Five companies handle the overwhelming majority of US airport rentals: Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Budget, and National. Two parent groups own the lot — Enterprise Holdings runs Enterprise, National, and Alamo, while Avis Budget Group runs Avis and Budget. Hertz operates independently and also owns Dollar and Thrifty at lower price tiers. Knowing the corporate family helps you predict where loyalty status carries over and where the same fleet might be priced differently under two different signs at the same terminal.
Each brand markets a distinct personality. Enterprise leans into customer service and is consistently rated highest in third-party satisfaction surveys. Hertz pushes premium fleet and frequent-flyer integrations through its Gold Plus Rewards program. Avis Preferred is the loyalty-status workhorse for road warriors who want the fastest counter-bypass. Budget plays the price-sensitive game, often beating its Avis sibling on the same lot. National's Emerald Club aisle is the gold standard for skipping the counter entirely — pick any car in your tier and drive off.
Pricing varies more by airport than by brand. The cards below show the cheapest and average daily rate each brand currently offers across our network — use it to spot which brand is most competitive in your trip's price range, then click through for the airport-by-airport breakdown.