Best car rental companies for business travellers

Did you know business travellers are the most frequent car renters? Not only do they rent often, but they also have very specific needs when it comes to finding the right car for their business trip. But we’re sure you know this well, too!

Some of their priorities might be special rates, dedicated fast lanes, easy pickup and drop-off processes and generous rewards programmes.

So which is the best car rental company for business travel? It depends on what the priorities are for you and your company. Are you looking for special rates, dedicated lanes, easy pickup and drop-off processes, or generous loyalty programmes? Let’s take a look at what to look for when you rent a car for your business, what the top car rental companies for corporate travellers are and their pros and cons.

How to choose the best car rental company

Choosing a car rental company for your business trips can be quite a hassle, considering all the excellent options available. Think about what you’re looking for exactly: a better price, or top-quality service and extras? If time is a priority, consider which companies will offer you to go through the pickup and drop-off as smoothly as possible.

These are some of the most important factors to take into account when choosing a car rental company:

Location and length of rental: this will determine the availability and rates for your rental

Reviews: when you find a similar offer from different companies, it’s a good idea to choose the one with the best reviews

Fast pickup and returns: you don’t want to spend valuable time on long queues during your business trip!

Extra fees: pay special attention to what’s included and what’s not. Some of the most common extra fees are insurance and damage waivers, cancellation, extra mileage, additional drivers, GPS and other accessories.

Payment method: some companies still don’t allow to pay with a debit card and require a credit card instead

Best car rental companies for business travellers

It’s clear that companies have very specific needs when it comes to car rentals. Considering these needs, as well as the pros and cons of the main car rental options on the market, we put together a list of the top car rental companies for business travellers.

Avis

Best for: airport rentals, prepaid reservations

Avis may be one of the most expensive brands on the market, but quality does come at a price. It’s actually one of oldest car rental companies and among the first to open airport offices. Throughout the decades, it has expanded to over 1,400 locations in the US only.

Some of the pros about Avis include interesting discounts for small businesses, a best price guarantee plus a 10% discount and e-tolls for car rentals in the North-East.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Best for: range of office locations, service, avoiding extra fees

While Enterprise’s daily rates are higher than average, on the flip side that means less additional charges and hidden costs. We're talking about the largest North American car rental company, with over 6,000 locations across the US—making it very likely you’ll find one wherever you’re travelling for work!

Enterprise is a great choice for businesses as their fees for extras and tolls are very convenient and they even offer a pickup service that brings customers to their rental offices. Other pros of choosing Enterprise are their special rates for long rentals and the wide range of cars offered—including an exclusive premium collection with brands such as Ferrari and Maserati. Their outstanding service has received many awards throughout the years, including the Travvy Awards in 2020.

Europcar

Best for: range of cars, worldwide locations

Europcar has over 2,400 locations in over 140 countries, making it a top choice for international business travellers. The brand is also renowned for its wide variety of vehicles, including premium, luxurious and hybrid cars in their Prestige class.

Their car rental rates can be very attractive in comparison to the main competitors, offering also special daily, weekly and monthly rates for businesses. Small and medium businesses can also benefit from lower rates and discounts, a dedicated team and express pickup, as well as a delivery and collect service.

Hertz

Best for: customer satisfaction, airport locations

Considered the founder of the car rental business, Hertz has over 3,000 offices, out of which 1,600 are airport locations in the US. Always ranked among the top car rental companies, Hertz has won numerous awards throughout the years for customer service and rental car satisfaction. Rates are on the high side, but you do get what you pay for.

Apart from a good range of vehicles to rent, Hertz offers a best price guarantee plus a 10% discount, fast pickup options and interesting extras. Some of these extras include an online trip planner, guides and a concierge trip planning service.

National

Best for: benefits for businesses, best corporate car rental programmes

National belongs to the same parent company as Alamo and Enterprise, which means customers can enjoy some benefits between the three companies. It’s known for its outstanding customer service and a wide variety of vehicles to choose from.

However, the main pro about National Car Rental is the range of options available for corporate customers—their biggest customer group. Some of the benefits for businesses are special programmes, contracted rates, a “drop and go” option and an interesting loyalty programme.

Sixt

Best for: variety of vehicles

With 2,200 locations around the world, including many airport locations, Sixt is another big favourite. The company is said to offer the widest selection of vehicles available, including high-end brands such as Mercedes Benz, Porsche, or Tesla.

Sixt’s fleet is also one of the newest on the market, with a three-month average. Sixt is also a great option for long-term rentals, offering interesting savings on rentals of 28 days or longer.

Dollar

Best for: budget car rental

Dollar is part of the Hertz group and it’s known for being among the cheapest car rental companies on the market. The company offers low rates and frequent promotions, making it a great option for those looking to save a dollar on their rental.

On the other hand, Dollar doesn’t score that well when it comes to customer service. The return process is also not as easy and smooth as it is with other companies. However, the rates can be very attractive and they also have a special programme available for business travellers. Some of the perks of this programme are shorter lines and an easier booking process.

Budget

Best for: prepaid reservations, discounts and special deals

Budget is a subsidiary of Avis and it offers some of the cheapest rates of all car rental companies. The company has over 2,900 locations in the US and another 2,200 worldwide, making it a great option both for national and international rentals.

To make the best out of Budget’s rates, customers should go for prepaid reservations—eligible for discounts of up to 35%. The company also offers a business programme, which saves corporate renters up to 30% off their costs. On the downside, be weary of the extra fees that might be applied. One of them is an e-toll fee, which is applied for every rental day regardless of whether you use the e-toll or not.

Best car rental companies for long-distance trips

When it comes to long-distance trips, the key feature you want to look for is unlimited mileage. Watch out for companies which don’t offer this option, as their strategy is to make up for the great deals with extra mileage fees. It makes sense, right? But there are also two other features that will make your long-distance road trip a success: long-term rental discounts and the right insurance.

These are some of the best car rental companies for long trips:

Hertz: a great option for their unlimited mileage and their fast reservation, planning and pickup process

Avis: offers an unlimited mileage option in many cases, although it’s not always available

Budget: another excellent option if you’re looking for unlimited mileage and low rates

Europcar: is a perfect option when combining unlimited mileage and longer term rentals

Best car rental companies for small businesses

Most rental companies offer special programmes and deals for businesses. Bigger corporations often have the possibility of getting special, contracted rates. But what about the best car rental company for small businesses? Here’s a list of some of the best options on the market for these cases.

Avis

Avis is a great option for business rentals, offering exclusive offers and up to 30% discount on their rates. There are different billing options available for businesses—for example, all rentals in an account can be billed to a single company credit card.

Budget

Apart from the low rates, Budget also offers exclusive options and deals for small and medium-sized businesses, as well as individual business travellers. Enjoy a 30% discount on your rentals, different billing options and £3 credit for each rental day. A minimum of five rentals per year is required.

Hertz

Hertz offers up to 25% discount on their rates, as well as exclusive offers to business travellers—including a free rental every 15 credits. One rental day equals to 1 credit and you can get 10 free credits on sign up. Some businesses can also benefit from customised billing options.

Loyalty programmes and rewards

All companies on our list offer reward programmes for frequent renters: this table offers a summary of the main benefits of each rental company’s loyalty programme.

Name

Strong points

Avis: Avis Preferred

- Faster service for members- Choose your vehicle through a mobile app and proceed directly to pick it up- Earn points to claim rewards, such as free rental days and accessories- Redemption rates are slightly lower than that of other companies

Enterprise Rent-A-Car: Enterprise Plus

- Different tiers: Plus, Silver, Gold, Platinum- Earn points with each rental that you can use towards rewards- Free car upgrades starting at Silver tier- Dedicated phone number

Europcar: Privilege

- Free weekend rental after three rentals- Priority pickup- Four tiers: Club, Executive, Elite, Elite VIP- Higher tiers’ benefits: free upgrade, free additional driver- Elite VIP benefit: airport lounge access

Hertz: Hertz Gold Plus, Five Star and President's Circle

- Skip the line for pickup and drop-off- Bonus points- Free upgrades- Dedicated customer service line- Higher tiers get guaranteed upgrades

National: Emerald Club

- Skip the line- Free additional driver- One free rental every seven rentals for all tiers- Option to choose any car from the Emerald Aisle when booking a midsize car or above

Sixt: Sixt Advantage Circle

- Different tiers: Gold, Platinum, Diamond- All members get the Sixt Express card to skip the line- Gold status after three rentals- Gold and Platinum members get free additional drivers, free upgrades and up to 20% discount

Budget: Fastbreak Program

- No points and rewards system- Fast-track service for pickup- Easy drop-off- Exclusive deals- Earn credits towards future rentals

Dollar: Express Rewards

- Great redemption fees and other benefits- Skip the counter option- Travel rewards from partners

As you can see, the selection of vehicles, rates, extras and loyalty programmes offered may vary from one company to another, but they all offer interesting options. It really is all up to what your company’s preferences and priorities are—but with all these options, you can be sure you’ll find the perfect car for your next business trip!

Did you know that on TravelPerk’s platform you can choose from a wide variety of car rental companies when planning your business trip? For any other rental company that’s not on the platform, customers can submit a booking request via our concierge service. Additionally, you have the possibility to book a long-term rental and to select VAT-friendly car rental options. We make business car rental easier for you!

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Best car rental companies for business travellers

How to choose the best car rental company

Best car rental companies for business travellers

Avis

Best for: airport rentals, prepaid reservations

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Best for: range of office locations, service, avoiding extra fees

Europcar

Best for: range of cars, worldwide locations

Hertz

Best for: customer satisfaction, airport locations

National

Best for: benefits for businesses, best corporate car rental programmes

Sixt

Best for: variety of vehicles

Dollar

Best for: budget car rental

Budget

Best for: prepaid reservations, discounts and special deals

Best car rental companies for long-distance trips

Best car rental companies for small businesses

Avis

Budget

Hertz

Loyalty programmes and rewards

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