Report: 10 Most Expensive U.S. Cities for Car Rentals

If you’re traveling to a faraway place for a long time, there’s a good chance that a car rental would be money well spent for you.

A recent survey from CheapCarRental.net indicates that rental rates so far this year have dropped by about 5% compared to a year ago.

Report: Car Rental Rates Are on the Rise

The website compared rental car rates at the 100 busiest U.S. airports. Prices reflect average weekly rates (Sunday to Saturday) for cars available for rent from August 1-31, 2023.

Here are some other key findings from the survey:

• In Reno, car renters paid 50% more than a year ago on a vehicle and spent $578 for the least expensive car.
• Rates in Honolulu have plummeted by more than 40%. San Francisco and San Diego rates have dropped by more than 30%.
• Compared to August 2022, average rental car rates have nearly doubled in some cities including Grand Rapids (44%), Birmingham (+42%), and Cleveland (37%).

Car Rental Rates Are Highest in These U.S. Cities

Let’s take a look at the most expensive car rental rates in America. Below, we’ve listed them by city and airport code.

See the complete list of cities at CheapCarRental.net.

How To Get the Best Rental Car Rate

When it comes to finding low rates, Team Clark is a fan of AutoSlash, an online tool that sends car rental rates to your email.

AutoSlash shops the car rental marketplace and applies any applicable discount codes, coupons, and membership perks it can find to get you the best deal.

Want to learn more about AutoSlash? Read the Team Clark review.

When it’s time to book, money expert Clark Howard says re-shopping is the way to save.

“When I book my flight weeks or months before the actual date of travel, I also book my car rental at the same time,” Clark says. “Then a week before my travel date, I re-shop the car rental rate. At least 90% of the time, I find that I can book a new car cheaper at the last minute, so I just let my old reservation go.”

Final Tip: Clark says don’t forget to document the condition of the vehicle before you drive off in it.

Want more of Clark’s money-saving tips? Read the cheapest way to rent a car.