Rental Car Pricing Statistics: October 2026

Booking a rental car raises a few questions: Which company is cheapest? Is the convenience of an airport pickup worth the extra cost? And should you reserve now or wait for a better price?

To answer these questions, NerdWallet analyzed 1,884 daily and weekly rental quotes from nine major companies to compare prices seven, 52 and 91 days before pickup. Booking seven days out was the cheapest on average, and neighborhood locations generally cost less than airport locations.

Here’s how the prices compare and what to consider when booking.

Average rental car prices by booking interval

Across all available quotes, weekly rental prices averaged $436.03 when you book seven days before pickup, compared with $508.65 at 52 days and $477.04 at 91 days.

The average price when booking seven days in advance was 14.3% lower ($72.62) than the 52-days-out average. Compared with 91 days out, it was 8.6% lower ($41.01).

However, the cheapest booking interval varied by destination. Seven days out had the lowest average price in 12 of the 20 cities. In six cities, prices were lowest at 91 days out; in the remaining two cities, average prices were lowest at 52 days.

The analysis compared different travel dates. Seasonal demand, holidays and pickup weekdays could therefore account for some of the price differences. Based on the date of data collection, the seven-days-out bookings were around Labor Day, and the 91-days-out bookings landed around Thanksgiving.

For travelers, the practical takeaway is to keep checking prices after booking. A reservation with free cancellation can let you secure a car early and rebook if a lower rate becomes available.

Rental car prices by city

Miami had the lowest overall average price, along with the lowest average weekly rental price when booking seven or 52 days in advance. At seven days out, average weekly prices ranged from $267.82 in Miami to $663.84 in Boston.

Some cities changed positions substantially across the booking intervals. Boston had the highest average price at seven and 52 days out, but its 91-days-out average was lower than Miami’s. Again, seasonality or events going on in a particular city may impact prices.

The table below is ranked from cheapest to most expensive based on prices seven days before pickup.

Rental car prices by company

The cheapest rental company changed depending on the booking interval:

• Seven days in advance: Budget was cheapest, averaging $380 for a weekly rental.

• 52 days in advance: Sixt was cheapest at about $454, followed closely by Enterprise at about $455.

• 91 days in advance: Alamo was cheapest at about $409.

• At all three intervals: National had the highest average price.

Hover over a particular bar in the chart below to see the average price per company at each booking interval.

Seven of the nine companies had their lowest average prices at seven days out. Alamo and National were the exceptions, with their lowest averages at 91 days. Eight of the nine companies had their highest average prices at 52 days out.

Budget had the largest dollar difference between its seven- and 91-days-out averages: $81.42 for a weekly rental. Its seven-days-out price was about 18% lower.

These rankings reflect the quotes collected, including different travel dates and available locations. Compare several companies for your itinerary rather than assuming one will always be cheapest.

Airport versus neighborhood rental locations

Neighborhood pickup locations were usually cheaper than airport locations in our analysis.

To compare prices, NerdWallet matched airport and neighborhood quotes from the same company, in the same city, for the same pickup date. There were 135 matched comparisons at each booking interval.

Neighborhood locations were cheaper in about 86% of matched comparisons at seven days out, 83% at 52 days and 76% at 91 days, with an overall cost savings of between 19% and 38%.

Before choosing a neighborhood location, factor in the cost of getting there and back. Taxi or rideshare fares can reduce the savings, and the location’s opening hours might not align with your flights.

Ways to save money on rental cars

Book now, then rebook

Most rental car companies don’t require payment upfront. Choose a reservation that allows free cancellation (most do), then periodically compare prices before your trip. If you find a lower rate for a comparable rental, confirm the new reservation before canceling the original. Be sure to check the cancellation terms before you book, as prepaid rates can carry fees that could erase the savings from rebooking.

This approach lets you take advantage of a potential price drop while keeping a reservation in place.

Compare companies and pickup locations

The cheapest company in our analysis changed with the booking interval, so compare several providers for your dates, and include airport and neighborhood locations when practical. Make sure the quotes have comparable vehicle categories, rental periods and terms, including mileage allowances and cancellation policies.

Use a credit card with rental car coverage

Some of the best credit cards for rental cars offer primary rental car coverage for eligible damage or theft. This can allow you to handle a covered claim without first filing with your personal auto insurer, while saving you from having to pay extra for coverage through the rental company.

To qualify, you generally need to pay for the rental with the eligible card and decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver. Check your card’s requirements, coverage limits and exclusions before pickup. Also be aware that your card’s coverage typically doesn’t cover liability or injuries, so it isn’t a substitute for every type of insurance you might need.

Join the rental company’s loyalty program

Free rental car loyalty programs can offer member discounts and faster pickup. Depending on the program, you may also earn points or rental credits toward future rentals. Frequent renters may qualify for upgrades or other elite benefits.

Programs to consider include:

• Avis Preferred.

• Budget Fastbreak.

• Dollar Express Rewards.

• Enterprise Plus.

• Hertz Gold Plus Rewards.

• National Emerald Club.

Compare the member rate with other available offers before booking. Membership benefits can add value, but they don’t necessarily make that company the cheapest choice.

Methodology

NerdWallet analyzed 1,884 price quotes for weeklong rentals across 20 U.S. cities and nine rental companies: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Sixt and Thrifty.

Quotes were collected between Aug. 28 and Sept. 7, 2026, for rentals beginning seven, 52 and 91 days after each search. Each booking interval included 314 available weekly prices. The analysis used each company’s cheapest available non-electric economy car, and included airport and neighborhood locations where available.

Overall averages give equal weight to each available weekly quote. Periods where pricing was unavailable were excluded. Both the city and company tables are sorted by average prices seven days before pickup.

Airport and neighborhood price comparisons matched the same company, city and pickup date, with 135 matched comparisons at each booking interval.

The booking intervals covered different travel dates, so differences may reflect seasonal demand and other calendar effects as well as booking lead time.