Planning your rental
5 best car rental companies to compare for your next trip
Choosing the best car rental company depends on where you're travelling, your budget and the car you need. We've compared Enterprise, National, Alamo, SIXT and Hertz using their published pickup options, locations and vehicle choices. Use this shortlist to narrow your search, then check the price and terms at the branch you plan to book.
The quick check
Compare the total price, collection arrangements and return terms for your trip. Whichever rental company you choose, photograph the car and report existing damage before driving away.
How we chose this shortlist
These five car rental companies offer options worth comparing, from neighbourhood branches to airport collection services and premium cars. We checked their published services on 19 October 2026. This shortlist is based on that information, rather than customer ratings or first-hand tests of individual branches.
Price and service vary by location, country, season and booking channel. Compare the full cost, deposit, excess, mileage, cancellation terms and return hours for the same trip. Read recent feedback about the actual branch, and confirm anything essential directly. No brand name removes the value of checking the car yourself.
1. Enterprise: a useful starting point for UK local rentals
Enterprise lists neighbourhood and airport branches across the UK. It is worth checking for car hire close to home, including when your own car is being repaired. Its local pickup and drop-off service is available at participating non-airport branches, subject to conditions including business hours and staff availability.
Compare the specific branch's opening hours with your schedule, especially for a weekend return. Confirm any pickup arrangement in advance. At collection, use PickupLens to record the actual vehicle and existing marks alongside the branch's handover record.
2. National: airport car hire for frequent travellers in the US and Canada
National's Emerald Aisle lets eligible Emerald Club renters who reserve a midsize car choose from the cars in a designated area at participating locations in the US and Canada. If you regularly hire cars at airports, the option to skip the counter and choose from the available vehicles may be useful.
Check that your airport and reservation qualify. If you need a particular category for luggage or passengers, book for that need instead of assuming an upgrade will appear. Once you select a car, confirm its registration and make your collection record before heading to the exit.
3. Alamo: skip-the-counter collection for holiday rentals
Alamo offers Skip the Counter at selected locations when you complete the required steps in advance. Check that your booking qualifies and that you meet its payment requirements before planning to go straight to the car. An agent still checks your details at the exit gate.
This can suit a holiday when you want to organise the paperwork before travelling. Compare the final quote with any extras your group needs, and allow a few minutes for the walkaround. A faster collection still leaves you responsible for noticing and reporting an existing mark through the company's process.
4. SIXT: worth comparing for premium vehicle categories
SIXT's UK fleet guide includes economy vehicles alongside premium, luxury, convertible and larger categories, with examples from brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi. It is worth comparing if you want a premium rental car, a convertible for a holiday or more room for passengers and luggage.
Read ‘or similar’ carefully: a pictured model is not necessarily the car you will receive. Check the category, luggage capacity and local protection terms. Give wheels, low bumpers and visible bodywork the same deliberate inspection you would give any other rental, and preserve the original photos in PickupLens.
5. Hertz: an option for travellers who value loyalty and car choice
Hertz's published loyalty guidance describes counter bypass at selected locations and Ultimate Choice access for eligible members with a midsize-or-larger reservation. Those features can be useful when comparing repeated airport rentals, provided the chosen location and rate qualify.
Compare the full booking cost and the benefits you can actually use. Check the return procedure and keep the receipt when it arrives. Use a separate PickupLens return scan to document how you left the car, including its exterior condition, the dashboard and the parking position.
Add your own condition record to whichever company you choose
PickupLens complements the rental you book. The iPhone and Android app guides your collection walkaround, helps you review suggested marks and keeps clean original evidence alongside your report. A paid collection scan includes an optional return scan at no extra charge.
Use it alongside the rental company's handover and reporting process. Send missing marks through that company's required channel and keep its acknowledgement. A good booking gets you the right car for your trip; a clear collection and return record helps you explain its condition if a question comes later.
Sources and further reading
Company guidance can vary by country and branch. Check the terms for your own booking.
