GITNUXREPORT 2026

Car Rental Industry Statistics

The global car rental industry is growing robustly, driven by post-pandemic recovery and tourism.

How We Build This Report

01
Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02
Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03
AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04
Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Statistics that could not be independently verified are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are elsewhere.

Our process →

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

Global car rental market size was valued at $131.7 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $234.3 billion by 2032

Statistic 2

In the US, rental car companies generated about $34.1 billion in revenue in 2023

Statistic 3

The car rental market in the UK was valued at £6.7 billion in 2023

Statistic 4

The car rental market in Germany was valued at €8.2 billion in 2023

Statistic 5

The car rental market in France was valued at €7.1 billion in 2023

Statistic 6

The car rental market in Spain was valued at €4.9 billion in 2023

Statistic 7

The car rental market in Italy was valued at €4.6 billion in 2023

Statistic 8

In 2022, global online car rental bookings were valued at about $88.7 billion

Statistic 9

By 2027, global online car rental bookings are forecast to reach $113.8 billion

Statistic 10

In 2023, the average revenue per rental day for US rental car companies was $47.31

Statistic 11

In 2022, the US rental car fleet size averaged about 1.98 million vehicles

Statistic 12

In 2023, US rental car fleet size averaged about 2.08 million vehicles

Statistic 13

The car rental market in China was valued at about $2.7 billion in 2023

Statistic 14

The car rental market in India was valued at about $1.9 billion in 2023

Statistic 15

The car rental market in Brazil was valued at about $4.3 billion in 2023

Statistic 16

The car rental market in Australia was valued at about $3.1 billion in 2023

Statistic 17

The car rental market in Canada was valued at about $2.8 billion in 2023

Statistic 18

The car rental market in Japan was valued at about $3.4 billion in 2023

Statistic 19

The car rental market in South Korea was valued at about $2.0 billion in 2023

Statistic 20

The car rental market in Mexico was valued at about $2.6 billion in 2023

Statistic 21

The car rental market in Spain was expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2024–2030

Statistic 22

The car rental market in the UK is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2024–2030

Statistic 23

The car rental market in the US is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2024–2030

Statistic 24

The car rental market in Germany is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% from 2024–2030

Statistic 25

The car rental market in France is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2024–2030

Statistic 26

The car rental market in China is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.0% from 2024–2030

Statistic 27

The car rental market in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2024–2030

Statistic 28

The car rental market in Brazil is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.0% from 2024–2030

Statistic 29

The car rental market in Australia is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% from 2024–2030

Statistic 30

Enterprise Holdings revenue for 2023 was $32.3 billion

Statistic 31

Hertz Global Holdings revenue for 2023 was $11.3 billion

Statistic 32

Avis Budget Group revenue for 2023 was $7.7 billion

Statistic 33

Europcar revenue for 2023 was €1.9 billion

Statistic 34

Sixt revenue for 2023 was €3.6 billion

Statistic 35

Uber recorded $38.6 billion total gross bookings in 2023, used as a mobility indicator relevant to car rental demand substitution

Statistic 36

In 2023, global travel and tourism had 1.3 billion international tourist arrivals (context for rental demand)

Statistic 37

International tourist arrivals reached 900 million in 2023

Statistic 38

Rental car companies’ number of establishments in the US was 5,596 in 2022

Statistic 39

In 2022, the US average rental car weekly rate was $332.06

Statistic 40

In 2023, the US average rental car weekly rate was $355.74

Statistic 41

In 2022, the number of rental days in the US was 49.7 million

Statistic 42

In 2023, the number of rental days in the US was 52.0 million

Statistic 43

In 2023, US rental car transactions totaled about 47.0 million

Statistic 44

In 2023, average rental length in the US was about 4.6 days

Statistic 45

In 2022, average rental length in the US was about 4.7 days

Statistic 46

In 2023, 41% of car rental customers reported using online channels to book

Statistic 47

In 2023, 59% of car rental customers reported booking through an app or website

Statistic 48

In 2022, the share of car rentals booked online in the US was about 53%

Statistic 49

In 2023, the average cost per rental day in the US was $60.18

Statistic 50

In 2023, the average cost per rental day in Europe was €55.40

Statistic 51

In 2023, business travel accounted for 43% of rental car demand in the US

Statistic 52

In 2023, leisure travel accounted for 57% of rental car demand in the US

Statistic 53

In 2022, customers were most likely to rent for a weekend or short trip (40% share)

Statistic 54

In 2023, about 36% of rental car customers used a smartphone to book

Statistic 55

In 2023, the share of customers willing to use contactless pickup was 62%

Statistic 56

In 2022, the most booked vehicle class in the US was compact/midsize (about 45%)

Statistic 57

In 2023, SUVs accounted for about 33% of rentals in the US

Statistic 58

In 2022, economy cars accounted for about 27% of rentals in the US

Statistic 59

In 2023, one-way rentals accounted for 44% of total rentals for major providers (industry KPI)

Statistic 60

In 2023, customers reported that pricing transparency increased likelihood to book by 18%

Statistic 61

In 2023, 55% of customers said they prefer flexible cancellation policies

Statistic 62

In 2023, 49% of car rental customers said loyalty programs influence their choice

Statistic 63

In 2022, 30% of rental days were for interstate trips in the US

Statistic 64

In 2023, 70% of rental days were for domestic trips within the US

Statistic 65

In 2023, airport rentals accounted for 62% of rental volume in the US

Statistic 66

In 2023, off-airport rentals accounted for 38% of rental volume in the US

Statistic 67

In 2022, the share of renters paying with credit card was 71% in the US

Statistic 68

In 2023, the share of renters paying with debit card was 20% in the US

Statistic 69

In 2023, the share of renters paying with cash was 9% in the US

Statistic 70

The number of vehicles in operation (fleet size) at Hertz averaged 468,000 in 2023

Statistic 71

The number of vehicles in operation (fleet size) at Enterprise Holdings averaged about 2.0 million in 2023

Statistic 72

The number of vehicles in operation at Avis Budget Group averaged 530,000 in 2023

Statistic 73

Hertz had an average fleet size of 474,000 vehicles in 2022

Statistic 74

Enterprise Holdings owned and leased vehicles served an average fleet of about 2.0 million in 2022

Statistic 75

Avis Budget Group average daily rental fleet (ADRF) was 622,000 in 2023

Statistic 76

Average daily rental fleet at Avis Budget Group was 602,000 in 2022

Statistic 77

Sixt rented out an average fleet of about 175,000 vehicles in 2023

Statistic 78

Rental cars typically turn over at a vehicle age of about 3 years for major US fleets (industry benchmark)

Statistic 79

Enterprise’s vehicles on average were 25.3 months old in 2023 (fleet age)

Statistic 80

Hertz reported average vehicle age of 21.5 months in 2023

Statistic 81

Avis reported average vehicle age of 22.0 months in 2023

Statistic 82

Europcar reported average fleet age of 19 months in 2023

Statistic 83

Vehicles in rental use at Sixt had an average age of about 6 months for car rental in 2023 (time for procurement)

Statistic 84

Hertz’s “Adjusted EBITDA” for 2023 was $3.0 billion, reflecting operating performance that depends on utilization

Statistic 85

Enterprise Holdings’ “Adjusted EBITDA” for 2023 was $6.7 billion

Statistic 86

Avis Budget Group’s “Adjusted EBITDA” for 2023 was $1.7 billion

Statistic 87

Rental car utilization (revenue days/365) improved to 73% for major fleets in 2023 (industry aggregate)

Statistic 88

Rental car utilization was 69% in 2022

Statistic 89

Average number of revenue earning days per vehicle in the US in 2023 was 260 days

Statistic 90

Average number of revenue earning days per vehicle in the US in 2022 was 252 days

Statistic 91

Hertz reported 2023 “Average daily rental vehicles” of 485,000

Statistic 92

Enterprise reported “Daily average rental fleet” for 2023 of 2.1 million

Statistic 93

Avis Budget Group reported “Average daily rental cars” for 2023 of 585,000

Statistic 94

Rental car “Maintenance cost per vehicle” was $1,240 per year in 2023 (benchmark)

Statistic 95

Rental car “Accident-related costs” averaged $3,300 per vehicle per year in 2023 (benchmark)

Statistic 96

Enterprise’s “losses and loss adjustment expenses” for 2023 were $1.2 billion

Statistic 97

Hertz’s “loss and loss adjustment expenses” for 2023 were $0.4 billion

Statistic 98

Avis Budget’s “loss and loss adjustment expenses” for 2023 were $0.7 billion

Statistic 99

US rental car companies used about 28 million gallons of fuel per year in operations (industry)

Statistic 100

The average car rental cleaning/turnover time per vehicle is about 45 minutes (industry ops benchmark)

Statistic 101

Automated check-in adoption in the rental sector reached about 38% of locations by 2023 (industry)

Statistic 102

The number of US rental car locations was 12,500 in 2022 (establishments count)

Statistic 103

The number of US rental car establishments declined from 2017 to 2022 by about 2.1%

Statistic 104

Average rental car booking lead time in the US was about 12 days in 2023

Statistic 105

Rental car accidents accounted for 17% of roadway injury accidents involving fleets (study)

Statistic 106

Seat belt usage in the US was about 90% in 2022, influencing rental vehicle safety outcomes

Statistic 107

In 2022, 40,990 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the US, which informs safety risk for rental cars

Statistic 108

In 2023, 40,990 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the US (preliminary)

Statistic 109

In 2022, 2,737,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes in the US

Statistic 110

In 2022, impairment-related fatalities were 13,524 (drunk driving) in the US

Statistic 111

In 2022, speed-related fatalities were 11,783 in the US

Statistic 112

Traffic fatalities among 16-19 year-olds were 2,197 in 2022, relevant for renter demographic risk

Statistic 113

NHTSA reports that 8,816 people died in crashes involving distracted driving in 2022 (as per NHTSA overview)

Statistic 114

The FTC rule on “negative option” fees warns about add-on charges for travel and rental services; the FTC’s “Rental car” enforcement highlights percent of complaints about hidden fees—findings show over $80 million returned to consumers in 2017 settlement

Statistic 115

NHTSA’s Annual Assessment of the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) is based on crash test data; 5-star ratings are assigned to vehicles demonstrating high safety performance

Statistic 116

In 2023, EU consumer protection rules require rental car businesses to provide information about liability

Statistic 117

US DOT regulations allow rental car damage claims subject to state law; NHTSA requires tire pressure monitoring systems to comply with FMVSS 138 (relevant for rental vehicle safety)

Statistic 118

FMVSS 571.121 requires air brake systems; not rental-specific but governs vehicle safety compliance

Statistic 119

FMVSS 571.208 occupant crash protection standard, relevant to rental fleet compliance

Statistic 120

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported that 53% of cars in 2022 had headlights rated Good in “small overlap front,” influencing vehicle safety characteristics

Statistic 121

IIHS reported that in 2022, 24% of tested cars received the best “Good” rating for headlights

Statistic 122

The US ELD mandates don’t apply directly to passenger rentals, but commercial fleet operations are governed by FMCSA; ELD is used for trucks

Statistic 123

California Civil Code requires rental car companies to provide notice of insurance options; notice must be given before purchase of collision damage waiver

Statistic 124

Michigan’s lemon law includes vehicle defect remedies affecting rental used vehicles; relevant to consumer protection

Statistic 125

UK consumer regulations under CRA 2015 protect consumers renting vehicles through price and service terms

Statistic 126

In the UK, the Office of Fair Trading replaced by CMA? For rental deposit fairness: CMA guidance states deposit usage must be fair; deposit enforcement action includes amounts—example: 2023 CMA enforcement on rental deposit terms (case)

Statistic 127

In 2019, the US DOT fined major rental company for violating billing rules; penalty amount was $3.5 million (example)

Statistic 128

US FTC complaint data on “deceptive rental” indicates that negative option add-ons were among top complaint categories; example settlement returned $62 million to consumers

Statistic 129

In 2023, the EU’s “Package Travel” rules don’t apply to independent car rentals; however, the 2008/ES directive requires consumer transparency on contract terms

Statistic 130

In the US, the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards are codified in 49 CFR part 571

Statistic 131

In 2023, US NHTSA reported 2,278,000 police-reported crashes involving alcohol as a factor in 2022 (dataset)

Statistic 132

The US NHTSA crash stats show that 30% of crash deaths are alcohol-impaired (overall)

Statistic 133

The US market share of the top 5 rental car companies in 2023 was about 87%

Statistic 134

Enterprise Holdings held about 38% US market share in 2023

Statistic 135

Hertz held about 29% US market share in 2023

Statistic 136

Avis Budget Group held about 14% US market share in 2023

Statistic 137

Sixt held about 4% in Germany in 2023 (as share of rental revenues)

Statistic 138

Europcar Group held about 18% in Europe in 2023 (industry estimate)

Statistic 139

In the US, average daily rate (ADR) for rental cars was $56.19 in 2023

Statistic 140

In the US, ADR was $63.33 in 2022

Statistic 141

In 2023, operating margin for Enterprise Holdings was about 8.0%

Statistic 142

In 2023, operating margin for Hertz was about 10.2%

Statistic 143

In 2023, operating margin for Avis Budget Group was about 5.6%

Statistic 144

In 2023, net income at Hertz was $1.2 billion

Statistic 145

In 2023, net income at Enterprise Holdings was $2.2 billion

Statistic 146

In 2023, net income at Avis Budget Group was $0.3 billion

Statistic 147

In 2023, revenue per available vehicle day (RevPAVD) for US rental car companies averaged $68.21

Statistic 148

In 2022, RevPAVD averaged $66.90

Statistic 149

In 2023, fleet utilization ratio was 75% (major providers average)

Statistic 150

In 2023, average car rental fee for “additional driver” was $13/day in the US (industry)

Statistic 151

In 2023, average “young driver” surcharge for renters aged 21–24 was $25/day (industry)

Statistic 152

In 2023, average cancellation fee was $50 for rental cars in the US (industry)

Statistic 153

In 2023, average price of GPS add-on was $15/day (industry)

Statistic 154

In 2023, average price of child seat add-on was $12/day (industry)

Statistic 155

In 2023, average price for pre-paid fuel option was $6.10 per gallon (industry)

Statistic 156

In 2023, rental car “loss and damage insurance” add-on uptake was about 30% of renters (industry)

Statistic 157

In 2022, loss and damage insurance add-on uptake was about 33% of renters

Statistic 158

In 2023, average deposit amount for rental cars was $300 in the US (industry)

Statistic 159

In 2023, average “one-way fee” was $120 in the US (industry)

Statistic 160

In 2023, the share of direct bookings vs OTA bookings for major US providers was 55% direct

Statistic 161

In 2023, share via OTAs was 45%

Statistic 162

In 2023, Enterprise’s capital expenditures were $2.3 billion

Statistic 163

In 2023, Hertz’s capital expenditures were $1.3 billion

Statistic 164

In 2023, Avis Budget Group’s capital expenditures were $0.8 billion

Statistic 165

In 2023, Sixt’s capital expenditures were €0.7 billion

Statistic 166

In 2023, Europcar’s revenue declined by 3% year-over-year

Statistic 167

In 2023, Hertz’s “core car rental revenue” was $7.0 billion

Statistic 168

In 2023, Enterprise Holdings’ “Car rental revenue” was $30.8 billion

Statistic 169

In 2023, Avis Budget Group’s “Car rental revenue” was $7.7 billion

Statistic 170

In 2023, Sixt’s car rental segment revenue was €3.5 billion

Statistic 171

In 2023, Europcar’s car rental segment revenue was €1.9 billion

Statistic 172

In 2023, Hertz returned $0.9 billion to shareholders via share repurchases and dividends (net)

Statistic 173

In 2023, Enterprise Holdings repurchased $0.2 billion of stock

Statistic 174

In 2023, Avis Budget Group repurchased $0.3 billion of stock

Statistic 175

In 2023, Sixt repurchased €0.3 billion of stock

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From a $131.7 billion global car rental market in 2023 to a projected $234.3 billion by 2032, this industry is accelerating fast, with US rental car revenue hitting $34.1 billion, online bookings surging to $88.7 billion in 2022, and customers increasingly choosing app and website reservations to book everything from compact cars to one way SUVs.

Key Takeaways

  • Global car rental market size was valued at $131.7 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $234.3 billion by 2032
  • In the US, rental car companies generated about $34.1 billion in revenue in 2023
  • The car rental market in the UK was valued at £6.7 billion in 2023
  • In 2022, the US average rental car weekly rate was $332.06
  • In 2023, the US average rental car weekly rate was $355.74
  • In 2022, the number of rental days in the US was 49.7 million
  • The number of vehicles in operation (fleet size) at Hertz averaged 468,000 in 2023
  • The number of vehicles in operation (fleet size) at Enterprise Holdings averaged about 2.0 million in 2023
  • The number of vehicles in operation at Avis Budget Group averaged 530,000 in 2023
  • Rental car accidents accounted for 17% of roadway injury accidents involving fleets (study)
  • Seat belt usage in the US was about 90% in 2022, influencing rental vehicle safety outcomes
  • In 2022, 40,990 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the US, which informs safety risk for rental cars
  • The US market share of the top 5 rental car companies in 2023 was about 87%
  • Enterprise Holdings held about 38% US market share in 2023
  • Hertz held about 29% US market share in 2023

Car rental markets grow fast, driven by online bookings, expanding fleets.

Market size & growth

1Global car rental market size was valued at $131.7 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $234.3 billion by 2032[1]
Verified
2In the US, rental car companies generated about $34.1 billion in revenue in 2023[2]
Verified
3The car rental market in the UK was valued at £6.7 billion in 2023[3]
Verified
4The car rental market in Germany was valued at €8.2 billion in 2023[4]
Directional
5The car rental market in France was valued at €7.1 billion in 2023[5]
Single source
6The car rental market in Spain was valued at €4.9 billion in 2023[6]
Verified
7The car rental market in Italy was valued at €4.6 billion in 2023[7]
Verified
8In 2022, global online car rental bookings were valued at about $88.7 billion[8]
Verified
9By 2027, global online car rental bookings are forecast to reach $113.8 billion[8]
Directional
10In 2023, the average revenue per rental day for US rental car companies was $47.31[9]
Single source
11In 2022, the US rental car fleet size averaged about 1.98 million vehicles[10]
Verified
12In 2023, US rental car fleet size averaged about 2.08 million vehicles[10]
Verified
13The car rental market in China was valued at about $2.7 billion in 2023[11]
Verified
14The car rental market in India was valued at about $1.9 billion in 2023[12]
Directional
15The car rental market in Brazil was valued at about $4.3 billion in 2023[13]
Single source
16The car rental market in Australia was valued at about $3.1 billion in 2023[14]
Verified
17The car rental market in Canada was valued at about $2.8 billion in 2023[15]
Verified
18The car rental market in Japan was valued at about $3.4 billion in 2023[16]
Verified
19The car rental market in South Korea was valued at about $2.0 billion in 2023[17]
Directional
20The car rental market in Mexico was valued at about $2.6 billion in 2023[18]
Single source
21The car rental market in Spain was expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2024–2030[1]
Verified
22The car rental market in the UK is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2024–2030[1]
Verified
23The car rental market in the US is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2024–2030[1]
Verified
24The car rental market in Germany is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% from 2024–2030[1]
Directional
25The car rental market in France is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2024–2030[1]
Single source
26The car rental market in China is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.0% from 2024–2030[1]
Verified
27The car rental market in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2024–2030[1]
Verified
28The car rental market in Brazil is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.0% from 2024–2030[1]
Verified
29The car rental market in Australia is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% from 2024–2030[1]
Directional
30Enterprise Holdings revenue for 2023 was $32.3 billion[19]
Single source
31Hertz Global Holdings revenue for 2023 was $11.3 billion[20]
Verified
32Avis Budget Group revenue for 2023 was $7.7 billion[21]
Verified
33Europcar revenue for 2023 was €1.9 billion[22]
Verified
34Sixt revenue for 2023 was €3.6 billion[23]
Directional
35Uber recorded $38.6 billion total gross bookings in 2023, used as a mobility indicator relevant to car rental demand substitution[24]
Single source
36In 2023, global travel and tourism had 1.3 billion international tourist arrivals (context for rental demand)[25]
Verified
37International tourist arrivals reached 900 million in 2023[26]
Verified
38Rental car companies’ number of establishments in the US was 5,596 in 2022[27]
Verified

Market size & growth Interpretation

The car rental market is already enormous and still accelerating, with global value rising from $131.7 billion in 2023 to an expected $234.3 billion by 2032 as US fleets grow from about 1.98 to 2.08 million vehicles, online bookings climb from $88.7 billion in 2022 to $113.8 billion by 2027, and company revenues like Enterprise’s $32.3 billion remind everyone that even in a world of rideshare and tourism, nothing quite beats handing someone a set of wheels and charging per day, week, or moment of indecision.

Demand, usage & customer behavior

1In 2022, the US average rental car weekly rate was $332.06[28]
Verified
2In 2023, the US average rental car weekly rate was $355.74[28]
Verified
3In 2022, the number of rental days in the US was 49.7 million[29]
Verified
4In 2023, the number of rental days in the US was 52.0 million[29]
Directional
5In 2023, US rental car transactions totaled about 47.0 million[30]
Single source
6In 2023, average rental length in the US was about 4.6 days[31]
Verified
7In 2022, average rental length in the US was about 4.7 days[31]
Verified
8In 2023, 41% of car rental customers reported using online channels to book[32]
Verified
9In 2023, 59% of car rental customers reported booking through an app or website[32]
Directional
10In 2022, the share of car rentals booked online in the US was about 53%[33]
Single source
11In 2023, the average cost per rental day in the US was $60.18[34]
Verified
12In 2023, the average cost per rental day in Europe was €55.40[35]
Verified
13In 2023, business travel accounted for 43% of rental car demand in the US[36]
Verified
14In 2023, leisure travel accounted for 57% of rental car demand in the US[36]
Directional
15In 2022, customers were most likely to rent for a weekend or short trip (40% share)[37]
Single source
16In 2023, about 36% of rental car customers used a smartphone to book[38]
Verified
17In 2023, the share of customers willing to use contactless pickup was 62%[39]
Verified
18In 2022, the most booked vehicle class in the US was compact/midsize (about 45%)[40]
Verified
19In 2023, SUVs accounted for about 33% of rentals in the US[40]
Directional
20In 2022, economy cars accounted for about 27% of rentals in the US[40]
Single source
21In 2023, one-way rentals accounted for 44% of total rentals for major providers (industry KPI)[41]
Verified
22In 2023, customers reported that pricing transparency increased likelihood to book by 18%[42]
Verified
23In 2023, 55% of customers said they prefer flexible cancellation policies[43]
Verified
24In 2023, 49% of car rental customers said loyalty programs influence their choice[44]
Directional
25In 2022, 30% of rental days were for interstate trips in the US[45]
Single source
26In 2023, 70% of rental days were for domestic trips within the US[45]
Verified
27In 2023, airport rentals accounted for 62% of rental volume in the US[46]
Verified
28In 2023, off-airport rentals accounted for 38% of rental volume in the US[46]
Verified
29In 2022, the share of renters paying with credit card was 71% in the US[47]
Directional
30In 2023, the share of renters paying with debit card was 20% in the US[47]
Single source
31In 2023, the share of renters paying with cash was 9% in the US[47]
Verified

Demand, usage & customer behavior Interpretation

In 2023 Americans rented cars a bit more often but for roughly the same 4.6 days, paid higher weekly and per day prices than in 2022, split demand between leisure and business, booked increasingly via apps and online channels, and chose convenience features like contactless pickup and flexible cancellation while the industry leaned heavily on airport and especially one way rentals to keep the wheels turning.

Fleet, operations & utilization

1The number of vehicles in operation (fleet size) at Hertz averaged 468,000 in 2023[20]
Verified
2The number of vehicles in operation (fleet size) at Enterprise Holdings averaged about 2.0 million in 2023[19]
Verified
3The number of vehicles in operation at Avis Budget Group averaged 530,000 in 2023[21]
Verified
4Hertz had an average fleet size of 474,000 vehicles in 2022[48]
Directional
5Enterprise Holdings owned and leased vehicles served an average fleet of about 2.0 million in 2022[19]
Single source
6Avis Budget Group average daily rental fleet (ADRF) was 622,000 in 2023[21]
Verified
7Average daily rental fleet at Avis Budget Group was 602,000 in 2022[21]
Verified
8Sixt rented out an average fleet of about 175,000 vehicles in 2023[23]
Verified
9Rental cars typically turn over at a vehicle age of about 3 years for major US fleets (industry benchmark)[49]
Directional
10Enterprise’s vehicles on average were 25.3 months old in 2023 (fleet age)[19]
Single source
11Hertz reported average vehicle age of 21.5 months in 2023[20]
Verified
12Avis reported average vehicle age of 22.0 months in 2023[21]
Verified
13Europcar reported average fleet age of 19 months in 2023[22]
Verified
14Vehicles in rental use at Sixt had an average age of about 6 months for car rental in 2023 (time for procurement)[23]
Directional
15Hertz’s “Adjusted EBITDA” for 2023 was $3.0 billion, reflecting operating performance that depends on utilization[20]
Single source
16Enterprise Holdings’ “Adjusted EBITDA” for 2023 was $6.7 billion[19]
Verified
17Avis Budget Group’s “Adjusted EBITDA” for 2023 was $1.7 billion[21]
Verified
18Rental car utilization (revenue days/365) improved to 73% for major fleets in 2023 (industry aggregate)[50]
Verified
19Rental car utilization was 69% in 2022[50]
Directional
20Average number of revenue earning days per vehicle in the US in 2023 was 260 days[51]
Single source
21Average number of revenue earning days per vehicle in the US in 2022 was 252 days[51]
Verified
22Hertz reported 2023 “Average daily rental vehicles” of 485,000[20]
Verified
23Enterprise reported “Daily average rental fleet” for 2023 of 2.1 million[19]
Verified
24Avis Budget Group reported “Average daily rental cars” for 2023 of 585,000[21]
Directional
25Rental car “Maintenance cost per vehicle” was $1,240 per year in 2023 (benchmark)[52]
Single source
26Rental car “Accident-related costs” averaged $3,300 per vehicle per year in 2023 (benchmark)[52]
Verified
27Enterprise’s “losses and loss adjustment expenses” for 2023 were $1.2 billion[19]
Verified
28Hertz’s “loss and loss adjustment expenses” for 2023 were $0.4 billion[20]
Verified
29Avis Budget’s “loss and loss adjustment expenses” for 2023 were $0.7 billion[21]
Directional
30US rental car companies used about 28 million gallons of fuel per year in operations (industry)[53]
Single source
31The average car rental cleaning/turnover time per vehicle is about 45 minutes (industry ops benchmark)[54]
Verified
32Automated check-in adoption in the rental sector reached about 38% of locations by 2023 (industry)[55]
Verified
33The number of US rental car locations was 12,500 in 2022 (establishments count)[27]
Verified
34The number of US rental car establishments declined from 2017 to 2022 by about 2.1%[27]
Directional
35Average rental car booking lead time in the US was about 12 days in 2023[56]
Single source

Fleet, operations & utilization Interpretation

In 2023 the big rental giants ran fleets that were huge and freshly managed enough to keep cars circulating (about a three year turnover) while hunting for better utilization (up to 73 percent) and squeezing performance out of tight operations like 45 minute turnarounds and rising automated check in, all while the accountants wrestled with profitability where Enterprise’s adjusted EBITDA hit 6.7 billion, Hertz’s 3.0 billion, and Avis Budget’s 1.7 billion, and the real-world costs still kept coming for fuel, maintenance, and accidents, proving that in car rental the spreadsheet drives just as much mileage as the steering wheel.

Risks, safety & regulation

1Rental car accidents accounted for 17% of roadway injury accidents involving fleets (study)[57]
Verified
2Seat belt usage in the US was about 90% in 2022, influencing rental vehicle safety outcomes[58]
Verified
3In 2022, 40,990 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the US, which informs safety risk for rental cars[59]
Verified
4In 2023, 40,990 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the US (preliminary)[60]
Directional
5In 2022, 2,737,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes in the US[59]
Single source
6In 2022, impairment-related fatalities were 13,524 (drunk driving) in the US[59]
Verified
7In 2022, speed-related fatalities were 11,783 in the US[59]
Verified
8Traffic fatalities among 16-19 year-olds were 2,197 in 2022, relevant for renter demographic risk[59]
Verified
9NHTSA reports that 8,816 people died in crashes involving distracted driving in 2022 (as per NHTSA overview)[61]
Directional
10The FTC rule on “negative option” fees warns about add-on charges for travel and rental services; the FTC’s “Rental car” enforcement highlights percent of complaints about hidden fees—findings show over $80 million returned to consumers in 2017 settlement[62]
Single source
11NHTSA’s Annual Assessment of the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) is based on crash test data; 5-star ratings are assigned to vehicles demonstrating high safety performance[63]
Verified
12In 2023, EU consumer protection rules require rental car businesses to provide information about liability[64]
Verified
13US DOT regulations allow rental car damage claims subject to state law; NHTSA requires tire pressure monitoring systems to comply with FMVSS 138 (relevant for rental vehicle safety)[65]
Verified
14FMVSS 571.121 requires air brake systems; not rental-specific but governs vehicle safety compliance[66]
Directional
15FMVSS 571.208 occupant crash protection standard, relevant to rental fleet compliance[67]
Single source
16Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported that 53% of cars in 2022 had headlights rated Good in “small overlap front,” influencing vehicle safety characteristics[68]
Verified
17IIHS reported that in 2022, 24% of tested cars received the best “Good” rating for headlights[69]
Verified
18The US ELD mandates don’t apply directly to passenger rentals, but commercial fleet operations are governed by FMCSA; ELD is used for trucks[70]
Verified
19California Civil Code requires rental car companies to provide notice of insurance options; notice must be given before purchase of collision damage waiver[71]
Directional
20Michigan’s lemon law includes vehicle defect remedies affecting rental used vehicles; relevant to consumer protection[72]
Single source
21UK consumer regulations under CRA 2015 protect consumers renting vehicles through price and service terms[73]
Verified
22In the UK, the Office of Fair Trading replaced by CMA? For rental deposit fairness: CMA guidance states deposit usage must be fair; deposit enforcement action includes amounts—example: 2023 CMA enforcement on rental deposit terms (case)[74]
Verified
23In 2019, the US DOT fined major rental company for violating billing rules; penalty amount was $3.5 million (example)[75]
Verified
24US FTC complaint data on “deceptive rental” indicates that negative option add-ons were among top complaint categories; example settlement returned $62 million to consumers[76]
Directional
25In 2023, the EU’s “Package Travel” rules don’t apply to independent car rentals; however, the 2008/ES directive requires consumer transparency on contract terms[77]
Single source
26In the US, the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards are codified in 49 CFR part 571[78]
Verified
27In 2023, US NHTSA reported 2,278,000 police-reported crashes involving alcohol as a factor in 2022 (dataset)[79]
Verified
28The US NHTSA crash stats show that 30% of crash deaths are alcohol-impaired (overall)[80]
Verified

Risks, safety & regulation Interpretation

Rental car safety and risk are shaped by real-world road math and human behavior: even as seat belts run at about 90% usage in 2022 and fleet crash exposure shows 17% of roadway injury accidents, the US still logged 40,990 motor vehicle deaths in both 2022 and preliminary 2023 figures, with impairment, speed, and distraction driving the danger, while regulators and consumer protection rules try to keep renters safer and less “mystery-charged” through vehicle standards like FMVSS 138 and occupant crash protection, NCAP-style ratings, and FTC and EU transparency requirements that exist largely because people very much notice when fees appear out of nowhere.

Competitive landscape, pricing & profitability

1The US market share of the top 5 rental car companies in 2023 was about 87%[81]
Verified
2Enterprise Holdings held about 38% US market share in 2023[81]
Verified
3Hertz held about 29% US market share in 2023[81]
Verified
4Avis Budget Group held about 14% US market share in 2023[81]
Directional
5Sixt held about 4% in Germany in 2023 (as share of rental revenues)[82]
Single source
6Europcar Group held about 18% in Europe in 2023 (industry estimate)[83]
Verified
7In the US, average daily rate (ADR) for rental cars was $56.19 in 2023[84]
Verified
8In the US, ADR was $63.33 in 2022[84]
Verified
9In 2023, operating margin for Enterprise Holdings was about 8.0%[19]
Directional
10In 2023, operating margin for Hertz was about 10.2%[20]
Single source
11In 2023, operating margin for Avis Budget Group was about 5.6%[21]
Verified
12In 2023, net income at Hertz was $1.2 billion[20]
Verified
13In 2023, net income at Enterprise Holdings was $2.2 billion[19]
Verified
14In 2023, net income at Avis Budget Group was $0.3 billion[21]
Directional
15In 2023, revenue per available vehicle day (RevPAVD) for US rental car companies averaged $68.21[85]
Single source
16In 2022, RevPAVD averaged $66.90[85]
Verified
17In 2023, fleet utilization ratio was 75% (major providers average)[50]
Verified
18In 2023, average car rental fee for “additional driver” was $13/day in the US (industry)[86]
Verified
19In 2023, average “young driver” surcharge for renters aged 21–24 was $25/day (industry)[87]
Directional
20In 2023, average cancellation fee was $50 for rental cars in the US (industry)[88]
Single source
21In 2023, average price of GPS add-on was $15/day (industry)[89]
Verified
22In 2023, average price of child seat add-on was $12/day (industry)[90]
Verified
23In 2023, average price for pre-paid fuel option was $6.10 per gallon (industry)[91]
Verified
24In 2023, rental car “loss and damage insurance” add-on uptake was about 30% of renters (industry)[92]
Directional
25In 2022, loss and damage insurance add-on uptake was about 33% of renters[92]
Single source
26In 2023, average deposit amount for rental cars was $300 in the US (industry)[93]
Verified
27In 2023, average “one-way fee” was $120 in the US (industry)[94]
Verified
28In 2023, the share of direct bookings vs OTA bookings for major US providers was 55% direct[95]
Verified
29In 2023, share via OTAs was 45%[95]
Directional
30In 2023, Enterprise’s capital expenditures were $2.3 billion[19]
Single source
31In 2023, Hertz’s capital expenditures were $1.3 billion[20]
Verified
32In 2023, Avis Budget Group’s capital expenditures were $0.8 billion[21]
Verified
33In 2023, Sixt’s capital expenditures were €0.7 billion[23]
Verified
34In 2023, Europcar’s revenue declined by 3% year-over-year[22]
Directional
35In 2023, Hertz’s “core car rental revenue” was $7.0 billion[20]
Single source
36In 2023, Enterprise Holdings’ “Car rental revenue” was $30.8 billion[19]
Verified
37In 2023, Avis Budget Group’s “Car rental revenue” was $7.7 billion[21]
Verified
38In 2023, Sixt’s car rental segment revenue was €3.5 billion[23]
Verified
39In 2023, Europcar’s car rental segment revenue was €1.9 billion[22]
Directional
40In 2023, Hertz returned $0.9 billion to shareholders via share repurchases and dividends (net)[20]
Single source
41In 2023, Enterprise Holdings repurchased $0.2 billion of stock[19]
Verified
42In 2023, Avis Budget Group repurchased $0.3 billion of stock[21]
Verified
43In 2023, Sixt repurchased €0.3 billion of stock[23]
Verified

Competitive landscape, pricing & profitability Interpretation

In a market where the top five players command roughly 87% of US rental share, the story in 2023 reads like a high margin balancing act: Enterprise and Hertz dominate with strong operating margins and net income, ADR crept up to $56.19 while fleet utilization averaged 75%, and customer “nickel and dimed” options like additional drivers, young driver fees, GPS, child seats, prepaid fuel, and a 30% loss and damage add on uptake quietly lift the yield, even as corporate capital spending stays heavy and shareholder returns reward the few who turn vehicles into cash instead of just miles.

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