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The rental car leaderboard has a new first-place finisher.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car has topped the charts, ranking the highest in overall customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power's newly-released 2025 North America Rental Car Satisfaction Study. The car company received a score of 734 out of 1,000.
National Car Rental came in second place with a score of 721. Both Enterprise and National are owned by the same corporation, Enterprise Mobility. This is a slight change from 2024 when National was ranked first and Enterprise came in second.
"A reputation built on putting people first and delivering exceptional customer service has defined our brands for generations,” Bridget Long, Enterprise's mobility SVP of North American operations, said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure. “I believe a big piece of our success is that our amazing people are relentless in their pursuit of delivering great experiences and meeting the needs of our customers so they can enjoy every moment and make the most of their trip.”
After Enterprise and National, Advantage Rent a Car, Sixt, and Hertz rounded out the top five. The three lowest-rated rental car companies for customer satisfaction were Dollar, Fox Rent A Car, and Payless.
To determine the list, J.D. Power surveyed more than 8,200 travelers who rented a vehicle at an airport during the past year. The company looked at several factors, including the ease of renting, the level of trust, the vehicles and staff, the value for the price, and digital tools.
J.D. Power also found customers could save more than 7 minutes by skipping the car rental counter at the airport and instead going directly to the lot to get their vehicle.
“Given options of loyalty programs, kiosks and rental car company apps, there are more ways than ever to bypass the rental car counter and customers who take advantage of that added convenience are enjoying the benefits," Azari Jones, the rental car practice lead at J.D. Power, said in a statement. "The key for rental car companies looking to maximize customer satisfaction is to clearly communicate the value of direct pick-up for time-pressed travelers, and to add value at the counter by delivering personalized service and more fully addressing customers’ questions and concerns."
The car rental rankings come as gas prices continue to fall. Currently, the national average for a gallon of gas is just over $3, according to AAA. And while travelers have taken to the roads in record numbers this year, demand for gas has actually "fallen to a four-month low," AAA noted.
Regardless of which company a traveler rents from, there are many ways to save money on rental car reservations. Experts recommend reviewing rates from membership programs like AAA, airline loyalty programs, and even Costco to find discounted rates. Renting away from the airport can also save money, but that doesn't always hold true in large cities like New York City.
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
