Paris was found to be the most popular car rental pickup city for U.S. travelers, according to an Auto Europe study. Photo via Wikimedia.

Paris was found to be the most popular car rental pickup city for U.S. travelers, according to an Auto Europe study. Photo via Wikimedia.

After looking at the most popular rental pickup cities around the world from June through August 2015, Auto Europe’s study found that European capital cities stood out as the favorites for U.S. travelers.

According to the study, the most popular car rental pickup city by U.S. residents was Paris with 5.79% of bookings, followed by Dublin (5.10%), Florence (5.05%), Rome (5.01%) and London (4.33%). When it comes to popular car rental pickup countries, Italy came in first with 24%, followed by France (18%), United Kingdom (11%), Germany (8%), Spain (8%), Ireland (7%) and Portugal (4%).

After comparing the average retail price of a mid-sized car in the most popular pickup cities, rental rates this summer were lower than in 2014, according to the study. For summer 2015, Florence saw the highest reduction in price year over year with rates dropping over 24%, followed by Dublin (23% drop), Rome (20% drop), London and Paris (13% drop).

When looking at the rental rates for a seven-day rental of a compact car, rates in Italy decreased the most from summer 2014 to summer 2015: 35% drop in price. After Italy, the U.K.’s rates decreased by 21%, France’s rates dropped by 18%, Germany’s rates decreased by 15% and Spain’s rates dropped by 10%, according to the study.

The study also looked at where the most U.S. travelers came from. Travelers from the U.S. Northeast region rented the most cars abroad this summer: 32% of all bookings. New Yorkers rented the highest number of cars (11%), and Rome was the top ranked pickup destination for Northeast travelers, according the study.

Here are some more U.S. travel highlights from the study:

  • Southeastern travelers made up 16% of all U.S. reservations abroad, with Floridians booking the most rental cars at 6.7%. This region’s most popular pickup city was Paris.
  • The Midwest represented 13% of total U.S. bookings, with Illinois residents booking the most rental cars. Dublin was the top location to pick up a rental car.
  • The West region made up 30% of U.S. bookings abroad, with Californians booking the most car rentals. Paris was chosen as the preferred rental car pickup city.
  • The Southwest only had 7% of all U.S. summer bookings abroad, with Texans booking the most rental cars. This region ranked Florence as its top pickup city.

Click here for the full Auto Europe study: http://www.autoeurope.com/blog/travel-trends/2015-car-rental-trends-more-us-travelers-rent-cars-abroad

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