Even if you live in a major city with excellent public transportation, bicycle routes, and nearby shops, you are likely to need a car at some point in your life. Perhaps you are travelling to an area with no other modes of transportation. Perhaps you are entertaining guests who require the convenience. You are obviously not going to go out and purchase an automobile for those rare occasions, and that is why car-rental companies exist.

Our Car Hire Companies of Choice

All you need is a credit card and a valid driver’s license, and you can rent a car. The larger rental companies stock just about any car on the market, from small compacts like the Kia Picanto, to gigantic gas-guzzlers like the GMC Yukon. You can even rent a fancy sports-car if you are willing to spend that kind of money.

For the purposes of our discussion, we will assume you want a mid-sized sedan. Something comfortable, but not too expensive—like a Toyota Camry or a Volkswagen Jetta. The bad news is that even a car like that is going to cost quite a bit of money to rent, especially if you don’t know where to look. To make sure you get your money’s worth, we’ve put together a list of the 7 best website for renting a car at a reasonable price.

The professional reviewers at 9Ranks have taken the time to locate some of the very best care-hire companies around. A few of these sites are global brands with offices throughout the world. Some are local companies, specific to one country. The rest are aggregators, meaning they help you compare cheap rental companies till you find the cheapest rental cars in your area.

Cheapest Hire-Deals Aggregator - Economybookings

Economy Booking is a great site for locating the cheapest deals on car hires. The site serves as an aggregator for hundreds of rental companies, including Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Thrifty, Budget, and Alamo. Via the site, you can locate a car at one of over 20,000 locations in Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia-Oceania. You can even adjust for currency. It’s one-stop shopping at its finest.

When hiring a car, make sure you know when and where you’d like to pick it up and drop it off, as well as the type of car you’d like to rent. Each of these will affect the total price. For example, a fancy SUV will cost more than a simple sedan. Scheduling a pick-up or drop-off during business hours will cost less than in the middle of the night. Similarly, if you want to rent a car in Los Angeles but drop it off in San Francisco, expect to pay extra.

Once you’ve entered the locations and dates for your rental, Economy Booking will take you to a page with a long list of car options. To make things easier, use the various filters to zero in on the car of your choice. For example, you can set the Price per Day, which ranges from $45 (US), all the way to $500 (US). You can also filter by Suppliers, (meaning, rental companies), and you can select your preferred Car Type, such as Compact, Electric, Luxury, Diesel, etc.

In terms of payment options, Economy Booking accepts Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. It’s also worth mention they have mobile apps for Android and iOS, which are particularly helpful for frequent travelers, as they store your preferences and payment info.

Pros:

• Long list of suppliers


• Over 20,000 locations worldwide


• Multilingual site and services


• Excellent help desk

Cons:

• Filters and tags sometimes fail

Largest Car-Rental Offers Aggregator - Rentcars

If you’re planning to travel the great expanses of North America, you should take a good look at Rentcars.com. This aggregator collects information from over 200 companies so that you can locate the best deals on rental cars in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Whether you’re looking for a luxury sedan to cruise the Vegas Strip, or a large truck for the rugged terrain of the Canadian outdoors, Rentcars.com has what you need.

It can be difficult to locate the best car-hire deals in the United States when there are so many rental companies. That’s why aggregators are so helpful. They collect all the data you need, saving you hours of research and plenty of money. Rentcars works with the hundreds of companies, including Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Budget, Thrifty, and Alamo. That means you should never have any trouble finding an affordable rate on the car of your choice.

Start by entering the Pick-Up Location, and keep in mind that some airports are so huge you might need to take a shuttle to the rental place. In some cases, you’re better off picking up your car in the city. One you’ve selected the location, choose a vehicle type from the list provided, and make sure to read the description carefully. The difference between a great deal and a lousy one is often in the fine print.

You’ll find a broad price range on Rentcars, with cars starting at $25 a day, and the sky’s the limit from there.

Pros:

• Vast Fleet from Hundreds of Companies


• Plenty of Inexpensive Options


• Excellent Mobile App

Cons:

• Site is Difficult to Navigate


• Exchange Rates are Somewhat Expensive

Cheapest Car Rental in New-Zealand - Snaprentals

If you’re planning to visit New Zealand, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with Snap, one the best country’s best sites for renting a vehicle. Snap lists numerous cars, ready and waiting for hire, at New Zealand’s three airports, as well as downtown Auckland. Keep in mind that all prices appearing on the site are in New Zealand dollars, so make sure to the current conversion rates.

Snap services four locations: Downtown Auckland, Auckland Airport, Christchurch Airport, and Queenstown Airport. For each location you’ll find a short list of available automobiles, mostly Toyota models. In addition, there’s the Mystery Snap: a NZ$45 (US$25) deal on a “surprise” vehicle. This fun option allows you to enjoy immense savings, though the obvious gamble is that you might not like the car you get.

Prices on Snap range from around NZ$70 (approx. US$40) for something like a Toyota Corolla or Yaris, to as much as NZ$200 (approx. US$115) for a Tesla Model Y. The selection is somewhat limited, which is perhaps the only real knock against the site. The platform also facilitates van and truck rentals, though you wouldn’t know it if you didn’t read the fine print. It’s not clear why this option isn’t better displayed.

Customers have several payment options. They can use a regular credit card, such as a Visa or MasterCard, including debit cards. They also accept Zip, a payment system that lets users pay in 4, interest-free installments.

Pros:

• Attractive prices


• Accepts the Zip Payment System

Cons:

• Limited Fleet of Cars

Best Value-for-Money Car Rental Company in Australia - Avis

Avis is one of the most prestigious car-hire companies in the world, and their Australia branches are no exception. They offer one the broadest ranges of automobiles of any rental service, with everything from inexpensive compacts, all the way to Rolls Royces, Ferraris, and Lamborghinis. They have a world-class mobile app, top-drawer customer support, and attractive prices.

There are few companies with a larger fleet than Avis Australia. Just hover over the Cars & Services button on the homepage and select Car Guide. You’ll find a long list of categories: Economy Manual, Compact, Intermediate, Standard, Full-Size, Eco-Friendly, Compact SUV, Intermediate SUV, Full-Size SUV, 4WD, Van, Signature Series (various BMW models). In addition, there is the Avis Luxury section, offering the world’s most famous brands.

Something like a BMW X5 is going to run you AU$440 (around US$285) per day, while a Toyota Corolla will run you only AU$250 (US$160). On the other hand, if you want to rent a Ferrari, you’ll have to fill out a bunch of online forms, and someone will contact you with the relevant information.

If you’re a frequent traveler, consider Avis Preferred, which offers priority service, faster bookings, no cost for additional drivers, and partner points you can redeem for discounts. You’ll even have access to special offers specifically tailored to your needs.

Pros:

• Attractive prices


• Massive Fleet


• Excellent Customer Service

Cons:

• No Customer Service on Weekends

Cheapest Car Hire in Australia - Budget

Is it any surprise that the company with the cheapest car hires in Australia is named “Budget?” For those interested in visiting the Land Down Under—as well as locals planning a getaway on the other side of the island—Budget offers scores of renal options at attractive prices. From compacts to RVs, from diesel to electric, Budget Australia should be one of your top choices for car-hire deals in Australia.

The daily price of an automobile is based mostly on the type of car, with compact sedans costing the least. You can find a Suzuki Swift or comparable model for as little as $AU350 AU (around US$225) a day, while a mid-sized SUV, such as a Nissan X-Trail, will cost you around AU$550 (around US$350). There are also hybrids available, such as the Toyota Camry Hybrid, and those are a great way to save money on fuel.

If you’d rather search by car than by location, select the Cars & Services button at the top of the Budget Australia homepage. This will land on a page divided into sections: Economy Manual, Compact, Intermediate, Standard, Full-Size, Compact SUV, Intermediate SUV, Full-Size 4WD, and Full-Size Van. You can also participate in the Mystery Car drawing, where you’ll get a considerable discount on a car to be determined upon arrival.

You’ll also want to look over the Specials section, which lists current discounts. You can find coupons for AU$50 off on weekend rentals, AU$100 off 4-day rentals, and unique discounts for specific locations. You can even earn travel points with the Australian airline, Qantas.

Pros:

• Large Selection of Standard Vehicles


• Vans, Buses and 4WSD Options


• Dozens of Locations


• Comprehensive Roadside Assistance Program

Cons:

• Very Few Luxury Automobiles

Cheapest Rideshare Rentals - Hyrecar

There are two sides to renting a car, and Hyrecar lets you take part in either…or both. Car owners can place their automobiles on the Hyrecar marketplace for others to utilize, thereby creating a passive income source. Those seeking to rent a car can also do so via Hyrecar, resulting in an independent car-hire ecosystem that facilitates the services of Uber and Lyft, in addition to those of Avis, Budget, and the like.

The full spectrum of possibilities with Hyrecar is astounding. Imagine needing a job, but not having a car. That greatly limits your options, but with Hyrecar, you can become a full-time Uber driver. You don’t even need a special insurance policy, because Hyrecar has its own rideshare insurance. The company also has many types of cars, meaning you have greater versatility than the average Uber. You can reserve a vehicle for as little as one day, or for as long as an entire month.

On the other hand, if you have an extra car, you can rent it out via the app, and let the car earn money for you. To be sure, Hyrecar takes a service fee (around 20%), but you’re still earning money from renting out your automobile and helping someone else earn a living in the process. Most importantly, you are not under any long-term contractual obligations. Rent out your car for whenever you want, for as long as you want.

On average, you should expect to pay around $40 per day, which means owners should expect to earn around $30 a day after fees. You’ll have to have a late-model 4-door automobile in good condition, and you’ll have to be over 21 years of age. You’ll also need to have your own standard insurance policy for those things not covered by Hyrecare. If you meet these requirements, you should strongly consider Hyrecar as an easy, secondary source of income.

Best Car Rental Aggregator in Europe - AutoEurope

AutoEurope is a large-scale rental-car aggregator covering over 80 countries. The platform works with the top rental companies in the world, including Alamo, Avia, Budget, Hertz, Sixt, and Europcar. Via the site, you can rent anything from automobiles to motorhomes. In addition to the standard fleet, AutoEurope has a fleet of luxury automobiles, including Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Porsche, Bentley, Maserati, Ferrari, and Lamborghini.

The full array of options availabe on AutoEurope is quite impressive. The site has over 80 sections, based on country and region. Each section takes you to a similar page, but with the relevant data for that area. You can set the language to English, French, Spanish, German, Turkish, and Arabic.

To find the options in that area, select the Pick-Up Country, the Pick-Up City, and the Pick-Up Location. Next, set the Pick-Up Date, the Pick-Up Time, as well as the Drop-Off Date and Drop-Off Time. Finally, select the Get Your Quote button to reveal which cars are available. The resulting list allows you to pick a car based by category: Mini, Economy, Midsize, and Estate/SUV. To locate the Luxury cars, you’ll have to go to the Luxury section from the home page.

Prices on AutoEurope are rather high, and customers should note that sometimes they can save money by renting directly from the provider. On the other hand, the vast aggregation is helpful, and if nothing else, one can use the platform as a reference aid. If you do choose to rent a car, be prepared to pay as much as $110 for a mini, and as much as $200 for an SUV. Luxury cars are extremely expensive, with the Maserati Quattroporte costing $3500, and a Lamborghini running as much as $7500.

Pros:

• Massive Fleet of Cars


• Vast Selection of Countries

Cons:

• Expensive

Tips and Recommendations That Will Save You Money

• Save Miles; Save Money
  
  
  
  • When you rent a car, you are usually charged for mileage/kilometrage. One way to save money is to look for rentals offering “unlimited miles.” Another way is to map out your trips carefully. Mask use of the “shortest route” option availabe on apps such as Google Maps and Waze.
  
  
  
  


• Be on Time
  
  
  
  • Rental companies penalize you if you a vehicle late because the company needs that vehicle for the next customer. Imagine showing up at the rental company after a long flight just to find that your car isn’t ready because the previous customer is late. To disincentive lateness and transfer the lost revenue to the late customer, they impose stiff penalties. Often those penalties amount to an entire day’s rental, so make sure to return your car rental on time.
  
  
  
  


• Fill Your Tank
  
  
  
  • Most customer except to pick up a rental car with a full tank of gas. If you return your rental with an empty tank, someone will have to go any fill up the car, and that’s a waste of the company’s resources. To avoid that penalty, always make sure to fill up the tank right before returning the car.
  
  
  
  


• Better Safe than Sorry
  
  
  
  • Car accidents happen. That’s just reality. The costliest mistake you can make when renting a car is neglecting to purchase an insurance package. Obviously, you don’t have to get the most expensive package, but always make sure to get a “full damage waiver,” so that you’re covered in case that Ferrari you rented gets crushed by an 18-wheeler.
  
  
  
  


• Drive Responsibly
  
  
  
  • In many countries, traffic violations and parking fines are issued to the automobile, rather than the driver. This is certainly the case when the ticket is the result of a traffic camera. Rental companies usually reserve the right to charge you for those fines, to recoup any fees they’ve had to pay out. If you don’t want to discover a huge deduction levied against your credit card, make sure to driver responsibly.
  
  
  
  


• A Key Insight
  
  
  
  • Whatever you do, make sure not to lose the car keys. You will face stiff fines, because making new car keys isn’t cheap. If you know you have a habit of losing things, buy yourself an Apple Tag or Android equivalent and put it on the key chain. That will cost you far less than what you’ll pay for a lost key.
  
  
  
  

Conclusion

You don’t have to break the bank when renting a car. Research, planning, and care are all on your side. There are cars at every price point, and if you don’t make rookie mistakes, you should be able to enjoy an affordable experience. Make sure to follow our list of tips, drive safely, and above all, have a great time.