Renting a car can make or break a vacation. If all goes well, renting a car is your ticket to vacation freedom. If it's a disaster, a rental car is like a curse on wheels. But when you blindly choose a rental company online based on logos and outdated reviews, the difference between success and disaster can be hard to tell. That's why travel deal search site KAYAK has rounded up the top-rated car rental companies in the U.S. based on user ratings and reviews. KAYAK aggregated the quantity and quality of feedback to determine its 2019 masterlist, simplifying the car rental process tenfold for potential renters.
To qualify for the overall list of the best car rental companies, an agency must have an overall rating of at least 6.1 and have at least 100 published reviews in the past year. Then, evaluate each rental car company's cleanliness, comfort, pick-up and drop-off service, and value for money. The top five car rental companies have customer satisfaction scores between 85% and 75%. While different factors combine to create these scores, the top five companies all receive broadly extremely positive reviews from customers, even on the lower side. Comments like "such a good deal" and "so easy to handle" are exactly what you're looking for when you're trying to avoid a potentially catastrophic situation.
If you've ever gone to a car rental company to pick up a car, only to find that they don't have the car, or that you have to go to another branch to pick up the car, you know what to do. It's important to deal with a company that offers excellent customer service. A lot of things can go wrong when you travel, and you should rest assured that the car rental company you choose will have a clean, comfortable car waiting for you when you show up. Here are the five best overall car rental companies for your vacation:
The country's
With an overall score of 85.1%, National is the highest-rated car rental company in the United States. Their pick-up and drop-off service was also ranked number one. Overall, customers found it easy to pick up their car, with no unforeseen hassles, and it was simple to get it back and on the road. It's important, sometimes even crucial, to have a car that's truly ready for you when you arrive.
Alamo
Although Alamo ranked second with an overall score of 84.4, they ranked first in comfort, cleanliness, and value. Customers boast about the high quality of the cars they rent from Alamo and feel they can truly believe that the price they pay is good value for money. With the score being so close to Nationals and the many other wins they have, I'd say Alamo is really in contention for the No. 1 spot.
enterprise
Even though Enterprise is probably one of the most iconic car rental companies and has tons of celebrity ads, they came in third with a score of 80.5. Their third place position is reflected in cleanliness, comfort, and transfer service. On average, customers are very satisfied with Enterprise and even mention the friendly staff.
sister
Sixt ranked fourth with 76.7 points. Although they didn't make the top three, they did stand out, receiving many rave reviews about the personable and helpful staff and customer service. So if top-notch communication is your top priority, you may want to choose Sixt.
Dollar
Dollar ranked fifth among overall reliable car rental companies with a score of 75.8. If you plan on booking with them, you should take advantage of one of their many offers as they pride themselves on their ability to maximize value and minimize price.
Other notable mentions: Thrifty, Avis, Hertz, Budget and Ace. If you're looking for a hassle-free car rental experience, you'll want to make sure you choose one of these agencies.
