Rental Car Companies Compared: Who's Actually the Best?

Enterprise vs Hertz vs Avis vs Budget vs National vs Alamo — the honest breakdown.

By RentRight Team · Published April 4, 2026 · 12 min read

Choosing a rental car company feels like it should be simple, but once you start comparing loyalty programs, pricing structures, fleet quality, and hidden fees, the differences between brands become real. Some companies consistently deliver better service. Others look cheap until the final bill arrives. And a few are genuinely great, but only for certain types of renters.

We compared every major rental car company across the metrics that actually matter: price, fleet quality, loyalty perks, customer service, and the stuff they don't advertise (like how aggressively they upsell at the counter or how they handle damage claims). Here is what we found.

Quick Comparison Table

Enterprise

Enterprise is the largest rental car company in the world by fleet size and revenue, and it earns that position through sheer ubiquity rather than premium branding. With locations in neighborhoods, airports, and even car dealership service departments, Enterprise is often the most convenient option regardless of where you are. Their signature "We'll pick you up" service is not just a slogan: call the nearest branch and they will send someone to get you, free of charge.

Enterprise consistently ranks near the top in customer satisfaction surveys, and it is not hard to see why. Their counter staff tend to be friendlier and less aggressive with upsells than at airport-focused competitors, partly because neighborhood locations operate on thinner margins and rely more on repeat business. The fleet is generally well-maintained and modern, though you are less likely to find premium or luxury options at a suburban branch.

The Emerald Club loyalty program (shared with National) offers counter bypass, free upgrades when available, and points toward free rental days. It is a solid program, though National's version gives members the more premium "choose your own car" aisle experience.

Best for: Everyday rentals, insurance replacement vehicles, first-time renters, and anyone who values customer service over flashy perks.

Watch out for: Upselling at the counter. Enterprise agents are trained to offer protection packages, fuel options, and vehicle upgrades. A polite "no thank you" is all you need, but be ready for the pitch.

Hertz

Hertz is the legacy giant of the rental car world. It has the strongest brand recognition, the most airport locations, and a premium fleet that includes everything from Teslas to Corvettes. If you are a business traveler who lives at airports, Hertz is built for you. The Gold Plus Rewards program lets you skip the counter entirely, walk to the board, find your name, and head straight to your car. It is one of the smoothest pickup experiences in the industry.

The downside is price. Hertz tends to be more expensive than Enterprise, Avis, or Budget for comparable vehicles, and the company knows it. They position themselves as the premium option and price accordingly. Their airport dominance also means you are paying airport surcharges on top of higher base rates.

Hertz's recent history is worth noting. The company went through bankruptcy in 2020, emerged in 2021 under new ownership, and has since invested heavily in fleet modernization (including a large EV push). Customer service quality can be inconsistent; some locations are excellent, while others show the strain of corporate restructuring. Check recent reviews for your specific pickup location before booking.

Best for: Business travelers, frequent flyers, anyone who wants a premium vehicle or a Tesla rental, and loyalty program enthusiasts who rent often enough to hit elite tiers.

Watch out for: Higher base prices, inconsistent service between locations, and a billing department that has drawn complaints about unexpected charges appearing after the rental. Review your final receipt carefully.

Avis

Avis occupies the middle ground of the rental car market: not the cheapest, not the most expensive, not the most innovative, but reliably solid. The Avis Preferred loyalty program offers counter bypass at most locations and the ability to choose your car class and preferences in the app. Their fleet tends to be newer than Budget's (even though Avis Budget Group owns both brands), and they maintain a good selection of SUVs and full-size vehicles.

Where Avis stands out is flexibility. They are often willing to accommodate changes to reservations, early or late returns, and one-way rentals with less friction than competitors. Their app is functional and lets you modify bookings, view receipts, and manage preferences without calling anyone.

The main knock on Avis is the counter experience. Among the major companies, Avis agents tend to be the most persistent about insurance upsells. If you already have coverage through your credit card or personal auto policy, be prepared to firmly decline the Collision Damage Waiver, Supplemental Liability, and Personal Effects Coverage. They may ask more than once.

Best for: Renters who want a balance of price and quality, flexible booking terms, and a solid app experience without paying Hertz-level prices.

Watch out for: Aggressive insurance upsells at the counter. Know your existing coverage before you arrive so you can confidently decline.

Budget

Budget is exactly what the name implies: the cheapest rates among the "big name" rental companies. As the budget brand under the Avis Budget Group umbrella, Budget shares many of the same airport locations and back-end systems as Avis but positions itself squarely on price. If your only goal is the lowest possible daily rate from a recognizable brand, Budget will frequently win that comparison.

The trade-off is predictable. Budget's fleet tends to skew older and higher-mileage than what you would find at Enterprise or Hertz. The cars are functional and safe, but you are less likely to get that new-car smell. Customer service is adequate but not exceptional; Budget locations often share counter space with Avis, and the staff tend to process transactions quickly without much hand-holding.

The Fastbreak loyalty program is basic. It speeds up the pickup process and tracks your rental history, but it lacks the counter bypass and car selection perks that make National's Emerald Club or Hertz's Gold Plus genuinely useful. Budget is a transactional relationship: you get the car, you return the car, you save money.

Best for: Price-conscious renters who care about the bottom line more than perks, and anyone renting for a short trip where fleet age does not matter much.

Watch out for: Older vehicles, fewer locations than Enterprise, and a no-frills experience. Also double-check the total price at checkout, because prepay rates may not include the same cancellation flexibility as pay-later rates.

National

National is the rental car company that experienced renters love and first-time renters overlook. It is owned by the same parent company as Enterprise and Alamo (Enterprise Holdings), and it shares the Emerald Club loyalty program with Enterprise. But National takes the loyalty experience further than any competitor: as an Emerald Club member, you walk past the counter, head to the Emerald Aisle, and pick any car in your class or above. No waiting, no upsells, no small talk. Just choose and go.

This "choose your own car" model is genuinely unique in the industry and makes National the top choice for people who rent frequently and know exactly what they want. The fleet quality is high, the process is fast, and the company respects your time. National also tends to have excellent availability at airports, even during peak travel periods.

The downside is price. National is typically more expensive than Enterprise, Budget, or Alamo for the same vehicle class. They market themselves as the smart choice for professionals and frequent renters, and they charge accordingly. If you only rent a car once or twice a year, the premium over Enterprise or Alamo is hard to justify.

Best for: Frequent renters, business travelers, and anyone who values a fast, hassle-free pickup experience above all else.

Watch out for: Higher prices compared to sister brands Enterprise and Alamo. If you do not rent often enough to benefit from the Emerald Aisle, you are paying more for essentially the same fleet.

Alamo

Alamo is the leisure-focused brand under the Enterprise Holdings umbrella, and it is specifically designed for vacationers and tourists. Pricing is competitive (usually between Enterprise and Budget), the booking process is straightforward, and the self-service kiosks at many airport locations mean you can skip the counter entirely even without a loyalty membership.

Alamo is particularly popular with international tourists renting in the United States, in part because the company has strong partnerships with international travel agencies and tour operators. If you are visiting the US from abroad, there is a good chance your travel package includes an Alamo rental. The company also tends to be more accommodating with international driver's licenses than some competitors.

The Alamo Insiders loyalty program is the weakest among major companies. It is free and offers some discounts, but it lacks the counter bypass, free upgrades, and car selection perks that make Emerald Club, Gold Plus Rewards, or even Avis Preferred worth joining. Alamo is best when you book it for the rate and expect nothing more.

Best for: Leisure travelers, families on vacation, international tourists visiting the US, and anyone who wants decent pricing without the aggressive upsell culture of Avis or Hertz.

Watch out for: Limited loyalty program benefits and a fleet that is shared with Enterprise and National, meaning during peak periods the best vehicles may already be claimed by Emerald Club members.

Sixt

Sixt is a German rental car company that has been expanding aggressively in the United States since the mid-2010s. Their main selling point is the fleet: Sixt stocks more BMWs, Mercedes-Benzes, and Audis than any American rental company. If you want to drive a premium European car without paying exotic rental prices, Sixt is your best bet.

The pricing is mid-range to premium, depending on the vehicle. Economy cars from Sixt are priced competitively with Avis and Enterprise, while their luxury options are significantly cheaper than renting the same vehicles from Hertz's premium collection. The Sixt+ subscription model (a monthly car subscription rather than traditional rental) is also worth considering if you need a vehicle for weeks or months at a time.

The catch is Sixt's reputation for damage claims. Among all rental companies, Sixt generates the most complaints about post-rental damage charges for scratches or dents that renters insist were pre-existing. If you rent from Sixt, document the vehicle thoroughly at pickup: photograph every panel, every scratch, every scuff. Use a timestamped video walkthrough. This is good advice for any rental, but it is essential with Sixt.

Best for: Renters who want a premium European car, younger travelers drawn to the brand's modern image, and anyone near one of their expanding US locations.

Watch out for: Aggressive damage claim reputation. Document everything at pickup and return. Also, Sixt has fewer US locations than the big six, so availability is limited outside major metro areas.

Dollar / Thrifty

Dollar and Thrifty are Hertz's budget brands, operating as separate brands with shared infrastructure. They exist for one reason: to capture the price-sensitive segment that would otherwise book with Budget or a third-party discount site. Rates are typically the lowest or second-lowest among all major brands, and both companies are available at most major airports.

The experience is bare-bones. Fleets tend to be older and higher-mileage, counter wait times can be longer (especially during peak travel), and customer service is functional rather than friendly. Neither brand invests heavily in their loyalty programs (Dollar EXPRESS and Thrifty Blue Chip), and the perks are minimal: slightly faster pickup, not much else.

That said, a rental car is a rental car. If you need basic transportation from point A to point B and your budget is tight, Dollar and Thrifty deliver. The vehicles are mechanically sound and insured; they just might have more miles on the odometer and fewer amenities than what you would get from Enterprise or Hertz at a higher price point. Book directly through their websites for the best rates, and avoid third-party prepay deals that lock you into non-refundable reservations.

Best for: Pure price shoppers, short airport rentals, and anyone who views a rental car as basic transportation rather than an experience.

Watch out for: Limited locations, older vehicles, longer counter wait times, and minimal loyalty program value. Also read the fine print on prepay rates, which may not be refundable or modifiable.

Which Company Should You Pick?

There is no single best rental car company. The right choice depends entirely on what you are optimizing for. Here is a quick decision guide based on the most common priorities.

Regardless of which company you choose, the smartest move is to compare actual prices for your specific dates and location rather than relying on brand reputation alone. Rates fluctuate constantly based on demand, fleet availability, and seasonal pricing, so the cheapest company this week might be the most expensive next week.

The Bottom Line

Every rental car company has trade-offs. Enterprise wins on service but upsells at the counter. Hertz wins on airport convenience but charges a premium. Budget wins on price but cuts corners on fleet quality. National wins on the loyalty experience but costs more than its siblings. The best approach is to know what matters most to you, pick the company that excels at that one thing, and use tools like CompareItRight to verify you are getting a fair price.

No matter who you rent from, the fundamentals stay the same: book early, decline insurance you already have, return with a full tank, and document the vehicle at pickup and return. Do those four things and you will have a good rental experience with any company on this list.