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.
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.
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 | ||
|---|---|---|
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.
More Rental Operations

How Did This Independent Rental Operator Grow to 170 Vehicles in 4 Years?
With 170 vehicles across three Kentucky locations, Joel Price relies on an overseas team to handle reservations, payments, and after-hours customer service. It's one part of an unconventional approach to growing an independent rental operation.
Read More →
What Does It Take to Succeed in B2B Rentals?
The fundamentals may be familiar to daily car rental operators, but project-based truck rentals put different demands on the fleet and the business.
Read More →
NPR Builds on International Partnerships to Grow Rental Bookings
With Ana Laborde supporting broker development, NPR Auto Group is tailoring distribution strategies, rate packages, and partnerships to grow international reservations across its three brands.
Read More →
Advantage, Sixt Place Among Top Five in Annual Satisfaction Study
While Enterprise and National retain the top spots in JD Power’s 2026 rankings, the latest customer satisfaction results suggest renters can find competitive service beyond the biggest car rental names.
Read More →
The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals
Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.
Read More →
The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?
For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.
Read More →
ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers
The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.
Read More →
Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service
Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.
Read More →
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 →
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 →
