Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

U.S. Car Rental Market Achieves Record Revenue

In 2013, the U.S. car rental industry is expected to achieve record total rental revenues of about $24.546 billion, a 3.9% increase over 2012 revenues of $23.6 billion.

by Staff
December 4, 2013
U.S. Car Rental Market Achieves Record Revenue

The 2013 U.S. Car Rental Market chart.

1 min to read


Auto Rental News (ARN) has released its annual assessment of the U.S. car rental market, with updates on revenue, locations and cars in service by company.

In 2013, the U.S. car rental industry is expected to achieve record total rental revenues of about $24.546 billion, a 3.9% increase over 2012 revenues of $23.6 billion. The reported total average fleet size for the U.S. car rental industry is 1.95 million, a 4.8% increase over the average fleet size in 2012. The industry average revenue per rental unit, per month (RPU), was $1,048 for 2013.

Ad Loading...

“The car rental industry in America is on solid footing,” said Chris Brown, executive editor of Auto Rental News. “While revenues have reached an all-time high, RPU remains robust, even in the face of rising new car costs and softening used car values.”

The chart of the 2013 U.S. Car Rental Market (below) is included in ARN's annual Fact Book issue to be mailed soon.

Click here for statistics from previous years on the U.S. car rental market.

Complete ARN Fact Books dated from 2005-present are available for purchase here, and Fact Books from 1994-2004 are available for purchase here.


The 2013 U.S. Car Rental Market chart.

More Rental Operations

Two execs hold up a sign with Southwest and CarTrawler logos

Southwest Airlines Selects CarTrawler For Its Car Rental Booking Platform

The platform is designed to allow customers to compare and book rental vehicles more easily during the travel booking process.

Read More →
Speaker John Healy on stage with a podium, screen, and red curtains in the background.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueMay 27, 2026

Cross-Pressures, Evolving Trends Drive 2026 Rental Car Industry

A combination of cautious economic behavior, shifts in the rental vehicle market, and technological influences are shaping car rental operator decisions.

Read More →
Award winner on stage with presenters in front of yellow curtain.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueMay 27, 2026

Government Affairs Executive Wins Leading Rental Car Industry Award

Robert Muhs started in the car rental industry with Avis Budget Group two years before the first International Car Rental Show.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
The rental car team at the Green Motion franchise office near the Maputo International Airport in Mozambique.

Green Motion Expands Its African Presence with Mozambique Launch

This new rental car outlet reflects the growing demand for reliable transportation and the emphasis on sustainable travel across the continent.

Read More →
Photos of CEOs Colm Brady and Francois Kruger on a blue background and above a headline.
Telematicsby News/Media ReleaseMay 22, 2026

RentalMatics, GeoInt Partner On Rental Car Speed Tracking Tech

Rental operators can now detect and act on speeding while vehicles are still on rent, thereby reducing fines, admin workload, vehicle wear, and safety risks.

Read More →
NextPass 407 ETR

NextPass Expands Toll Payment Service to Highway In Toronto

Fleets and consumer can use a transponder-less option when traveling between Canada and the U.S.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A black Jeep is displayed at the Zubie-Bosch-TSD exhibit during the International Car Rental Show.

Zubie, PurCo Integrate Rental Damage Detection With Telematics

The combination brings actionable vehicle insights into PurCo’s PurInspect platform, improving damage detection and operational efficiency for rental fleets.

Read More →
50 states map showing LOR rates for each state with different shades of light to dark green

U.S. Length Of Rental (LOR) Declines Slightly in Q1 2026

LOR related to insurance claims overall continues to trend downward, but ongoing market and economic conditions could affect future results while the industry deals with staffing and productivity challenges.

Read More →
Illustration of a driverless futuristic front seat/dashboard view of other cars on a freeway with city skyline on horizon.

Hertz, Uber Deepen Roles In Self-Driving And Driver-Led Fleet Services

The business arrangement connects demand with scalable fleet management services and supports a range of mobility uses.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
Ad Loading...