With approximately 4.18 million miles of highways, the US is a top-notch destination to cruise on wheels. That is why, more than 70 million people use a rental car to travel around the country.
Indeed, having a vehicle at hand gives you multiple perks compared to a bus, train, and even a plane. Freedom of movement, complete independence from schedules, comfort in any weather, and a cheap price to mention a few. However, the difficulty of choosing the right provider can overshadow the enjoyment of the road trip ahead. After all, you have many criteria when deciding on a company.
One of the dominant characteristics and indicators of any agency is its vehicle fleet. What do we mean? Imagine that you are going on a family ride and are looking for a rental 8-seater minivan. You would probably like to know which rental car companies have 8-passenger minivans in this case. Fortunately, almost every supplier can offer you a well-maintained car rental for 8 people in the desired location.
And yet, which companies have the widest choice, not only of people carriers but cars of other classes? We’ve done a lot of research and are ready to share the results with you – keep reading for the full details!
General US fleet and groups available
According to official data, last year the total lineup of companies was 1.8 million vehicles. However, this is lower than in the pre-COVID season, which means that agencies haven’t yet had time to replenish the required amount. Most autos belong to the economy through full-size categories, while specialty groups such as luxury, convertibles, minivans, and passenger vans are less popular. Therefore, providers have fewer of these on the list. Let’s review all the vehicle categories on offer from providers in the US.
- Mini – perfect for solo travelers or couples
- Economy – seats up to 4 people and has outstanding fuel economy
- Compact – slightly larger than the Economy models and offers a larger trunk
- Mid-size – a great combination of cheap price, high fuel economy, and roomy interior
- Standard – fits comfortably up to 5 people and has ample legroom
- Full-size – the best choice for a small family of 4-5 with lots of luggage
- SUV – feels confident on any road surface and features excellent 4×4 ability
- Minivan – the perfect solution for a small group trip with family or friends
- Passenger van – satisfies the travel needs of a large group, and has plenty of head and legroom
- Cargo van – holds bulky items and solves most transport issues
- Premium – provides more comfort than you get in a regular sedan
- Luxury – perfect for business meetings, dates, and other special occasions in your life
- Exotic – a car with a stylish design, a powerful engine, and a top-class interior
- Convertible – allows you to drive with the wind blowing through your hair
The best car rental companies by US fleet
More than 95% of all vehicles operating in America belong to three major conglomerates – Enterprise Holdings, Avis-Budget Group, and Hertz Global Holdings. At the same time, the rest of the agencies share only 5% of the remaining vehicles. View the exact proportions and companies with the largest garages below.
Enterprise Holdings
The company owns three agencies, including Enterprise, Alamo, and National, which together have 1.1 million vehicles in the US fleet. With over 6,000 locations within America, they feature the largest geographic coverage among all players in the industry. So, we can say that you enjoy the widest selection of deals when choosing companies from this holding.
Hertz Global Holdings
Hertz – along with brands such as Dollar, Thrifty, and Firefly, which are part of the holding – provides about 430,000 rental car offerings in its fleet in America. More than 3,800 locations within the country confirm the great success of Hertz as a brand. The company strives to make travel accessible to everyone and therefore introduces discounts and loyalty programs. Without a doubt, their service is always at the highest level too.
Avis Budget Group
You will be happy to use top car rental services from this holding, which includes four subsidiaries – Avis, Budget, Payless, and Zipcar. Together, they have about 350,000 vehicles in service at approximately 3,200 pick-up stations in the US. Travelers appreciate these companies for their cheap prices, impeccable pick-up/drop-off service, and nice perks like discounts and free optional extras.
Sixt
The German-based supplier has found a niche in the US and has grown its fleet to over 18,500 vehicles. You can find its cars in about 100 locations in America. The main reasons to choose Sixt are practically new vehicles, convenient booking conditions, and a reasonable pricing policy.
Fox
As part of the Europcar Mobility Group, Fox is a respected name in the US auto rental market. With 18,200 vehicles and 21 locations nationwide, the company favors budget road trippers. As always, a professional approach and simple service complete the list of its advantages.
We hope you benefit from our car rental brand comparison for your next road trip. Deciding on a company is always important, so why not choose the one with the widest range? So, compare similar offers when searching for a car, and find the best deal from the right provider!
