You can rent cars either directly from rental companies or through comparison sites that aggregate many brands.

Main places to rent cars

1. Big rental brands (counters at airports and in cities)

These are the classic “walk up to a counter, pick up the keys” options.

  • Enterprise – Huge network, especially strong in neighborhood (non‑airport) locations, good for everyday trips and often fewer “gotcha” fees.
  • National – Popular with frequent travelers; fast service and strong loyalty perks if you rent often.
  • Hertz – Very wide airport presence and lots of cars, often good prices and electric‑vehicle choice, though forum users frequently complain about customer service issues.
  • Avis / Budget – Common at airports, solid loyalty program and clear policies, decent balance of price and service.
  • Sixt – Newer in the U.S. but big globally; known for newer, nicer or luxury‑leaning cars at competitive base rates.
  • Alamo / Dollar / Thrifty – Often cheaper, especially for vacation rentals, with straightforward airport pickup.

These brands are what you’ll mostly see at airport terminals and large city hubs.

2. Comparison & booking websites

These sites don’t own cars but let you compare many rental companies at once and book the best deal.

  • Expedia, Rentalcars.com – Let you compare prices from most major brands, filter by car type, rating, and policies, and often include free cancellation windows.
  • Discover Cars – Often highlighted as a strong “all‑around” option that compares global and local providers with clear terms and free cancellation on many deals.

Using one of these first is a good way to see the price range across companies for your dates and location.

3. Newer and contactless options

Some services focus on more digital, low‑contact experiences.

  • Major brands’ apps (Hertz, Sixt, National, etc.) now often let you check in online, skip the counter, and sometimes unlock the car via app in select locations.
  • Many airport and city locations support “skip the counter” or express pickup for loyalty members, which can save a lot of time on busy days.

These are most useful if you travel frequently or hate waiting in lines.

Quick comparison of where to rent

Below is a simple side‑by‑side to help you choose:

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[10][8][6][3] [5][7]
Option type Examples Best if you want…
Big rental brands (direct) Enterprise, National, Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Alamo Consistent experience, loyalty perks, lots of airport & neighborhood locations.
Comparison sites Expedia, Rentalcars.com, Discover Cars See many companies and prices in one search, with filters and flexible cancellation.
Contactless / app‑first Hertz, Sixt, National apps Skip the counter, faster pickup and drop‑off, digital management of your rental.

Simple rule of thumb

  • For airports and short trips: check a comparison site first, then book with a major brand that has good reviews at that specific location.
  • For local errands or moving stuff: consider Enterprise or similar neighborhood‑style branches, which often specialize in local rentals and vans.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.