The largest rental car agencies in the world
Whether you’re on a vacation with the family or on a business trip, your transportation will be a lot more comfortable if you choose to rent a car. Today there is an abundance of rental agencies to choose from when renting a car – in the list below we have gathered some of the largest agencies worldwide.
- 1. Enterprise Holdings
- 2. Avis Budget Group Inc
- 3. Hertz Global Holdings Inc
- 4. Sixt SE
- 5. Europcar Mobility Group SA
Enterprise Holdings
Enterprise Holdings is the parent company of three large rental agencies – Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car. The American company is the largest one in the world when it comes to rental cars, with a total of almost two million vehicles. Enterprise Holdings was founded back in 1957, and since then they have grown to serve more than 90 countries around the world.
Avis Budget Group Inc
Another major player on the market for rental cars is the American agency Avis Budget Group Inc. As you might guess from the name, this is the parent company of both Avis Car Rental and Budget Rent a Car. Zipcar is another brand that works under the flag of Avis Budget Group Inc. The company operates in 180 countries around the globe, with a total of 600,000 vehicles in business.
Hertz Global Holdings Inc
Together with Enterprise Holdings and Avis Budget Group Inc, Hertz Global Holdings Inc is one of three major agencies that operates in the US. Besides from main brand Hertz, the company operates the agencies Dollar Rent A Car, Thrifty Car Rental and Firefly Car Rental. Hertz Global Holdings Inc is an active player in most parts of the world, with rental offices in more than 150 countries.
Sixt SE
Sixt SE is one of the oldest operators in the market, starting its business in 1912 in Germany. The company is one of the largest rental agencies in Europe, but didn’t establish their business in the US until 2011. Today Sixt offers their services in more than 100 countries around the world.
Europcar Mobility Group SA
Europcar Mobility Group SA is a French car rental company with operations in 140 countries in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. The company was founded in 1949 in Paris, and offers a wide range of car rental and leasing services. In 2019 Europcar Mobility Group SA acquired the American car rental agency Fox Rent A Car, which increased their presence in the US.
Rental car insurance – how does it work?
When renting a car, you can be sure that the question of insurance will appear. But is it something that you really need, and who should you turn to for help? The answer to this question can vary depending on your situation – here you can find out more about the different options available.
To make it simple, your rental car can be insured in three different ways – by your own auto insurance (if you already own a car), by the rental agency or through a third party insurer. When it comes to your own auto insurance, in most cases this will provide the same coverage for rental cars as it does for your own car. At least if you use the rental car for personal purposes. As long as the value of the rental is similar to the value of your own car, in most cases you will receive the same coverage if it’s stolen or damaged.
A tip is to always check with your insurance company to learn their policy before you rent a car. This will help you in figuring out if you need additional insurance or not.
If you don’t have a car, meaning you don’t have any auto insurance, you can either buy insurance at the counter when renting a car or purchase it from a third party insurer. Choosing a third party company can be beneficial, for example you might be able to choose to pay for annual cover which can lower your costs if you rent cars frequently. The price is also normally lower than if you buy insurance straight from the rental agency. In addition, you can get assistance from the third party if you end up disagreeing with the rental company about some charge.
On the other hand, an advantage with buying your insurance from the rental agency is that in case of an accident you won’t need to pay first and then claim the money. The rental company will handle the payments for you.
The last option is obviously to choose to rely on the basic cover that’s included in your rental, and don’t buy any additional insurance. Beforehand this is the cheapest option – but it can end up being the priciest if you are in an accident with damages that aren't covered in your rental.
How to book a rental car online
When it comes to booking a rental car online, you have two options to choose from. The first one is to turn straight to a certain agency and book your car on their website. This is a convenient option if you know in advance which operator you want to use and feel comfortable with.
The other alternative is to use a comparison site such as rentalcars.com. Here you can find offers from the majority of the major rental agencies, and can easily compare prices to find the best option according to your wishes.