In 2026, Budget, Thrifty and Enterprise most often return the lowest all-in prices at US airports. National and Avis are consistently the most expensive. Deep-discount brands (Fox, Sixt, Payless) can undercut everyone at certain airports, usually with off-site shuttles or stricter deposit rules. All major brands belong to three parent companies (Enterprise Holdings, Avis Budget Group, Hertz Global), so the car sitting in the Budget row is often the same car sitting in the Avis row, at a different price. Always compare the total after taxes and airport fees, not the daily teaser rate.
There is no single cheapest car rental company everywhere. Budget wins the NerdWallet April 2026 study ($333 average for a 7-night rental across 20 US cities). Thrifty won the earlier June 2024 study ($414). Enterprise, Hertz and Dollar cluster in the middle. National is consistently the most expensive, sometimes double the cheapest brand on the same route. And all of them sit inside three parent companies that share the same cars, the same lots, and sometimes the same counter.
The real question is not which brand is cheapest on average. It is which brand is cheapest for your specific trip after taxes, airport fees, and the extras you actually need. This is the 2026 comparison with the data, the parent companies, and the trip-type guide that tells you where to start.
Cheapest car rental companies at a glance
Every major brand, ranked by price tier, with parent company, under-25 availability, and best use case:
Two patterns worth calling out. First: the cheapest brand switches depending on the city and the date. Budget wins NerdWallet's national average, but Thrifty or Hertz can win on specific routes. Always compare at least 3 brands. Second: National costs up to double the cheapest brand ($679 vs $333) for a comparable car. If you are not specifically using National's Emerald Aisle choice programme, there is no reason to pay the premium.
| Brand | Parent | Price tier | Avg 7-day (2026) | Min age | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Avis Budget Group | Budget | $333 (NerdWallet Apr 2026) | 21 | Lowest base rates among major brands |
| Thrifty | Hertz Global | Budget | $414 (NerdWallet Jun 2024) | 20 | Budget alternative, airport locations |
| Dollar | Hertz Global | Budget | $455 (UpgradedPoints) | 20 | Low rates, fewer locations |
| Enterprise | Enterprise Holdings | Mid | $411 (UpgradedPoints) | 21 | Most locations, best service ratings |
| Hertz | Hertz Global | Mid | $273-$535 (varies widely) | 20 | AAA/CAA discounts, EV fleet |
| Alamo | Enterprise Holdings | Mid | $450-$550 range | 21 | Leisure and family travel |
| Avis | Avis Budget Group | Premium | $290-$596 (varies widely) | 21 | Flexibility, wide global network |
| Sixt | Sixt SE (independent) | Variable | $50-$65/day (WealthVieu) | 21 | European cars, premium feel, variable pricing |
| National | Enterprise Holdings | Premium | $679 (NerdWallet Apr 2026) | 21 | Emerald Aisle choice, business travellers |
| Fox | Independent | Deep discount | Varies widely | 21 | Lowest rates at some airports, off-site shuttle |
| Payless | Avis Budget Group | Deep discount | Varies widely | 21 | Budget sister brand, limited locations |
The three parent companies behind every major brand
Hertz Global: Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty
Understanding who owns which brand explains why prices differ between siblings and why comparing two brands from the same parent does not always help.
The largest rental car company in the world. Enterprise operates roughly 6,000 neighbourhood and airport locations in the US and Canada. National and Alamo share the same fleet and many of the same lots. Enterprise is the mid-price brand with the best customer service scores. National is the premium brand aimed at business travellers (Emerald Aisle). Alamo is the leisure brand, often priced between the two.
Why siblings price differently: Enterprise typically prices below National because it targets volume renters and neighbourhood pickups. National prices higher because it bundles the Emerald Aisle car-choice experience, which business travellers on corporate accounts pay for.
Budget is the group's low-price brand and wins NerdWallet's April 2026 study as the cheapest major rental company in the US. Avis is the full-service brand, priced $50 to $150 higher per week. Payless is a deep-discount brand with limited locations, occasionally the cheapest option at airports where it operates.
Why siblings price differently: Budget strips extras to keep the base rate low. Avis includes more flexibility (change/cancel, loyalty perks) and charges accordingly.
Hertz is the mid-to-premium brand with the largest AAA/CAA discount partnership (20%+ off base rate for members). Dollar and Thrifty are the budget brands, often priced $100 to $200 below Hertz on a week-long rental. Dollar and Thrifty share inventory and locations in most US cities.
Why siblings price differently: Hertz carries the brand premium and the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards programme. Dollar and Thrifty operate from the same lots with fewer extras and lower marketing costs, passing the savings into the base rate.
Which brand to check first by trip type
| Trip type | Check first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend city trip (2-3 days) | Budget, Thrifty, Dollar | Lowest base rates; short trips minimise airport fee exposure |
| Week-long Florida or Las Vegas | Budget, Enterprise (off-airport) | Budget wins on base rate; Enterprise off-airport avoids airport fees |
| One-way road trip | Enterprise, National | Enterprise and National waive drop fees on many airport-to-airport routes |
| Under 25 | Hertz (with AAA/CAA), National | Hertz waives under-25 fee for AAA/CAA; National has the lowest surcharge |
| Debit card, no credit card | Enterprise (neighbourhood), Budget | Enterprise neighbourhood locations accept debit with proof of return travel; Budget accepts debit at airports with extra ID |
| Business travel with corporate code | National, Enterprise, Hertz | Corporate rate codes typically discount these three brands the most |
| Canada | Enterprise, Budget, Hertz | Widest Canadian airport and city coverage; CAA discount at Hertz |
| Premium or luxury car | Sixt, Hertz Dream Collection | Sixt has the widest European car range; Hertz Dream Collection for US luxury |
How to find the cheapest rental for your trip
The brand that wins the national average is not guaranteed to win on your specific route and dates. Five steps:
- Step 1: Search a metasearch engine (Google, Kayak, or FlySimple) to see all brands in one view. Note the top 3 cheapest.
- Step 2: Check the top 3 brands' direct websites. Some brands offer lower rates direct that metasearch does not always show. Apply any discount codes (AAA, CAA, USAA, corporate, AARP).
- Step 3: Compare the total, not the daily rate. Click through to the checkout screen and note the total including taxes, airport fees, and any mandatory charges. The brand with the lowest daily teaser rate is sometimes not the cheapest at checkout.
- Step 4: Check Costco Travel and AutoSlash. Costco Travel offers members-only rental rates that undercut direct pricing by 10 to 30% at some locations. AutoSlash monitors your booking and rebooks automatically if the price drops.
- Step 5: Consider off-airport pickup. NerdWallet's 2026 study found downtown locations are $126 cheaper per week on average. If your rental is 4+ days, a $15 rideshare to a downtown branch pays for itself on the first day. See our companion guide on airport vs off-airport car rental.
Cheapest car rental companies in Canada
The Canadian market has fewer brands but similar parent-company dynamics. Enterprise, Budget and Hertz have the widest coverage across Canadian airports and cities. Discount and National are Enterprise Holdings brands (Discount is Canada-only). Avis and Budget share lots in most Canadian cities.
- CAA discount. CAA members save 20%+ on base rates at Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty in Canada, matching the US AAA deal.
- No young driver fee in some provinces. Quebec and Saskatchewan allow rentals from age 18 with no or reduced surcharge at some brands.
- US cross-border rentals. Enterprise, Hertz, Avis and Budget all allow driving a US rental into Canada with advance notice. See our companion guide on driving a rental car to Canada.
- Taxes. Canadian rental taxes vary by province (Ontario 13% HST, BC 12% PST+GST, Alberta 5% GST only). Alberta is the cheapest province for rental car taxes.
7 ways to pay less with any rental company
- 1. Compare 3+ brands on a metasearch site before booking direct.
- 2. Book off-airport to skip the 10 to 20% airport concession and facility fees.
- 3. Decline CDW at the counter if your credit card offers primary coverage (saves $15 to $40/day).
- 4. Apply AAA, CAA, USAA, AARP or corporate codes at checkout.
- 5. Check Costco Travel (members only) and AutoSlash (free rebook monitoring).
- 6. Book the smallest car class you can live with. Economy and compact are the cheapest categories; midsize is sometimes cheaper than economy when inventory is high.
- 7. Fill the tank yourself before return. The prepaid fuel option costs 30 to 50% more per gallon.
Ready to test these savings on your next trip?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions answered based on latest published policies & DOT regulations.
Resources and References
Official regulatory pages and verified data sources referenced in this guide.
The pricing data and brand comparisons in this article come from these sources
NerdWallet April 2026 Rental Car Study
200+ prices across 20 US cities and 9 brands. Budget cheapest at $333/week, National most expensive at $679. nerdwallet.com
NerdWallet June 2024 Rental Car Study
480+ prices across 15 regions and 8 brands. Thrifty cheapest at $414/week. nerdwallet.com
Cheapism Car Rental Comparison
14 brands compared across MCO, LAX, ORD with per-airport pricing. cheapism.com
UpgradedPoints 2026 Car Rental Comparison
Quote comparison across 10 brands with 4-city samples. upgradedpoints.com
J
D. Power North America Rental Car Satisfaction Study. Annual customer satisfaction rankings. jdpower.com
WealthVieu Best Car Rental Company 2026
Daily rate ranges, fee risk, and worked total-cost examples. wealthvieu.com
The Bottom Line
Budget, Thrifty and Enterprise win the price race in 2026 across multiple independent studies. National is consistently the most expensive. But the cheapest brand on average is not guaranteed to be the cheapest on your specific route, which is why comparing 3+ brands at checkout (not at the teaser rate) is the only reliable method.
Three moves cut the most from any rental: book off-airport ($126/week saved), decline CDW if your card covers it ($105 to $280/week saved), and apply your AAA or CAA code (20%+ off base at Hertz/Dollar/Thrifty). Together those three steps save $200 to $500 on a week-long rental, which is often more than the gap between the cheapest and most expensive brand.
At FlySimple, we show every brand's total in one search so you compare checkout prices, not teaser rates. Every rental, no clutter, no surprises.
Search a rental. See every brand's real total. Compare checkout prices, not daily teasers.
