Planning a vacation often involves choosing the right car to match your travel needs, whether it’s for coastal drives, city exploring, or national park getaways. With so many rental options available, selecting a reliable and cost-effective vehicle can make a significant difference. This guide highlights traveler-preferred rental choices across the U.S., based on availability, flexibility, and service quality, helping you navigate the road ahead with confidence.

1. National Car Rental (Premium Car category)

National’s premium‑class vehicles are favored in the US by travelers who value efficiency and dependable support. Booking.com offers free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick‑up, and there is multi‑language customer support available on most bookings.

Rates are often lower when booking on the pick‑up day, and typical rentals span about three days, making it well suited for short vacations.

Pros:

• Free cancellation policy

• Multi‑language support

• Premium vehicle selection

• Competitive daily pricing

• Flexible last‑minute booking

Cons:

• Premium class only

• Limited loyalty perks

• Airport fees may vary

• Not lowest base price

• Occasional availability issues

2. Avis Car Rental (Premium Car category)

Avis offers premium‑class rentals across many cities and airports in the US. Booking.com notes average daily prices around $12–13 (premium car), depending on location. Deals often improve if booked about one week before pick‑up.

Regional pricing varies by city—San Diego may average ~$58/day, while New York listings reach ~$100/day. Service includes free cancellation and transparent pricing.

Pros:

• Large airport presence

• Premium vehicle options

• Transparent rate breakdown

• Free cancellation window

• Flexible pick‑up timing

Cons:

• Premium class only

• Higher rates in big cities

• Fees on extras common

• Young driver surcharges

• Loyalty perks limited

3. Routes Car Rental (Large Car category)

Routes provides large‑car rentals that comfortably seat four to eight passengers with ample trunk space for multiple bags. Booking.com shows typical rental length is around three days, with best rates when reserved about seven months ahead.

The average price reported is around $11 per day in select locations, making it a cost‑effective large‑car choice for vacationers needing space.

Pros:

• Very low daily pricing

• Large vehicle capacity

• Spacious for multiple passengers

• Basic transparent pricing

• Free cancellation standard

Cons:

• Advance booking needed

• Limited locations

• Premium features absent

• Fewer loyalty benefits

• Large cars only

4. Popular Auto Car Rental (General category)

Popular Auto offers a broad mix of car types for typical trips in the US. Booking.com lists average rental lengths of four days and highlights a mix of vehicle categories.

Users enjoy transparent pricing, free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick‑up, and access to many leading brands through the Booking.com platform.

Pros:

• Variety of vehicle types

• Transparent price details

• Free cancellation policy

• Mixed general rental classes

• Booking.com support included

Cons:

• Fewer premium options

• Pricing can vary widely

• Limited loyalty perks

• Some locations sparse

   

• Support may vary

5. Best Rental Car (General category)

Pros:

• Longer rental period typical
• Standard vehicle availability
• Free cancel up to 48 hours
• Booking.com customer support
• Transparent booking fees

Cons:

• No brand loyalty program

• Basic vehicle fleet

• No premium upgrades

• Limited extras options

• Pricing not always disclosed early

Enterprise Rent‑A‑Car (General / All‑classes)

Enterprise is widely available across the United States with thousands of locations both at airports and in cities. Booking.com data highlights Enterprise among the brands allowing one‑way rentals in many states, including Georgia and Des Moines

Its broad selection spans economy through luxury vehicles, and free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup is standard on most Booking.com bookings, making it a flexible choice.

Pros:

• Extensive nationwide availability

• One‑way rental options

• Wide vehicle category selection

• Free cancellation policy

• Known customer service record

Cons:

• Lack of lowest price guarantee

• Possible airport facility fees

• Limited loyalty tier upgrades

• Potential variability in franchises

• Occasional vehicle swap

7. Alamo Rent a Car (Budget / Economy)

Alamo, part of Enterprise Holdings, focuses on leisure travelers and offers competitive economy-class and mid-size car rentals. Booking.com notes it among most popular brands permitting one-way rentals in Georgia, and Phoenix airport markets show Alamo also widely booked

It typically features online check‑in to bypass counter queues, transparent pricing, and free cancellations before two days ahead of pickup.

Pros:

• Budget fare focus

• One‑way journey flexibility

• Online check‑in available

• Clear price display

• Free cancellation option

Cons:

• Limited luxury options

• Fewer elite perks

• Airport availability varies

• Add‑on fees possible

• Not ideal for business travel

8. Budget Rent a Car (Economy / Value)

Budget is frequently one of the most popular brands for one-way rentals across the U.S., including key airports such as Newark, Tampa, Los Angeles, San Antonio, and nationwide on Booking.com

It offers low base fares, economy and midsize vehicle categories, transparent add‑on pricing, and free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup on most bookings via Booking.com.

Pros:

• Low base rates widely offered

• One‑way rentals available

• Economy/midsize vehicles

• Transparent fee structure

• Free cancellation standard

Cons:

• Extras cost add on quickly

• Fewer premium options

• Limited loyalty perks

• Airport-only kiosk service

• Higher young‑driver fees

9. Sixt – Sixt Rent a Car (Premium / Luxury)

Sixt frequently ranks as cheapest or best‑value in several U.S. markets per Booking.com listings—for example at Tampa, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Antonio airports

It specialises in premium and luxury segments, with competitive pricing for high‑end vehicles and flexible cancellation policies via Booking.com.

Pros:

• Premium/luxury vehicle focus

• Often low rates in major markets

• One‑way rental support

• Transparent cancellation terms

• Good for style‑conscious travellers

Cons:

• Fewer economy options

• Limited widespread locations

• Extras can be heavy cost

• Young‑driver age limits

• Loyalty benefits less known

10. Hertz (Wide Class Range)

Hertz is one of the most established names in U.S. rental, featured among popular brands allowing one‑way rentals at Newark, Georgia, and other locations per Booking.com data

It offers a wide range of vehicle classes from economy to luxury, a rewards programme (Gold Plus Rewards), and free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup on most Booking.com reservations.

Pros:

• Broad vehicle class coverage

• One‑way rental options

• Rewards programme available

• Airport and city locations

• Reliable household name

Cons:

• Loyalty benefits require tiers

• Sink cost on extra services

• Deposit holds often large

• Older fleets at some locations

• Frequent surcharge variations