What is the average cost in America for renting a car per day

How much you spend on a rental car depends on many variables such as the date, location, type of car, and the rental company. There is no set average value for rentals as prices vary from region to region. In the U.S. many people rely on rentals for travel, may it be for business or leisure.

So how much will it cost to rent a car? Keep reading to find out.

The average cost of a rental in the U.S.

Rentals are usually picked-up from airports, and many rental businesses rely on arrivals who may need transport to their hotel or home. Also, note that prices can vary depending on the type of car, therefore, economy level cars will not cost a lot whilst luxury cars are more expensive.

Below, we have compiled the prices of some of the major airport locations in the U.S. to give a basic idea of how prices vary and are influenced by the rate of travel and lifestyle of those areas. These numbers were taken from Rentcars.com.

Factors that influence the price of a rental car

• Pick-up and drop-off dates, and location

Yes, we have mentioned this many times before, but the dates you pick for your reservation determines how much you will be paying for the rental. It is recommended that you place your booking a month ahead if you are looking for a low price. Also, note that prices tend to go up during holiday seasons.

The location of the pick-up also decides how much you will be spending on your rental. Airport pick-ups are usually expensive, however, convenient. It is also worth knowing that one-way trips will cost you more as there is an additional fee from the rental company to bring back the vehicle to the original pick-up location.

• Mileage

When booking a car you have 2 options: limited mileage and unlimited mileage, depending on your preference and journey you must choose what fits best. However, having unlimited mileage is ideal especially if you are on a trip, as this allows you to travel freely without worrying about going over the limit.

The price range may vary between different car rental companies and car categories. Standard usually offers both options, whilst premium, luxury, and exotic cars may have only limited mileage.

• Insurance

This too depends on the rental company and your preference. Most prices shown on sites are inclusive of the Collision Damage Waiver fee (CDW), whilst others may show the CDW fee as separate to the reservation fee. This is why you must go through the company’s policies before making your reservation.

If you have insurance that covers rental vehicles as well, you may not need to pay extra for the rental company’s insurance.

• Add-ons

Rental companies offer many add-ons like child car-seat, GPS, and many more. These can increase the final fee of the rental, as add-ons are charged per day.

Many other factors influence the price of a rental. Therefore, the average price may not be reliable, but it will give you a rough idea of what to expect. Rental cars are a convenient way of traveling especially during the pandemic as it is safer than public transport.