guide a rental automotive

The most effective time to guide a rental automotive is not prematurely. Rental automobiles are typically cheaper when booked last-minute.

The typical weekly rental value for automobiles booked 91 days prematurely was $589. For automobiles booked seven days prematurely, it was $513. That quantities to a 13% low cost, on common, for individuals who roll the cube and threat availability to guide a automotive nearer to their journey dates.

Right here’s the proportion distinction in prices damaged down by rental automotive firm:

At Greenback, the price financial savings for reserving early versus procrastinating was minimal. Nevertheless it was, on common, practically 40% dearer to guide 91 days prematurely from Enterprise.

The most effective place to guide a rental automotive

BaghdadTime discovered that weekly automotive leases for downtown places had been, on common, $126 cheaper than airport places. Meaning you’ll spend on common about 26% extra for an airport rental in contrast with a downtown rental.

The worth distinction is normally (although not at all times) attributable to charges charged by the airport. Actual quantities range, however they’re usually charged by the airports to the automotive rental automotive firm (which then passes the price on to prospects) to cowl providers like an airport-provided shuttle, cleansing, safety, and typically merely the correct to do enterprise.

Straightforward methods to economize on rental automobiles

Use journey bank cards: The greatest bank cards for rental automobiles have a tendency to supply each bonus factors and miles out of your spending, in addition to the opposite (probably extra profitable) good thing about rental automotive insurance coverage protection, which may typically prevent tons of of {dollars} in case you decline the rental automotive firm’s protection on the counter.

Be part of rental automotive loyalty applications: These applications are typically free to affix. In trade for signing up, they provide perks like member-exclusive charges, or the flexibility to skip the road (which gained’t get monetary savings, however can prevent time). For loyal prospects with elite standing, anticipate complimentary upgrades, free rental days and extra.

E book now, then rebook: Most rental automotive firms don’t require fee upfront. Given the unpredictability of journey, it will possibly make sense to order a automotive rental as quickly as you’re capable of. Then, periodically examine in along with your rental automotive firm’s reserving instrument to see if costs drop. So long as that firm doesn’t cost a cancellation charge (most rental automotive firms don’t), then cancel and rebook the identical rental.

You need a journey bank card that prioritizes what’s necessary to you. Listed below are our picks for the greatest journey bank cards of 2022, together with these greatest for: