GITNUXREPORT 2025

Car Rental Industry Statistics

Global car rental market hit $85 billion, rapidly growing with tech and EV trends.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The average daily rental rate for a standard car in 2023 was approximately $50

Statistic 2

In 2023, around 65% of car rental customers were aged between 25 and 44 years old

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The average rental duration in 2023 was approximately 4.2 days

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70% of car rental companies reported an increase in bookings during holiday seasons of 2023

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Online reservations constitute approximately 85% of all bookings in 2023

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The use of contactless payment methods in car rentals increased by 45% in 2023

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The majority of car rentals in Europe are for leisure travel, accounting for 60% of rentals in 2023

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Over 50% of car rental customers in 2023 preferred booking via mobile apps rather than desktops

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The average collision damage waiver (CDW) purchase rate was around 30% in 2023, indicating customer demand for insurance options

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Customer satisfaction ratings for rental companies averaged 4.2 out of 5 in 2023

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The most rented vehicle type in 2023 was SUVs, accounting for roughly 35% of rentals

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The average length of rental agreement for commercial customers was around 15 days in 2023, indicating longer-term rentals

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The growth of peer-to-peer rentals is driven by urban millennials, comprising 55% of peer-to-peer renters in 2023

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Customer complaints related to vehicle cleanliness decreased by 10% in 2023, showing improvements in service standards

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60% of respondents in a 2023 survey preferred pickup and drop-off at airport locations, emphasizing convenience preference

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The percentage of rental cars returned with full tanks was 88% in 2023, reflecting customer compliance with fuel policies

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The most common reason for rental cancellations in 2023 was flight delays, accounting for 35% of cancellations

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The share of hybrid and electric vehicle rentals among business travelers increased by 20% in 2023, reflecting sustainability trends

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The car rental industry’s carbon footprint reduction efforts have resulted in a 10% decrease in emissions since 2020

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Fleet size of the typical major rental company in 2023 averaged around 200,000 vehicles

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The average age of a rental car in 2023 was around 8 months, indicating a high fleet turnover rate

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The majority of rental car accidents in 2023 involved vehicles aged less than 3 years, indicating younger fleet safety concerns

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The average fleet utilization rate improved from 70% in 2022 to 75% in 2023, demonstrating better fleet management

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The rental car industry is increasingly adopting GPS tracking technologies, with over 70% of fleets equipped in 2023, enhancing security and efficiency

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The percentage of rental vehicles with dash cams installed reached 45% in 2023, primarily for safety and dispute resolution

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The use of artificial intelligence for fleet management in car rentals increased by 35% in 2023, improving operational efficiency

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The average wait time for a rental vehicle pickup decreased to under 10 minutes in 2023, due to improved staffing and processes

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The global car rental market was valued at approximately $85 billion in 2022

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The U.S. has the highest number of car rental locations with over 15,000 outlets nationwide

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Enterprise Holdings is the largest car rental company by revenue globally, with over 10,000 locations worldwide

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The car rental industry's growth rate was projected at 6.2% annually from 2023 to 2028

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Electric vehicles accounted for roughly 12% of new car rentals in 2023, up from 8% in 2022

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Mobile app bookings for car rentals grew by over 30% in 2023 compared to the previous year

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Airport locations account for about 60% of total car rental sales globally

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On average, car rental companies saw a 12% increase in revenue during summer months of 2023

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The overall utilization rate of rental cars in 2023 was approximately 75%

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Business rentals made up about 25% of total rentals in North America in 2023

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The decline in rental bookings due to COVID-19 was 40% in 2020, but recovered by 2023 to pre-pandemic levels

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Hybrid vehicles made up approximately 20% of rental fleets in 2023, showing a shift towards sustainability

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The number of car rental transactions globally increased by 15% in 2023 compared to 2022

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The U.S. car rental industry employed over 300,000 people in 2023, including direct and indirect jobs

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Car sharing and rental services are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20% up to 2027

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The use of electric vehicles in rental fleets was projected to reach 25% by 2025, up from 12% in 2023

Statistic 44

The share of peer-to-peer car rental continues to grow, making up about 10% of the market in 2023

Statistic 45

Corporate car rental spend in North America is estimated to be over $10 billion annually in 2023

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The global demand for autonomous vehicle rentals is expected to grow at a CAGR of 30% between 2024 and 2028

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In 2023, the average insurance claim cost for rental vehicle accidents was approximately $2,500, indicating insurance pricing trends

Statistic 48

The car rental market’s revenue from luxury vehicles increased by approximately 25% in 2023, reflecting a rising demand for premium rental options

Statistic 49

The total number of rental cars available in Asia-Pacific was estimated at over 4 million in 2023, indicating a significant regional fleet size

Statistic 50

In 2023, commercial long-term rentals (over 30 days) represented about 15% of total revenue, showing growth in corporate leasing segments

Statistic 51

The Asia-Pacific region accounted for about 40% of the car rental industry revenue in 2022

Statistic 52

The North American car rental market share was around 50% in 2022

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Key Highlights

The global car rental market was valued at approximately $85 billion in 2022
The Asia-Pacific region accounted for about 40% of the car rental industry revenue in 2022
The U.S. has the highest number of car rental locations with over 15,000 outlets nationwide
Enterprise Holdings is the largest car rental company by revenue globally, with over 10,000 locations worldwide
The average daily rental rate for a standard car in 2023 was approximately $50
In 2023, around 65% of car rental customers were aged between 25 and 44 years old
The car rental industry's growth rate was projected at 6.2% annually from 2023 to 2028
Electric vehicles accounted for roughly 12% of new car rentals in 2023, up from 8% in 2022
Mobile app bookings for car rentals grew by over 30% in 2023 compared to the previous year
The average rental duration in 2023 was approximately 4.2 days
Airport locations account for about 60% of total car rental sales globally
The North American car rental market share was around 50% in 2022
70% of car rental companies reported an increase in bookings during holiday seasons of 2023

The car rental industry has experienced remarkable growth and transformation in 2023, with market value soaring to $85 billion globally, driven by technological innovations, sustainability shifts, and changing consumer preferences across regions.

Customer Preferences and Behavior

The average daily rental rate for a standard car in 2023 was approximately $50
In 2023, around 65% of car rental customers were aged between 25 and 44 years old
The average rental duration in 2023 was approximately 4.2 days
70% of car rental companies reported an increase in bookings during holiday seasons of 2023
Online reservations constitute approximately 85% of all bookings in 2023
The use of contactless payment methods in car rentals increased by 45% in 2023
The majority of car rentals in Europe are for leisure travel, accounting for 60% of rentals in 2023
Over 50% of car rental customers in 2023 preferred booking via mobile apps rather than desktops
The average collision damage waiver (CDW) purchase rate was around 30% in 2023, indicating customer demand for insurance options
Customer satisfaction ratings for rental companies averaged 4.2 out of 5 in 2023
The most rented vehicle type in 2023 was SUVs, accounting for roughly 35% of rentals
The average length of rental agreement for commercial customers was around 15 days in 2023, indicating longer-term rentals
The growth of peer-to-peer rentals is driven by urban millennials, comprising 55% of peer-to-peer renters in 2023
Customer complaints related to vehicle cleanliness decreased by 10% in 2023, showing improvements in service standards
60% of respondents in a 2023 survey preferred pickup and drop-off at airport locations, emphasizing convenience preference
The percentage of rental cars returned with full tanks was 88% in 2023, reflecting customer compliance with fuel policies
The most common reason for rental cancellations in 2023 was flight delays, accounting for 35% of cancellations
The share of hybrid and electric vehicle rentals among business travelers increased by 20% in 2023, reflecting sustainability trends

Customer Preferences and Behavior Interpretation

In 2023, while the average rental rate hovered around $50 and SUVs dominated the fleet, a surge in online, contactless bookings by mobile-savvy millennials—who preferred airport pickups and appreciated cleaner cars—highlighted a rental industry seamlessly blending convenience, comfort, and sustainability, even as holiday spikes and flight delays kept bookings lively.

Environmental Impact and Sustainability

The car rental industry’s carbon footprint reduction efforts have resulted in a 10% decrease in emissions since 2020

Environmental Impact and Sustainability Interpretation

While a 10% cut in emissions since 2020 is a promising start, the car rental industry still has plenty of miles to go before turning eco-friendly into a smooth ride.

Fleet Management and Technology

Fleet size of the typical major rental company in 2023 averaged around 200,000 vehicles
The average age of a rental car in 2023 was around 8 months, indicating a high fleet turnover rate
The majority of rental car accidents in 2023 involved vehicles aged less than 3 years, indicating younger fleet safety concerns
The average fleet utilization rate improved from 70% in 2022 to 75% in 2023, demonstrating better fleet management
The rental car industry is increasingly adopting GPS tracking technologies, with over 70% of fleets equipped in 2023, enhancing security and efficiency
The percentage of rental vehicles with dash cams installed reached 45% in 2023, primarily for safety and dispute resolution
The use of artificial intelligence for fleet management in car rentals increased by 35% in 2023, improving operational efficiency
The average wait time for a rental vehicle pickup decreased to under 10 minutes in 2023, due to improved staffing and processes

Fleet Management and Technology Interpretation

In 2023, the car rental industry revved up its efficiency and safety measures with a turbocharged fleet turnover, cutting-edge tech like GPS and dash cams, and AI-driven management—showing that while younger cars may accelerate risk, smarter operations keep the industry accelerating smoothly under 10 minutes.

Market Size and Growth

The global car rental market was valued at approximately $85 billion in 2022
The U.S. has the highest number of car rental locations with over 15,000 outlets nationwide
Enterprise Holdings is the largest car rental company by revenue globally, with over 10,000 locations worldwide
The car rental industry's growth rate was projected at 6.2% annually from 2023 to 2028
Electric vehicles accounted for roughly 12% of new car rentals in 2023, up from 8% in 2022
Mobile app bookings for car rentals grew by over 30% in 2023 compared to the previous year
Airport locations account for about 60% of total car rental sales globally
On average, car rental companies saw a 12% increase in revenue during summer months of 2023
The overall utilization rate of rental cars in 2023 was approximately 75%
Business rentals made up about 25% of total rentals in North America in 2023
The decline in rental bookings due to COVID-19 was 40% in 2020, but recovered by 2023 to pre-pandemic levels
Hybrid vehicles made up approximately 20% of rental fleets in 2023, showing a shift towards sustainability
The number of car rental transactions globally increased by 15% in 2023 compared to 2022
The U.S. car rental industry employed over 300,000 people in 2023, including direct and indirect jobs
Car sharing and rental services are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20% up to 2027
The use of electric vehicles in rental fleets was projected to reach 25% by 2025, up from 12% in 2023
The share of peer-to-peer car rental continues to grow, making up about 10% of the market in 2023
Corporate car rental spend in North America is estimated to be over $10 billion annually in 2023
The global demand for autonomous vehicle rentals is expected to grow at a CAGR of 30% between 2024 and 2028
In 2023, the average insurance claim cost for rental vehicle accidents was approximately $2,500, indicating insurance pricing trends
The car rental market’s revenue from luxury vehicles increased by approximately 25% in 2023, reflecting a rising demand for premium rental options
The total number of rental cars available in Asia-Pacific was estimated at over 4 million in 2023, indicating a significant regional fleet size
In 2023, commercial long-term rentals (over 30 days) represented about 15% of total revenue, showing growth in corporate leasing segments

Market Size and Growth Interpretation

As the global car rental industry races toward electrification and autonomy at a CAGR of 6.2%, it’s clear that renting a car—from economy to elite—has become not just a business but a high-stakes driver’s seat in the evolving landscape of mobility, with the U.S. leading the charge from airports to apps.

Regional Market Dynamics

The Asia-Pacific region accounted for about 40% of the car rental industry revenue in 2022
The North American car rental market share was around 50% in 2022

Regional Market Dynamics Interpretation

With North America capturing roughly half of the market and Asia-Pacific wielding nearly 40%, the global car rental industry in 2022 vividly illustrates a continent-sized dominance and a rising Asia-Pacific front, shifting gears in the race for mobility supremacy.