Yahoo Finance 6 Top Vacation Spots With the Most Expensive Rental Cars
Summer is almost here, and you might be ready to jet out of town. When you touch down at your destination, you may need to rent a car — which could add up fast.
Rental car prices are currently averaging $46 per day in the U.S., according to Hopper. This averages $322 per week, which is slightly more than the company’s estimated average domestic airfare this summer — $305 per ticket.
Surprisingly, car rentals in many top Florida destinations — e.g., Orlando, Miami, Tampa and West Palm Beach — are averaging much cheaper, at $20 per day or less. You’re in luck if you’re headed to one of these cities, but rental cars are much more expensive in many other tourist hot spots.
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When planning a summer vacation, researching the price of rental cars and budgeting for them might not be the first items on your list. However, high prices could ultimately steer you toward driving to your destination or choosing another spot altogether.
GOBankingRates used Kayak.com to research the prices of renting a car from major national rental car companies — Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt and Thrifty — using the travel dates of July 20-27, 2024. Here’s a look at the lowest weekly rates for several vehicle types in the cities with the most expensive rental cars.
Nashville, Tennessee
Lowest price for a small car: $377 per week
Lowest price for a medium car: $380 per week
Lowest price for a large car: $385 per week
Lowest price for an SUV: $376 per week
Oddly, an SUV is the cheapest rental car type in Music City. If you’re staying in the downtown area, you might not even need a car, but if you’re hoping to see more of the area, be prepared to pay.
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San Francisco
Lowest price for a small car: $366 per week
Lowest price for a medium car: $357 per week
Lowest price for a large car: $375 per week
Lowest price for an SUV: $352 per week
Nothing about San Francisco is known for being budget-friendly, including the price of rental cars. You probably won’t need a car to get around the city itself, but you will likely need one if you’re planning a visit to wine country or Silicon Valley.
Seattle
Lowest price for a small car: $500 per week
Lowest price for a medium car: $519 per week
Lowest price for a large car: $536 per week
Lowest price for an SUV: $555 per week
Seattle is one of the most expensive cities for rental cars, but you can likely get by without one. You can take the Link light rail system from the airport to the downtown area, where you’ll be able to walk or take public transit to attractions like Pike Place Market and the Space Needle.
Panama City, Florida
Lowest price for a small car: $352 per week
Lowest price for a medium car: $414 per week
Lowest price for a large car: $444 per week
Lowest price for an SUV: $451 per week
Unlike in other popular Florida destinations, renting a car in Panama City won’t come cheap this summer. If you have your heart set on the area, consider flying into one of the cities with cheaper rental prices and driving from there.
Savannah, Georgia
Lowest price for a small car: $438 per week
Lowest price for a medium car: $443 per week
Lowest price for a large car: $450 per week
Lowest price for an SUV: $450 per week
You’ll probably need a car in Savannah, unless you’re planning to limit your vacation to the city’s highly walkable historic district.
Charleston, South Carolina
Lowest price for a small car: $427 per week
Lowest price for a medium car: $427 per week
Lowest price for a large car: $428 per week
Lowest price for an SUV: $432 per week
Charleston is one of the most expensive cities to rent a car, but you might not need one if your visit is limited to the downtown Charleston area. However, you will need a car to visit a local beach or attractions like the Ashley River Plantations.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Top Vacation Spots With the Most Expensive Rental Cars
