Rental Car Companies, Ranked from Worst to First
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If you travel often, whether for work or pleasure (or both), chances are good that you’ve had to rent a few cars. And chances are also good that you've had some painful rental car experiences.
The ubiquity of shoddy rental companies (hello, Payless!) makes it crucial that you stay as informed as possible. There are tons of options, and they tend to differ wildly in terms of average daily rates, overall costs and fees, rewards and customer satisfaction.
According to the most recent J.D. Power North American Rental Car Satisfaction Study, which analyzed customer experience, pick-up and return processes, and the availability and ease of mobile apps, and AutoSlash, which took into account customer interactions and the number of received complaints, these are the biggest car rental companies, ranked from worst to first.
Brush up on your knowledge so you avoid a miserable experience.
Note: We may earn money from affiliate partners if you buy through links on our site.
16. Payless Car Rental
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Payless has almost 120 locations nationwide, and most of them are located at the biggest U.S. airports. Of course, it tends to be more expensive to rent a car from an airport location than from a neighborhood location, but Payless actually touts decent baseline prices.
So what’s the problem? Well, these low rates come at a high cost, including a subpar collection of older, high-mileage, sometimes dirty vehicles and, as Autoslash puts it, “high-pressure sales tactics to push consumers to opt for add-on services, which they may not need or want.”
According to the Better Business Bureau, complaints about Payless are common, with gripes typically focusing on confusing contracts, long wait times, unexpected charges and rude representatives. Even worse, according to “The New York Times,” the company makes it exceedingly difficult to register (well-founded) complaints.
The situation is so bad that, in 2016, a class-action lawsuit was filed against the company, specifically on account of its relentless tacking-on of unnecessary extra charges.
So, yeah — you probably want to avoid renting from Payless.
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What Drivers Say About Payless
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Jamie D. reviewing a Payless location in Boston, Massachusetts
In selecting reviews to highlight, we've looked for critiques and compliments that reflect what many customers say.
What Drivers Say About Payless
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Jessica F. reviewing a Payless in Las Vegas, Nevada
15. Fox Rent A Car
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Fox may be the fifth-largest rental car company in the U.S. and advertise insanely low daily rates, but tread carefully: Watch out for hidden deposits for tolls, additional drivers and insurance.
Along with Ace, Advantage, E-Z, Europcar and Firefly, Fox is designated a “Tier 3” company by Autoslash, which notes you should “expect longer lines, older vehicles in mediocre condition, a shuttle to your vehicle in many locations (instead of being on-site at the airport), an extremely hard sell for extra options and other sometimes onerous limitations.”
Need more reasons to consider other options instead? On ConsumerAffairs, the company has a 2 ½ star rating (out of 5), with the majority of drivers giving it a single star — not a good sign.
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What Drivers Say About Fox
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Bianca P. reviewing a Fox in Seattle, Washington
What Drivers Say About Fox
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Faraz A. reviewing a Fox location in Oakland, California
14. Firefly Car Rental
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Again, you get what you pay for with the low-cost, low-rated, Tier 3 rental company Firefly, whose customer service leaves, shall we say, much to be desired. Customers complain about racked-up hidden insurance costs and daily fees, as well as not receiving promised refunds. Understaffing and long wait times are also not unusual.
Firefly is owned by Hertz, which, as you’ll see later on this list, costs a bit more but is of much better overall quality.
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What Drivers Say About Firefly
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Ryan G. reviewing a Firefly location in Denver, Colorado
What Drivers Say About Firefly
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Arlin C. reviewing a Firefly location in Los Angeles, California
13. Europcar
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Contrary to the name, Europcar isn’t just limited to Europe; there are thousands of locations worldwide, including several dozen locations in the U.S. And that’s where the benefits end: Be wary of pre-paying for fuel and purchasing additional insurance with this company, among other shadily-hidden costs.
As with Fox, Europcar also has a 2 ½ star overall rating on ConsumerAffairs and is saddled with mostly 1-star complaints.
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What Drivers Say About Europcar
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Claude C. reviewing a Europcar location in Cancun, Mexico
What Drivers Say About Europcar
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Randy B. reviewing a Europcar location in Middlesex, UK
12.E-Z
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E-Z isn’t exactly beloved for its customer service. Renters have complained about everything from spiked daily rates (without their consent) to unreliable communication to being hit with extra insurance fees. Yikes.
E-Z is owned by Advantage, and last year both companies were forced to pay out millions to California authorities and consumers to settle allegations that they’ve overcharged customers who damaged vehicles.
The one upside? E-Z does offer a pretty sizable selection of cars to choose from. So there's that.
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What Drivers Say About E-Z
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Peter H. reviewing an E-Z location in San Francisco, California
What Drivers Say About E-Z
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Jessica R. reviewing an E-Z location in Orlando, Florida
11. Advantage Rent A Car
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Advantage is known for its low prices — and for its less-than-stellar customer service. Though it, too, has a relatively wide array of vehicles available, it fields more customer complaints than most.
In fact, according to the Better Business Bureau, Advantage “has a pattern of complaints,” with consumers lamenting sneaky charges for tolls and vehicular damage that wasn’t their fault. Plus, “consumers have reported vehicles were not made available to them at time of rental after making a reservation.”
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What Drivers Say About Advantage
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Nick N. reviewing an Advantage location in Inglewood, California
What Drivers Say About Advantage
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Brandan M. reviewing an Advantage location in South San Francisco, California
10. Ace Rent A Car
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Ace is certainly an affordable option, we’ll give it that. But with just 59 locations, accessibility is rather limited.
Moreover, the company’s rewards program, Rental Genius, is one of the least impressive of its kind. Though customers earn points for every dollar spent, Ace doesn’t allow those points to be redeemed for free rentals, instead offering random rewards like electronics and gift cards.
Um, what?
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What Drivers Say About Ace
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Michele P. reviewing an Ace location in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
What Drivers Say About Ace
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Daniel M. reviewing an Ace location in Los Angeles, California
9. Sixt Rent A Car
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Offering dirt-cheap rates, Sixt originated in Germany and is continuing to spread across the U.S. As with most other low-budget, low-rated rental-car companies, though, you’ll need to be on the lookout for hidden fees — be extra-careful that you understand what charges are added to your account, as well as what insurance will and will not cover.
While Autoslash advises that customers are cautious when booking Sixt, it gives it a slightly higher overall ranking than Ace, Advantage, E-Z, Europcar, Firefly and Fox, thanks to its superior (if still not awesome) customer service. Yelp reviews, too, can be harsh, but aren't quite as scathing as what you find with the bottom-dwelling companies.
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What Drivers Say About Sixt
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Michelle L. reviewing a Sixt location in Beverly Hills, California
What Drivers Say About Sixt
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Patrick M. reviewing a Sixt location in Seattle, Washington
8.Budget
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Budget is a fine choice for those who are looking to save some cash when renting a car. The company offers slightly below-average rates, along with a substantial extra discount (35 percent off the base price) if you pay when you make the reservation. And it’s super-convenient, with over 1,300 locations across the U.S.
On the flipside, Budget doesn’t offer points or other ways to earn free rentals. And customer service can be a little iffy, as well.
There's a pretty balanced split between people who love Budget, and people who hate it. Depending on the location, your experience could really go either way.
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What Drivers Say About Budget
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Carla W. reviewing a Budget location in Austin, Texas
What Drivers Say About Budget
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Ann P. reviewing a Budget location in New York, New York
7. Sample Dollar Rent A Car
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Dollar Rent a Car has 570 worldwide locations in 61 countries, including more than 260 in the U.S. and Canada. Like Thrifty, its sister company (both are subsidiaries of Hertz), Dollar is definitely geared towards budget-conscious travelers — both it and Thrifty even recently started easing and eliminating credit-card requirements for people who may not qualify for credit cards (or who simply prefer to use debit cards).
Although Dollar doesn’t offer a home pick-up service like most other companies in the top tier of this list, it does have one of the lowest additional-driver rates, as well as a generous rewards program.
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What Drivers Say About Sample
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Cynthia J. reviewing a Dollar location in Seattle, Washington
What Drivers Say About Sample
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Paul V. reviewing a Dollar location in Honolulu, Hawaii
6. Thrifty Car Rental
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Thrifty operates more than 4,000 locations in conjunction with Hertz and Dollar, so convenience is definitely not an issue. In addition to offering some of the lowest prices in the industry, Thrifty also offers decent location-specific offers and discounts, as well as a fine rewards program, Blue Chip. And its online check-in system is a genuine time-saver.
There’s a daily fee for additional drivers, though the company’s weekly rates are typically so low that this might not make much of a difference. Customer service isn't always on point, but most people seem to walk away feeling pretty good — if not always great — about their experience here.
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What Drivers Say About Thrifty Car Rental
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Kat W. reviewing a Thrifty location in Los Angeles, California
What Drivers Say About Thrifty Car Rental
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Andie D. reviewing a Thrifty location in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
5. Avis
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Though it errs on the expensive side, Avis offers plenty of discounts and promotions to help keep prices from getting too out of hand. Case in point? It offers a pretty generous discount of 30 percent if you pre-pay, and AARP members can save 30 percent off their rental total.
It’s important to note, though, that Avis caters primarily to business travelers (hence the 30-percent discount for paying ahead; an easier task if you have a corporate card). So if you’re just an individual looking to rent a car, this might not be the best option, though it’s still a solid choice.
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What Drivers Say About Avis
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Andrea K. reviewing an Avis location in Los Angeles, California
What Drivers Say About Avis
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Alice Q. reviewing an Avis location in Denver, Colorado
4. National
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Boasting over 1,500 locations around the world, National Car Rental is a sister company of both Alamo and Enterprise. All three are known for their excellent customer service and vast range of vehicles, and their Emerald Club loyalty program comes with a robust array of benefits: no second driver fees and priority service (all Emerald Club members get to bypass the counter at 50-plus airports in the U.S. and Canada) being two of the big ones.
As far as rewards go, you’ll earn one rental credit for every qualified car rental; seven of these credits earn you one free day in up to a midsize car.
National isn't as easy on the wallet as places like Budget or Payless, but the higher rates come with generally better service and offerings.
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What Drivers Say About National
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Justin Y. reviewing a National location in San Francisco, California
What Drivers Say About National
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Joshua T. reviewing a National location in Honolulu, Hawaii
3. Alamo
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Coming in at No. 3, Alamo offers reliably thoughtful customer service, cheap daily rates and plenty of perks. Its loyalty program is among the better ones, and it even gives you an automatic 5 percent discount when you book online.
Also cool? It supports teachers by giving National Education Association members an extra day free on rentals of five days or more.
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What Drivers Say About Alamo
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Anna M. reviewing an Alamo location in Salt Lake City, Utah
What Drivers Say About Alamo
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Katherine J. reviewing an Alamo location in Inglewood, California
2. Enterprise Rent-A-Car
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The runner-up spot goes to Enterprise, easily one of the most beloved car-rental companies in the country thanks to its super-affordable rates and lack of hidden fees (a rarity!). One of the most convenient spots on the list, it touts over 6,000 locations and will pick you up for free from your hotel or even your home to take you to the rental office.
Its loyalty program, Enterprise Plus, is also among the better ones, although Autoslash recommends signing up for the superior National Emerald Club instead. (National is Enterprise’s sister company, and you can earn points for the Emerald Club at participating Enterprise locations.)
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What Drivers Say About Enterprise
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Ana G. reviewing an Enterprise location in Miami, Florida
What Drivers Say About Enterprise
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Rich W. reviewing an Enterprise location in Phoenix, Arizona
1. Hertz
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With over 10,000 locations worldwide, Hertz is the second-biggest car rental company in the U.S. — and ranks highest in overall customer satisfaction, according to the J.D. Power survey.
We’re not surprised, considering the company’s genuinely rewarding rewards program (get free upgrades, rent a vehicle anytime and pay zero fees for additional drivers), special discounts for AAA members and wide selection of compact cars.
Plus, Hertz offers airport shuttle services and will match any lower rate you find at a Hertz car rental elsewhere (with an extra 10 percent off!). What’s not to love?
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What Drivers Say About Hertz
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Clara L. reviewing a Hertz location in Oakland, California
What Drivers Say About Hertz
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Meghan K. reviewing a Hertz location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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