Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

CheapCarRental.net Lists Most Expensive U.S. Cities for Car Rentals

Using data from CarTrawler, the survey found that New York, New Orleans and Honolulu were at the top of the list as the most expensive cities to rent a car during the survey period of April 2012 to March 2013.

by Staff
March 25, 2013
2 min to read


CheapCarRental.net released March 21 the results of its survey comparing 50 destinations in the United States based on their car rental rates over the past 12 months.

New York City topped the list with renters paying an average of $72 per day to rent the cheapest available car. New Orleans and Honolulu ranked second and third with daily rental rates at $64 and $63 per day, respectively.

Ad Loading...

Among the least expensive destinations was San Diego, Seattle and Los Angeles with averages at $30 per day. The cheapest U.S. city to rent a car was Milwaukee with rates averaging $27 per day, according to the survey.

Top 10 Most Expensive
U.S. Destinations

1

New York City

$72

2

New Orleans

$64

3

Honolulu

$63

4

Washington, D.C.

$59

5

Houston

$56

6

Boston

$55

7

Newark

$54

8

Charlotte

$53

9

Austin

$49

10

Sacramento

$48


The car rental rates expressed in the survey were established via CarTrawler, a car rental comparison engine, according to CheapCarRental.net.

For 50 destinations in the United States, the average daily rental rate for the cheapest available car for the time period from April 2012 to March 2013 was calculated. Each city’s main airport was chosen as the “pick-up” and “drop-off” location. Rates were established about one to two weeks prior to the pick-up date and for a rental duration of five days.

For the full rankings of the survey, click here.

More Rental Operations

plane, palm trees, car rental sign
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownSeptember 15, 2026

Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap

A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.

Read More →
Team members of U-Save's new franchise
Rental Operationsby StaffSeptember 15, 2026

U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana

The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.

Read More →
A traveler searches for rental cars with an AI bot
Rental OperationsSeptember 14, 2026

When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?

As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)

Read More →
Ad Loading...
map of europe and summer car rental rates
Rental OperationsSeptember 11, 2026

European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country

Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.

Read More →
thumbnail of Chris Brown and Mike DeLorenzo with title Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownSeptember 8, 2026

Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?

As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.

Read More →
Woman receiving car rental rates on computer from AI agent
Rental OperationsSeptember 1, 2026

Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental

Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)

Read More →
Ad Loading...
map of globe with regional corporate car rental rates
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 25, 2026

U.S. Business Travel Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise Up to 2%

Improved fleet supply should limit pricing gains in 2026-27, while insurance, repair costs, and softer residual values continue to pressure rental operations, according to Amex GBT.

Read More →
Sixt H1 financial results
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 14, 2026

Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026

Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.

Read More →
Bobby Klyce in memoriam image
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownAugust 13, 2026

In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend

The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Vibe coding webinar promo image
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 12, 2026

How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]

A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.

Read More →
Ad Loading...