Austin car hire information
| Pick-up location | Austin |
|---|---|
| Car types | Compact, Compact SUV, Economy, Full-size, Full-size SUV, Intermediate, Intermediate SUV, People carrier, Pick-up truck, Standard, Standard SUV |
| Hire locations | 71 |
| Airport locations | 23 |
| Popular agencies | Thrifty, Dollar, Budget, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Avis |
Cheap car hire in Austin
| Economy | R708/day |
| Compact | R673/day |
| Intermediate | R697/day |
| Standard | R740/day |
| Full-size | R665/day |
| People carrier | R1 195/day |
| Full-size SUV | R1 456/day |
| Pick-up truck | R905/day |
| Compact SUV | R752/day |
| Intermediate SUV | R771/day |
| Standard SUV | R882/day |
Top tips for hiring a car in Austin
- Whether travelers seek to explore the city of Austin or attractions like the Austin Zoo or the Colorado River, a hire car will get you to all destinations in no time. You don’t have to worry about timetables and public transport delays when you can enjoy your time in Austin with a car. Houston and San Antonio are about 165 and 80 miles away respectively, and for travelers staying longer in Austin, they are definitely worth a day trip.
- Get your hire car conveniently at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and be in the city center within 15 minutes. The hire car center is located in Level 1 at the customer counters, but signs will guide you there from the terminal. There are also shuttles operating between the terminal and the car hire center.
- Austin is a bike-friendly city, so make sure you do not cross bike lanes and risk injuring a cyclist. Also be aware that the speed in Austin is rather high compared to many other cities. As Austin has interstates crossing in lower and upper decks, it can be a challenge to navigate the system at first, so drive extra carefully and attentively to take the right exit.
- Try to avoid rush hours in Austin to save time and energy. Especially the Interstate 35 is clogged up 6-9 AM and 4-7 PM, and waiting times can be up to an hour. Also note that, even though Austin is known for being rather warm, there can be ice in winter that will make the streets more dangerous and slippery.
- Book your car hire in Austin at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Off-airport car hire locations in Austin are around 22% cheaper than airport locations on average
- Mini car hire in Austin are around 52% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about hiring a car in Austin
What type of car is recommended for driving in Austin?
Travelers who seek to get the ultimate Texas experience should opt for a pickup truck, as they are still the most beloved vehicle in Texas. However, they do require a lot of space, and if you only cruise through the city and have a hotel without a parking lot, a more compact car or smaller SUV is a more sensible choice.
What’s the speed limit in Austin?
Unless posted otherwise, general speed limits for Austin are 15 mph in alleys and around schools and 30 mph in residential areas. 55 mph is allowed on unnumbered highways during nighttime and, during the day, drivers can speed up to 60 mph. On numbered highways, the maximum speed limit is 65 mph at night and 70 during the day.
Where are the best places to park in Austin?
Parking is available on the streets of Austin or in garages, public parking lots or, of course, your hotel (if available). When parking on the street, note that it could be metered and be sure to check how long parking is permitted. Alternatively, choose a parking garage such as the ABM Parking, LAZ Parking, or 924 E Dean Keeton Street Parking, where your car can be parked for longer stretches of time -- but always read the signs to be sure.
What is the cheapest car hire company in Austin?
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest car hires were found at Dollar (R665/day), Thrifty (R673/day) and Avis (R708/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest hire car price was found at Dollar 3819 Presidential Blvd 78719 (12 kilometres from the city centre).
What is the best car hire company in Austin?
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire companies in Austin are Alamo (9,0, 76 reviews), Enterprise Rent-A-Car (8,0, 131 reviews), and Dollar (6,7, 71 reviews).
How much is the price of fuel in Austin?
The average price of fuel in Austin is R77,70 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between R932 and R1 243, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular car hire in Austin?
Mini (Chevrolet Spark or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Austin.
How can I find car hires near me in Austin?
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
How much does a Mini car hire cost in Austin?
A Mini car hire in Austin costs R676 per day, on average.
How much does an Economy car hire cost in Austin?
An Economy car hire in Austin costs R950 per day, on average.
How much does a Full Size car hire cost in Austin?
A Full Size car hire in Austin costs R1 082 per day, on average.
Austin car rental reviews and directory
Alamo
9,0
Wonderful
239 reviewsCleanliness
9.1
Comfort
9.2
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.2
Value for money
8.7
One location in Austin
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10,0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
We originally booked a rental with Hertz, and had a nightmare. The vehicle broke down and it took 4 hours for Hertz to come pick up the vehicle and we were told there were no more available. We got online and booked with Alamo, which was more expensive but the transaction was a breeze, and pickup and delivery was fast and simple. The car was extra clean and ran like a dream.Cons:
I wish we hadn't had to pay twice the rate of the other rental companies.10,0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
Drop-off was easy. Drop-off attendant was friendly.8,0 Very Good
Apr 2021
Cons:
BMW 3 Series was really small, difficult to enter, confusing shifter/electronics, limited trunk space.2,0 Poor
Jan 2021
Pros:
Clean carCons:
No chance to review pre-existing damage with employee, I documented a paint chipped area myself, but when I returned the car they said I was lying. Now they want to make an insurance claim against me! Poor customer service, I will avoid Alamo/National from now on unless they admit their mistake.8,0 Very Good
Dec 2020
Pros:
Friendly staff at pick up. Staff saved me money. Drop off was as easy as I could imagine. Car was well maintained, clean, and came with nice features.Cons:
Not much. Car could have come with iPhone adapter for CarPlay but that would’ve been above and beyond.10,0 Wonderful
Oct 2020
Pros:
Picking up the car the attendant gave me a free upgrade.Enterprise Rent-A-Car
8,0
Very Good
263 reviewsCleanliness
8.1
Comfort
8.1
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.2
Value for money
7.8
20 locations in Austin
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4,0 Mediocre
Jun 2021
Cons:
Pickup staff were rude and dismissive.2,0 Poor
May 2021
Cons:
Flight was delayed and when I got there they told me they gave away my car because I was late. No other cars were available, so we spent the weekend using Uber.10,0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
The staff was friendly, fast, and thorough. The rep walked around the car with me to check for pre-existing damage. My car was clean amd comfortable.Cons:
I rented from an off-airport location due to the low amount of vehicles available in the city. Although Enterprise will "come pick you up", they cannot do that if you're at the airport. So I had to add a $35 Uber ride to the total. The rental was WAY overpriced for a Nissan Altima ($96/day), but they did not have to add a slew of additional fees like the airport places. But the staff were a good group of people. None of that stuff was in their control. I also dropped the car off before they opened. It was weird just leaving the car there, and putting keys in a drop box. I am used to airport locations with 24-hour presence. I never got a phone call or email letting me know they received the vehicle back. I only dropped it off about an hour before they opened, I'm sure it was fine.4,0 Mediocre
Apr 2021
Pros:
One needs to be very careful in checking puck up and drip off locations. My pick up was NOT at the airport . The airport location told me there would be a sleight upcharge to redo the reservation and start a new one. The price was DOUBLE and there is no refund on the Priceline reservation!Cons:
The airport should have helped there customer and traveler and explained to me where the other location was. They should have advised me to take a 30$ Cab ride and saved myself over 500$. I had to jump through hoops to get it right. In all fairness, the Representative at the OTHER location was awesome! He was helpful, honest and empathetic to my situation.2,0 Poor
Apr 2021
Pros:
NothingCons:
They could have actually had a car for me to rent instead of taking a reservation and leaving me stranded.8,0 Very Good
Apr 2021
Pros:
goodCons:
more vehiclesAdvantage
6,9
Okay
213 reviewsCleanliness
7.0
Comfort
7.2
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.9
Value for money
6.8
One location in Austin
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9,6 Wonderful
Feb 2020
Pros:
Very nice drop off staff. Check-in guy wanted me take economy car since it was intermediate sold out; he did not offer me a discount for smaller car. I asked for intermediate or larger; he gave me a larger car. He was very polite though.Cons:
See above.2,0 Poor
Oct 2019
Pros:
They tricked at the counter, the attendant never told me I was going to be charged for an upgrade. When I received my final bill by email, I realized they charged me $30 for an "upgrade" that was never delivered or discussed at the counter.Cons:
AS BAD AS IT COULD BE! The car was in terrible condition, ketchup on the door panel, plus had a disgusting juice spill all around the cupholders. Employees maybe we're waiting for a customer to clean up the car. The car had mirror lever is broken, head console buttons (SOS) where jammed/broken.5,2 Fair
Aug 2019
Pros:
I didn’t get the car or help from the staff. Still charged full amount.Cons:
I scheduled a same day pick up via my phone And the city auto populated to the neighboring city. I didn’t realize this until I went to pick the car up - kiosk guy directed me to customer service line but no one answered x 5. Called again the next day and was told it was too late.8,8 Very Good
Aug 2019
Pros:
The man who gave us the car was abrupt and never smiled. The man who handled us when we returned was very friendly and helpful.Cons:
More courtesy from the desk clerk when we got the cat4,4 Mediocre
Aug 2019
Pros:
helpful staff, easy drop off & pickupCons:
Car had almost no engine power, it was dangerously slow-speedup while merging onto freeway ramps, changing lanes the car was diesel volkswagon Jetta - i felt horrible for causing much more pollution compared to gas/hybrid8,8 Very Good
Jun 2019
Pros:
Easy pick up and drop off.Cons:
There was a piece of trash in the back of the minivan when we got it.Dollar
6,7
Okay
135 reviewsCleanliness
8.0
Comfort
7.9
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.8
Value for money
6.6
One location in Austin
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2,0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
Hertz was great and I will use them next time. Dollar? Don't think soCons:
Booth was closed so had to use Hertz counter which was undermanned.2,0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
My bill was not what I was quoted. I was charged twice as much and opted out of all addons.Cons:
If I was charged what I was booked.10,0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
Staff was friendly at both pick up and drop off. I picked up at the Hertz counter and a wonderful lady helped us. Great experience!4,0 Mediocre
May 2021
Pros:
Staff was great.Cons:
The vehicle front windshield was not sealed properly very loud wind noise, for the price I paid to Dollar to rent would never do again.6,0 Okay
Apr 2021
Pros:
Drop off was easy. Upgraded at no charge.Cons:
The customer service person was nice but pushed the toll pass and insurance too much. We were made to feel like idiots for not getting them.6,0 Okay
Apr 2021
Pros:
Car was good and what we asked for and needed.Cons:
Customer service was awful. I could tell they were following and script and couldn't stray from it. Sent me in a circle with kayak, priceline, and dollar. I will never rent from kayak again.Budget
6,3
Okay
303 reviewsCleanliness
6.9
Comfort
7.1
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.2
Value for money
6.3
10 locations in Austin
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2,0 Poor
Oct 2022
6,0 Okay
Oct 2022
2,0 Poor
Oct 2022
10,0 Wonderful
Oct 2022
10,0 Wonderful
Sep 2022
10,0 Wonderful
Sep 2022
Avis
6,2
Okay
147 reviewsCleanliness
6.6
Comfort
6.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.6
Value for money
5.9
10 locations in Austin
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2,0 Poor
Oct 2022
6,0 Okay
May 2021
Pros:
Got a pickup truck since they ran out of sedansCons:
Estimated total. Total everywhere on kayak for $387 when I left it was $410. A surprise $23 fee out of no where and Avis wouldn’t change it for the total I quoted6,0 Okay
May 2021
Pros:
Staff was wonderful.Cons:
Car was filthy on the inside when I picked it up, I informed the employee. Also I was at the gas station for 20 minutes and couldn’t figure out how to open the gas cap, very frustrating and more expensive then needed2,0 Poor
May 2021
Cons:
Ordered the car and THEY TOOK my money, but when I showed up they said I didn’t have a car or that my name was even on the reserved list. Wouldn’t recommend to anyone.8,0 Very Good
Apr 2021
Pros:
yesCons:
doing more to ensure vehicles are available in the city4,0 Mediocre
Jan 2021
Cons:
They tried to give me a much smaller car than reserved. I canceled the rental.Thrifty
6,1
Okay
115 reviewsCleanliness
6.4
Comfort
6.4
Pick-up/Drop-off
5.5
Value for money
6.2
One location in Austin
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7,6 Good
Jan 2020
Pros:
Everyone was nice and the process was easyCons:
I made the reservation on line (the mother) using my credit card. The confirmation said the driver would have to present license and credit card at pick up (which was going to be my adult son). When we picked the car up we were not allowed to do this without paying extra to have him be the driver. We were told because the reservation was in my name I had to be the first driver. If the on-line reservation would have stated this we would have had him make the reservation. Seems like you could have been more accommodating at the pick up time. Not sure why it makes a difference whose name is on the reservation.6,8 Okay
Nov 2019
Pros:
Very friendly people especially at the pickup and dropoffCons:
First I wanted a car with a navigation system, after 45 minutes at pickup we figured out that the car did not have navigation, then too late an behind schedule had to leave. This created a lot of issues on my trip having to navigate by cell phone.....major problem. Second spent 3 hours on the phone with multiple calls trying to determine if I could drop the car at Hobby Houston at 4am....called and called and called again. Will not rent from Thrifty in the future.5,2 Fair
Nov 2019
Pros:
The car was clean but also Gas tank was not full at pick upCons:
Be prepared to wait in line at the counter for at least an hour before getting your rental. Counter guy says we have a choice & we go out to get our car and we don’t have any selection. The staff outside did not provide us undivided attention & lacked customer service. The exit gate guy took our key fob and did not return it upon us leaving the gate. Luckily we figured out the fob was missing before leaving the premises & turned around. At return it seemed to be such a hassle to close out my rental due to agent nowhere to be found. I wanted to confirm my charges due to the horrible service at pick up and I had to take a picture on my phone from the guy’s tablet as a form of receipt. This location lacked customer service and coming from a formal rental car employee, I know what is expected from these people and traveling all day the last thing you want is a bad rental car experience.10,0 Wonderful
Nov 2019
Pros:
Staff did NOT try to oversell!2,8 Poor
Nov 2019
Cons:
The car smelled like vomit then broke down halfway through the rental period. To remediate this, Thrifty asked me accompany a tow truck driver to a location 40 minutes away. Instead, I chose to end my rental. Since then I haven’t been able to get any information from Thrifty regarding a refund. Very frustrating to deal with their roadside assistance, customer service, and the local franchise.2,0 Poor
Oct 2019
Cons:
Clerk was at restroom. I had to rent from Budget at a higher price.Fox
6,0
Okay
588 reviewsCleanliness
6.4
Comfort
6.5
Pick-up/Drop-off
5.9
Value for money
6.0
One location in Austin
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1,9 Poor
Jun 2021
8,0 Very Good
Jun 2021
Pros:
Drop off was easy and the car was very clean and in great shape. Phone customer service was helpful.Cons:
We were told that we had no option but to use toll roads in Austin and was up-sold an unlimited toll pass for $83. After driving for a week and almost 600 miles, we never came across a toll road that we HAD to take. I called customer service and told them about the situation and that we never used a toll road, they did refund the $83.2,0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
Worst experience with a car rental company ever. JOSELINE CUBICA was so rude and hateful!! I accidentally had the wrong time on my reservation (didn't change the noon default time to 4pm) and then our flight couldn't land due to airport issues so I was 4+hours after reserved time. She abruptly told me that she couldn't honor the reservation. Thrifty Rental Car next to Fox was so kind and took care of us. They could not believe or understand why I was treated so horribly. First they suggested that I just redo the reservation online.. She said that people do it all the time. She also said that Thrifty always tries to honor late reservations if they can.. so I re-did another reservation online and went back up to the Fox counter. Joseline had stepped away, so another agent told me that due to me just making the reservation that he couldn't honor that price and vehicle but could give me an upgrade for $20 more per day. As I was talking to him, JOSELINE returned and said, No. We can't do a same day confirmation. He said that he knows but he was upgrading at $20 per day more. She said No! We don't have any cars. As I was renting a car with the wonderful people at Thrifty, my husband went over and asked her for her name.. She replied that she didn't have any reason to give it to him. So he asked to speak to the manager. She said, you're being aggressive and I'm calling security. He was in NO WAY aggressive. My husband said, go ahead. I leaned over to take her picture since she wouldn't give her name. She yelled, I'm calling the police. You can't take my picture. She started saying that we were aggressive and swearing at her. Completely false! The security came. Told her that it's not against the law to take a picture of anyone and they couldn't make me delete it. They asked if all was handled and ok. We said yes and they left. 2 other customers also were upset with her service. Everyone there witnessing this, completely sided with us and couldn't believe her attitude and horrible service. I was so upset, shaking from the anxiety of the situation and holding back tears as Thrifty Rental Car took to care of us and compassionately tried to calm my nerves. My husband and I are in our 50's. My 78 yr old mom in a wheelchair was by my side from the start.. We are not aggressive people nor were we yelling or swearing! Now I will spend part of my vacation leaving reviews, trying to contact managers, inform Priceline and try and save the next guy.Cons:
Everything2,0 Poor
May 2021
Cons:
Beat up car. Indifferent staff.10,0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
Yes Maria was greatCons:
N/A2,0 Poor
May 2021
Cons:
On arrival (on time) to pick up my reserved rental car they did not have any cars available. Very unapologetic and borderline rude service.Payless
5,7
Fair
209 reviewsCleanliness
6.8
Comfort
6.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
5.3
Value for money
5.7
One location in Austin
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2,0 Poor
May 2021
Cons:
No one at Payless counter, sign said to go to Avis line. Very long, Short Staffed, went to National instead and got a car in 5 minutes.8,0 Very Good
Apr 2021
Pros:
Easy drop offCons:
Desk was not open in main office, so was long line upstairs Car was smelly4,0 Mediocre
Apr 2021
Pros:
Drop off was easy.Cons:
Long wait at pick up. They didn’t have the compact SUV and instead suggested I take a pickup truck. I was worried about the size and they assured me it was “small or midsize.” It was giant. I could barely get out of the airport parking lot and it was difficult to park throughout my trip. The back window wouldn’t close.2,0 Poor
Mar 2021
Cons:
I paid for a small suv and received a compact for the same price. The worker repeatedly explained to me, “sorry sir that’s how supply and demand works.”6,0 Okay
Mar 2021
Pros:
The car was clean and reliable.Cons:
I feel there is a scam going on with their gas policy. I declined their auto fill option which they marketed heavily to me. I filled up the tank a few minutes before dropping off the car, and on my car rental receipt they charged me $12.99 for 1.3 gallons of gas. They said it was full to 14 gallons at the time of rental and that I returned it with 12.7 gallons. I know that is not true, but of course I didn't save my gas receipt. I didn't have high hopes for getting my money back since I didn't save my receipt, but to my surprise when I called the representative offered to remove it immediately. He seemed all to familiar with my type of call. If I had to guess, I'd say this is a common practice for Payless and if you don't want to get cheated out of $12.99 you have to call and complain.2,0 Poor
Nov 2020
Pros:
long line at booth with one attendant trying to cover avis budget and payless checkins. had to cancel because the wait would have made me late for my appointment.Hertz
5,6
Fair
686 reviewsCleanliness
6.2
Comfort
6.1
Pick-up/Drop-off
5.6
Value for money
5.5
8 locations in Austin