4 Best Car Rentals in Chicago (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Talise Sterling, Goods and Shopping · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 7 min read

A canceled flight or a last-minute weekend trip does not leave much time to shop around for car rentals in Chicago. Between the agencies on this page, customers have left 2,271 Google reviews, and the ratings only spread from 3.8 to 4.4, a gap of six tenths of a star that hides some very different day-to-day experiences at the counter.

Short answer: For car rentals in Chicago, National Car Rental on N LaSalle St leads with 4.4 stars across 447 reviews, the highest rating on this page. SIXT Rent a Car Chicago South Loop carries the most reviews at 791, a sign of steady volume even with a 4.1 average. Expect a basic economy rental to run roughly $45-$90 a day depending on season and how far ahead you book.

Jump to a business

1. SIXT Rent a Car Chicag…
2. National Car Rental
3. Enterprise Rent-A-Car
4. Avis Car Rental
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Chicago Car Rental Agencies, Side by Side

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	SIXT Rent a Car Chicago South Loop	4.1 ★	791	High-volume downtown location	View ›
2	National Car Rental	4.4 ★	447	Highest-rated pick, downtown Loop	View ›
3	Enterprise Rent-A-Car	3.8 ★	786	Largest fleet and most locations citywide	View ›
4	Avis Car Rental	4.0 ★	247	Fast, walk-in-friendly service	View ›

Our picks, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

SIXT Rent a Car Chicago South Loop

4.1791 Google reviews

SIXT operates a South Loop branch on S Wabash Ave, a car rental agency also handling van rentals for customers who need more room. It is one of the busier rental counters downtown, with hundreds of pickups a year and a reputation, built through repeat customers, for staff who go out of their way on longer or complicated rentals. It keeps weekday hours from 8am to 5pm and shorter weekend hours.

What people praise

Staff frequently praised by name for going above and beyond
Handles long-term rentals smoothly, including mid-rental vehicle swaps
Reviewers describe cars as clean and well-maintained on pickup

Worth knowing

One detailed account describes a tire failure and a slow claims process
Weekend hours are shorter than the weekday schedule

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.1 / 5

Review volume791 · 95th

Confidencehigh

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown74% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: SIXT ranks near the top of this page on sheer volume, not the highest rating. Most reviewers had a smooth, even memorable, experience, but the rare bad one was a serious one, so it is worth confirming your insurance coverage before you drive off.

Website +1888-749-8227 Directions

714 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605

#2🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

National Car Rental

4.4447 Google reviews

National Car Rental runs a Loop branch at N LaSalle St, a straightforward car rental counter without the added van or truck lines some competitors carry. It leans on its Emerald Club loyalty program for repeat renters and keeps a basement pickup area reached by elevator, a detail more than one reviewer flags as unexpected the first time.

What people praise

Highest rating on this page, built on hundreds of reviews
Reviewers single out staff patience with international licenses and paperwork
Good selection including luxury vehicles, according to repeat customers

Worth knowing

The pickup area is in a basement level, a bit of a maze the first visit
Hours are shorter on weekends than most competitors

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4.4 / 5

Review volume447 · 68th

Confidencehigh

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown75% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: National earns the top rating on this page and the reviews back it up with specifics, not just star counts. If you are new to the location, budget an extra few minutes to find the counter.

Website +1800-227-7368 Directions

203 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60601

#3🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

3.8786 Google reviews

Enterprise Rent-A-Car's South Loop location on Michigan Ave is part of the country's largest rental network, offering standard car and van rentals with the broad national backing that comes with the brand. It is the highest-volume agency on this page by a wide margin, and most of its reviews describe attentive, name-checked staff even when something went wrong.

What people praise

Staff repeatedly praised for walking customers through paperwork and coverage
Large fleet means more options when a specific vehicle type is needed
Reviewers highlight quick problem-solving for insurance-replacement rentals

Worth knowing

Lowest rating on this page, and a few reviews describe slow resolution on billing disputes
One reviewer reported an unpleasant vehicle odor on pickup

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating3.8 / 5

Review volume786 · 86th

Confidencehigh

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown58% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Enterprise carries the most reviews here by far, which usually means more chances for something to go sideways. When it does, according to these reviews, the fix is not always fast. Confirm the vehicle's condition before you leave the lot.

Website +1312-808-1228 Directions

2640 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60616

#4🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Avis Car Rental

4.0247 Google reviews

Avis Car Rental's South Franklin St branch is a standard car and van rental counter in the West Loop, open early on weekdays and shorter hours on weekends. It is the newest-reviewed location on this page, with several recent five-star mentions naming the same staff member for turning around last-minute bookings quickly.

What people praise

Recent reviews consistently name the same staff member for fast, friendly service
Easy in-and-out location for both pickup and drop-off
Handled a third-party booking mix-up without extra charge to the customer, per one review

Worth knowing

A vocal minority describe billing disputes over fuel charges that took repeated calls to resolve
Fewest total reviews of the group, so the sample is smaller

Reputation scorecardrank in Chicago

Rating4 / 5

Review volume247 · 41th

Confidencemoderate

Recency10 days ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown68% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Avis rewards renters who deal directly with the counter rather than a third-party booking app, based on what reviewers describe. Take a photo of the fuel gauge and any existing damage before you drive off.

Website +1708-392-6979 Directions

335a S Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60606

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How we score

Rating is the live Google average. Review volume measures how many customers actually left a review, ranked against the others on this page. Confidence blends the two, so a high rating built on hundreds of reviews scores better than the same rating on a handful. Recency checks how recently people are still reviewing. No business can pay to change any of these numbers.

What does a car rental cost in Chicago? (2026)

Daily rates swing hard with season, how far ahead you book, and whether you’re picking up downtown versus an airport location. Weekend and holiday demand pushes prices up fast, and downtown counters like the ones on this page often run a premium over suburban lots.

Serving all of Chicago

All four agencies on this page sit within or near the Loop and South Loop, an easy taxi or rideshare from most downtown hotels and from Union Station. If you’re searching for car rentals near me from the Loop, West Loop, or South Loop, any of these four locations is a short trip away, though O’Hare and Midway airport counters run separately from these city branches.

What to ask before you book a car rental

What is included in the daily rate, and what costs extra?
Is a deposit or hold placed on my card, and how much?
What is the fuel policy, and is there a penalty for returning less than full?
Can I add a second driver at no charge if they meet age requirements?
What happens if the vehicle needs service mid-rental?
Are there after-hours drop-off options at this location?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these car rental agencies?

We pulled every car rental business with a real Google presence in Chicago, then scored each on its live rating, review volume, and how recently customers have been reviewing it.

How often is this updated?

This page reflects Google data verified in July 2026. Ratings and review counts change, so treat the numbers as a snapshot rather than a permanent ranking.

Is it cheaper to book downtown or at the airport?

It varies by season and demand. Downtown counters can skip some airport surcharges, but availability is often tighter than at O’Hare or Midway.

Do I need my own insurance to rent a car?

Most agencies offer optional coverage at the counter, but many personal auto policies and credit cards already include some rental coverage. Check both before you decline or add anything.

The bottom line

National Car Rental on N LaSalle St carries the strongest rating on this page and reviewers back it up with real detail, not just stars. Whichever counter you choose, photograph the vehicle’s condition and fuel level before you drive off. It is the cheapest insurance you will get all day.

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