From choosing a vehicle that best suits your travel plans and needs to easily managing your reservations and payments, car rental and car sharing apps make renting or borrowing a vehicle fast and easy. If you want to simplify your rental experience so you can focus on the fun parts of your trip, like finding great activities and local restaurants, then try out some of our picks for the best car rental apps for your iPhone.
Top 5 car rental apps for your iPhone
Car rental and borrowing apps allow users to reserve on the go and take care of every trip detail in one place. But, of course, not all apps are created equal. So we look closely at some popular choices, including our own, to help you choose the right iPhone car rental app for your specific needs.
1. Rentalcars
The Rentalcars app is an excellent choice for those that want to rent a car during an international trip. After you’ve entered your preferred dates and destinations, the app allows you to compare rental quotes from hundreds of car rental companies, big and small, in more than 49,000 rental locations across 160 countries. And while convenient and competitively priced, the fact that you are not purchasing directly with a traditional car rental company — although you still have to wait in line at one — leaves you open to the typical third-party booking pitfalls, like difficulties making date changes. So make sure to review the fine print on the app before you book, including additional insurance and age requirements for the selected car rental company.
2. HyreCar Driver – Gig Rentals
HyreCar sums itself up in three words: “Rent. Drive. Earn.” In other words, if you don’t have a car but would like to join the growing numbers of people earning extra cash with Uber, Lyft or DoorDash, for example, this app is for you. HyreCar is a peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace, meaning local car owners make their private cars available for drivers wanting to take advantage of the gig economy with rideshares and food and package delivery services. The only issue with this service is that pick-up arrangements with the owner and inspecting the car for any problems falls on you. And HyreCar doesn’t offer additional insurance coverage in the rental price.
3. Carla Car Rental – Rent a Car
Like Rentalcars, Carla is a car rental service app that searches for car deals from its large pool of car rental partnerships and makes reservations on your behalf. The app is intuitive and easy to use, allowing you to select your car and rate and manage your reservation, including canceling or changing dates. If you have an issue with your rental, however, the only way to get to customer support is to use the app to open a “ticket.” Response times can vary, so if your car rental issue needs immediate resolution, you might be in a tough spot. And while you can cancel your reservation in the app, you may receive a credit for a future car rental instead of a cash refund.
4. Free2Move
Free2Move’s goal is to simplify your driving experience by allowing you to locate car sharing, car rental, parking, rideshares and charging stations worldwide on a single app. You can book, start and end your trip at any time from your iPhone. Say you’re navigating the streets of a new city stateside or across the pond; the app is useful for finding your way to desired services like parking lots and charging stations. If your trip has no hiccups, then the app will serve you well. But if issues arise, it might leave you stranded. For example, because car systems are connected to the app, you might be unable to unlock the vehicle if you end up in a cellular dead zone.
5. Priceline
If you have multiple travel needs — like booking a flight, hotel and/or car rental — the Priceline app is a solid go-to choice, especially if you think your travel plans are set in stone. You can snag great deals, compare prices and customer reviews and use advanced filter searches to narrow your choices for a flight, hotel, car rental or all three. There are further discounts on bundle deals, but things can get complicated if you need to cancel one of them. And though you are more than likely to snag a great deal, it’s also likely that most of them are non-changeable and non-refundable — just something to keep in mind.
Why you should choose Avail
Avail’s mission is to make car sharing convenient and affordable, with all-inclusive, upfront pricing. The app allows for a smooth reservation process at a growing number of locations throughout Chicago and Denver. Once you’ve uploaded your credentials and booked your car, you’ll enjoy express pick-up and a well-maintained, clean car that’s already been inspected for any issues. No lines, no additional paperwork and definitely no additional costs at pick-up. You can cancel or change your trip — before your trip’s scheduled start time — for any reason fee-free in the app. And there are no additional costs for a second driver or surcharges for drivers under 25 years old. All drivers 21 and older pay the same price. What’s more, when you borrow a car with Avail, your trip is protected by Allstate insurance and includes roadside assistance and 24/7 customer support.
