If you're thinking of renting a car for an upcoming trip and find prices too expensive at traditional companies like Avis and Hertz, you'll be glad to know a number of nontraditional rental car companies have proliferated in recent years, and some may offer better prices.
A few of these operate like the Airbnb for cars, letting people rent out their personal vehicles. When you're exhausted by the hunt for a traditional rental, here are some of the biggest alternatives to look into. Just remember that whichever company you choose, booking with a credit card that offers complimentary car rental insurance can be a smart money move.
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One major advantage of these alternatives? Many let you skip the rental counter entirely. According to the J.D. Power 2025 North America Rental Car Satisfaction Study, customers who bypass the counter save nearly eight minutes on average and report significantly higher satisfaction — 704 vs. 662 on a 1,000-point scale. Despite that, 80% of airport rental customers still visit the counter first, so there's a real opportunity to improve your experience by going counterless when you can.
Not all of these are a win for your wallet, but a handful double as a cheaper alternative to a traditional rental, which broadens their appeal.
1. Turo
What it is: Turo is basically the Airbnb for cars, where you rent out a car — booked online or through the Turo app — from the car’s owner. You usually pick up the car at a pickup location, which could be the owner’s house, or a public area like a park or shopping center. Turo certainly has its pros and cons, but it can be one of the best ways to rent a car if you don't want to g with traditional car rental agency.
Some owners offer to deliver the car to you (usually for an added fee), which is handy if you'd like them to meet you at the airport or your hotel. Pickup logistics vary by host — some arrange a contactless handoff so you can grab the keys and go without meeting in person.
Since 2025, you can also book Turo cars in most of the U.S. directly through the Uber app via Uber Rent, which can be convenient if you already use Uber.
Turo can also be fun for aspirational travelers, thanks to how it highlights its selection of unique cars. A feature called limitless search, rolled out in June 2024, puts the make and model first: if you're interested in a particular vehicle, it shows you where in the world that specific car is available to rent.
Minimum age: 21 for most trips and car types, although some cars can be booked at age 18 with an additional young-driver fee.
Why we like it: The delivery option is especially handy — and a potential money saver. We tested Turo on a trip to the Big Island of Hawaii. The trip started at a resort with expensive parking, so taking a cab there and spending the first couple of nights car-free on the grounds was fine. When it was time to drive to the other side of the island, we had our Turo host meet us at the hotel, so we never paid the resort's parking prices. Afterward, we left the car at the airport, making drop-off easy.
Cancellation policy: You can cancel for free up to 24 hours before your trip.
Potential drawbacks: Because you're renting directly from the owner, quality varies. With a traditional rental you're generally guaranteed a fairly new, just-washed car. With Turo, the car's condition is more of a gamble.
2. Uber Rent
What it is: Uber Rent is the ride-hailing company's car rental service, and its calling card is delivery. It can drop a rental at your home, office or hotel, cutting out the counter or a separate pickup location. Uber Rent now spans both professionally managed fleet cars from rental partners and, as of 2025, Turo's peer-to-peer vehicles.
Availability: As of 2025, Uber Rent's door-delivery service for fleet vehicles operates in 24 U.S. cities, including Dallas, Phoenix, Charlotte and Las Vegas, after adding 15 cities that year. (The Turo cars now bookable through Uber Rent are available much more broadly, across most of the U.S.)
Why we like it: The biggest draw is convenience. Unlike Zipcar, which requires you to pick up cars at designated spots, or standard Turo bookings, where delivery is an optional extra that varies by owner, Uber Rent's fleet delivery brings the car straight to you — no counter, no pickup coordination.
Potential drawbacks: The main limit is geography. With fleet delivery in only 24 cities, that part of Uber Rent isn't an option for travelers in much of the country, though the Turo inventory inside the app widens your reach.
3. Zipcar
What it is: Zipcar, which actually shares the same parent company as both Avis and Budget, allows you to book rental cars by the hour or day. The cars sit in small lots or designated Zipcar spaces around the city and unlock via the Zipcar app. When you're done, you return the car to the same spot.
Minimum age: 21 (or 18 if a student or where required by law).
Why we like it: Zipcar offers the best of both worlds. You can grab cars around your city for hourly stretches, giving you the flexibility to take a day trip without paying for overnight parking. And because the cars are operated by Zipcar, you can count on consistent quality — unlike renting from an individual who might not maintain the car to traditional rental standards.
Cancellation policy: You can cancel for free up to 24 hours before your trip for rentals of eight hours or longer, and up to three hours before the trip for rentals under eight hours.
Potential drawbacks: You have to buy a membership to rent Zipcars, on top of other fees, including a one-time $25 application fee when you apply.
» Learn more: The cheapest rental car company might surprise you
Credit cards with car rental insurance
Renting a car will most likely require you to put down a credit card, so it can be a smart money move to use a card that also provides car rental coverage. Some of these credit cards also offer extra rewards when booking car rental so it pays to be familiar with what card is best for booking your rental.
Here are a few cards that offer car rental coverage:
Cards with rental car benefits
Annual fee
$95.
$695.
$895.
$795.
Rental car benefits
• Primary rental car coverage with reimbursement up to the cash value of most rental vehicles.
• Booking a car rental through Chase's travel portal earns 5 points per dollar spent.
• Primary rental car coverage that reimburses up to $60,000 for most rental vehicles.
• Up to $100 in United TravelBank when you book Avis or Budget rental cars through United ($50 per reservation).
• Other day-of-travel benefits for United flyers including two free checked bags and United Club lounge access.
• Complimentary elite status with Avis, Hertz and National, which entitles the member to upgrades and discounts.
• Secondary rental car coverage.
• Other benefits include expansive airport lounge access and hundreds of dollars' worth of travel credits.
• Terms apply.
• Primary rental car coverage with reimbursement up to $75,000.
• Booking a car rental through Chase's travel portal earns 8 points per dollar spent.
• Cardholders eligible for special benefits from Avis, National and Silvercar.
Learn more
» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now
Popular rental car alternatives that are no more
The rental car alternative market has not been without its challenges. Getaround has a huge presence in Europe. But after struggling to take off in the U.S., Getaround shut down in February 2025. Another service, Kyte, shuttered in August 2025, selling its customer list to Turo before entering receivership.
Even bigger names have failed to launch. Ride-hailing company Lyft tried its hand at rentals through Lyft Rentals, which launched in 2019 but closed by 2022. And Audi ran its own service, Audi on Demand, letting you rent Audi sedans and SUVs from select dealerships and a few other locations; that program ended in September 2024.
You still have car rental options that aren't traditional rental cars
The days of traditional rental companies being your only way to hit the road are gone. Some alternatives have come and gone, but plenty remain.
If you're booking a trip and find that traditional rentals are sold out or overpriced, don't panic. One of these alternatives might be exactly what you need to get your vacation rolling. Whichever you choose, since you'll use a credit card to book, look for one that also provides complimentary rental car insurance.
To view rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, see this page.
Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.
- Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
- Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
- Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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