Whenever Hubs or I need a rental car, we always rent from Avis. We each have a "Wizard" number, which we use when we make the reservation. We have always gotten the rentals at an airport. The Avis "bus" picks us up and takes us to the car rental building -- because we have the Wizard numbers, we don't have to wait in line -- the bus drops us off at the vehicle, and the paperwork is inside. (And if it's hot outside, the engine is running and the air conditioner is turned on so the car is cool inside.) Just have to show a valid driver's license as we exit the parking lot.

Been a Hertz renter for 20-30 years...and no reason to go elsewhere.
Hertz rental car stolen from hotel parking garage in LA...Hertz sent a replacement car within the hour.
Another time...Hertz car got a flat on highway in Atlanta.
Hertz sent a tow truck for the car, and a replacement car.

So,,,HERTZ !

Shop by price, they can vary substantially. I've rented cars in dozens of states and foreign countries with a variety of companies, my view is that they're pretty much all the same. My experiences have varied more by geography than by company.

Costco often has good prices. So does Enterprise. One variable can be proximity of their lot to your desired pickup and drop off location, though they'll often come pick you up if you're not nearby.

(PS to the Hertz and Avis customers - look around next time, they're sometimes the most expensive and for no apparent reason).

I use Enterprise. Used them the last two times I needed car repair and I was pleased their customer relations.

I mostly rent Budget, but have also rented Enterprise before. Both are reasonable in my opinion.

My friend David used to say, I should rent Hertz, because he worked there, but then laugh, cause he never rented Hertz because of the price.

Moni

We use a rental car every winter when we are in Hawaii. We shop by price and have had the same decent service from many different agencies. Applying the Costco Travel Dept. code to shop for a car for next winter has thus far given us the best deal with Enterprise. (Enterprise owns National and at least one other agency -- Alamo, I think.)

I always shop around. Hertz and Avis have always been
the most expensive. I've been satisfied with Enterprise.
I've used Budget a lot.

Several years ago I rented using Enterprise, in my own city, not at an airport location, and a year or so later found that Discount, across the street, was somewhat cheaper.

I used Discount for nine days, cost just under a hundred a day, when I was in Regina last year ... drove it to Edmonton, and there was no charge for mileage, they didn't charge to top up the tank on my return ... and didn't go out to the parking lot to check for scrapes.

ole joyful

Marie -- You will be asked to pay for insurance or waive it. Waive it. Check to see, but your own car insurance should apply to the rental car. If you use a CC to rent, you probably have coverage from them too. Don't let an agency upsell you to something more expensive than you reserve. Don't fall for the 'guaranteed rate' for the agency to fill your tank; do that yourself before you return the car.

Some rentals charge for mileage. Some don't. A friend who is an agronomist once stunned a car rental agency in South America when he rented for a week -- no mileage charges -- and had driven nearly the length of the continent when he turned the car in.

I have used most of the rental companies over the years - I get the best price from rentawreck.com. They offer very nice vehicles in great condition.

1. I use kayak.com and search for rentals that way. It search a lot of sites at once and spits out the best prices

Quite often for me Enterprise has been the lowest and they have been great.

I also use Ebates.com.....you start from there and then you get a certain % back! Ie I just did my taxes with turbo tax...and got $10.69 back! Made a travelocity purchase a few months back and got $95 back! It adds up ifd you do a lot of online purchases....And of course not all online stores participate! They pay out the $$$ quarterly. They send you a cheque---or they will email you an Amazon gift cert!!

Simple to go on line, plug in your dates, and view the prices from all rental companies. Make your choice when ready. Totally guessing, with car, taxes, fees, etc., the range will be $250-400 week.

I prefer Hertz over Interprise, although the last few years at work, we were encouraged to use Enterprise. However, that was an economic decision and not quality. None of the company officials used Enterprise.

Enterprise autos were ok, but I had difficulty dealing with their office hours. Enterprise, in my area, closes at 5 pm and are closed on weekends. Often. I 'd fly out on the job and would get back to town after 5 pm. My project would be stuck with an extra day of car rental if I returned the car the next morning. I'd have the problem of refilling the gas tank, making arrangements for Enterprise to pick up their car and getting to my own vehicle which by that time would be locked up in the company lot. It was just too much hassle to save a couple of dollars.

I used rentawreck in Edmonton in the mid-80's, car was slightly older but O.K. and serviceable, and the price was lower.

They haven't been around here for years, that I'm aware of: if they were, I'd use them again when I have need.

ole joyful

As a retired person making a 5 hour drive, I think Marie is probably safer and better off avoiding anything with "wreck" in the name.

Those companies tend to have few locations and would be less able to arrange for a car exchange, for example, in case it's needed.

I have always used Enterprise with no problems. They pick you up.

I've used Avis, Hertz ,Enterprise. All were great. If you have AAA or AARP, show your card and ask for a discount. ,

our old dealership used enterprise, and it was good..btw do you have an aaa membership or aarp? either might get you a discount...

A good comparison between the top rental companies! This will help the people in identifying the best provider.

We used Hertz when DH worked and we had the gold card and never used anyone else....now with the RV we use enterprise because they come to the park and get you for the rental and bring you back when you return. I would say get the best value you can, not any difference in service or cars.