Consumer Reports Names 5 Best Rental Companies Amid $168M ‘Stolen Car’ Scandal

Choosing a rental car just got higher stakes. In December 2022, Hertz paid $168 million to settle claims from 364 customers the company had falsely reported for vehicle theft, some of whom were arrested before the errors were corrected. Against that backdrop, Consumer Reports surveyed 6,236 of its members about their recent rental experiences and named five companies that consistently get it right, from booking to return. Here is how they ranked.

1. National Tops Rankings With Lowest Rates

National Rent A Car shattered industry expectations by securing the top spot in Consumer Reports’ Spring 2024 survey while simultaneously offering the lowest average daily rate. The evaluation of 6,236 recent renters found National charged just $73 per day on average, some $13 below the industry mean, while earning the highest overall satisfaction score. As Consumer Reports explicitly stated, the agency rated highest for overall satisfaction and was cheapest at “$73 a day. ON AVERAGE.” This rare combination of premium service and budget pricing defied conventional wisdom that quality necessitates higher costs.

2. Enterprise Claims Second Through Service Excellence

Enterprise Rent-A-Car secured second place in Consumer Reports rankings. Reviewers frequently cited staff responsiveness as a key differentiator, with CR noting the brand’s overall rental experience as a strength despite car selection scoring as a minor downside.

3. Alamo Delivers Consistent Value in Third Place

Alamo claimed third position, impressing survey respondents across most categories while its value for money rating trailed slightly behind the top two contenders. As part of Enterprise Holdings, Alamo manages more than 1,100 locations worldwide and is recognized for its Gold package that includes unlimited mileage and a pre-paid fuel option. The brand offers a diverse fleet. Consumer Reports highlighted Alamo’s strengths in vehicle condition, booking ease, and return processes, noting its overall value proposition lagged just behind National and Enterprise in the comprehensive assessment of ten major rental companies.

4. Hertz Shows Steady Performance in Fourth Place

Hertz secured fourth place, receiving consistent but unexceptional scores across all Consumer Reports evaluation categories. The century-old company, famous for its Shelby GT-H and GT500-H Mustang partnerships including the latter’s 900-horsepower variant, operates a Gold Plus Rewards program offering pickup services at select neighborhood locations. Despite its long history and global presence, Hertz’s selection, value, and customer service metrics were not rated as highly as some rivals. Consumer Reports noted the brand failed to excel in any single category sufficiently to elevate its overall standing, preventing it from challenging the top three despite its iconic brand recognition.

5. Sixt Excels in Cleanliness But Falls Short on Value

Sixt rounded out the top five, earning particular praise for vehicle cleanliness while underperforming in several value-oriented categories. The German premium rental company, which entered the U.S. market in 2011, now operates across 105 countries with over 2,200 locations. Consumer Reports highlighted Sixt’s strength in vehicle presentation and cleanliness standards but identified notable weaknesses in pricing transparency, ease of pickup procedures, and overall value perception, factors that prevented a higher ranking. While Sixt’s fleet includes American and European cars, the company uniformly prohibits towing with any of its rental vehicles.

Survey Reveals Significant Cost Implications for Travelers

The Consumer Reports data exposed substantial financial impacts directly affecting travel budgets, with daily rate variations translating to meaningful weekly differences. At the industry average of $86 per day, a week-long rental totals approximately $600, a consideration for vacation planners and business travelers managing expenses. National’s $73 daily average represented savings, reducing the same seven-day period to roughly $511, a roughly $91 difference that could cover additional travel costs. The survey further revealed that three-quarters of CR members leveraged discounts from affiliations like AAA, AARP, warehouse club portals, or rental loyalty programs to secure favorable rates.

Methodology Ensures Credible, Actionable Insights

The survey’s credibility stems from Consumer Reports’ methodology gathering insights from its member base through evaluations of recent rental experiences. Respondents rated experiences across multiple dimensions: booking and pickup ease, price transparency, value for money, customer service, and vehicle condition accuracy, among other factors. The nonprofit released results from its Spring 2024 member survey, featuring responses and critiques from 6,236 individuals who rented a car within the previous 12 months. These quantitative ratings enabled comparative analysis that identified clear performance tiers among the ten evaluated companies, capturing real-world consumer sentiment rather than relying solely on operational metrics.

Findings Explain Consistent Performance Gaps Among Brands

The results illuminate why certain brands consistently deliver superior experiences despite operating in the same market. National’s ability to combine top-tier satisfaction with lowest costs suggests operational efficiencies that directly translate to consumer benefits, a rare achievement where quality and price typically exhibit inverse relationships in service industries. Enterprise’s strong showing reinforces the importance of human elements in service delivery, with staff interactions during reservations and returns proving central to satisfaction scores. These patterns help travelers align choices with priorities: those valuing predictability might favor Alamo’s packages, while those seeking luxury European vehicles could consider Sixt despite its value trade-offs.

Practical Guidance Emerges for Informed Rental Decisions

Actionable insights emerge for consumers navigating rental decisions, particularly regarding timing and booking strategies. The data indicates significant savings potential through membership discounts including AAA, AARP, warehouse club portals like Costco or Sam’s Club, and early reservations that lock in favorable rates before peak demand periods. Travelers should evaluate total trip costs beyond base rates, including fuel policies (full-to-full versus pre-purchase), mileage limits, and insurance options that vary between providers. For airport rentals specifically, comparing neighborhood versus terminal locations often reveals meaningful price differences that offset convenience factors, especially for longer-term rentals where daily savings accumulate over time.

Future Outlook Points to Enduring Service Philosophies

Looking ahead, the rental landscape continues evolving with technological integration and shifting consumer expectations shaping future rankings. Companies investing in mobile experiences, pricing models, and vehicle preparation appear positioned for improved consumer perception. The performance gap between top-tier brands like National and Enterprise versus lower-ranked competitors suggests advantages stem from service philosophies rather than promotional tactics. For travelers seeking guidance, prioritizing providers with demonstrated excellence in both satisfaction and value typically yields the most favorable experiences across diverse trip types and durations, creating a framework for decision-making amid market fluctuations and evolving service innovations.