Cheap car hire in Chicago is a piece of cake, with a fairly wide choice of rental counters at O’Hare and Midway airports, or in the city centre. When comparing rental prices with other US cities, Chicago ranks slightly above average.
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How to Get the Best Price for Car Rental in Chicago
The price of car rental in Chicago is not only determined by the number of days and the chosen rental company, but also by a number of other factors.
🗓️ Date of Booking
The time you book your car in advance also affects the final price. I personally compared a range of options, and the cheapest bookings were made two to three months before the day of pick-up.
Some car rental companies have the advantage of being able to cancel an existing reservation without any fees. For example, the comparison site RentalCars.com offers this option, which also has the advantage of guaranteeing the lowest price for car rental.
⏳ Public Holidays and Seasons Affect the Price
Rental fees can vary throughout the year as demand for vehicles increases or decreases. Demand is usually highest during the summer holidays, when the main tourist season is in full swing in the USA. During national holidays, when Americans travel more, the price of rentals also rises.
When booking a car, make sure the pick-up and return times are the same. Rental companies calculate the price in 24-hour windows. If you picked up your rental car at 9am but returned it at 10am, for example, you’d be paying an extra whole day for nothing.
🗺️ Where the Car Rental Is Located
O’Hare and Midway both have several rental car agencies, which may be why prices are lower than in downtown Chicago. It may be worth choosing an airport car rental, even if the prices are slightly higher, as you’ll eliminate the cost of traveling downtown.
🏎️ Class of Rental Car
The cheapest cars are the less equipped and less spacious Economy class cars, which are only suitable for shorter journeys. For long road trips, where you’ll be spending several hours a day in the car, I recommend the approximately 10% more expensive Intermediate and Large classes.
You can get even more comfort if you prefer an SUV. These cars are typically 25% more expensive than the cheapest ones. Renting a convertible or other premium car is a tempting experience, but the downside is the significantly lower price. Expect at least double the price of the cheapest economy cars.
In the following table, I have searched for the cheapest car rentals in Chicago for 24 hours. The prices are only approximate, they are influenced by the current availability of cars at each branch. Occasionally, it happens that cars from higher classes are cheaper, or that customers are given a free upgrade.
Economy Large SUV Convertible 
from $39 from $39 from $43 from $73 🔁 Update Price 🔁 Update Price 🔁 Update Price 🔁 Update Price 🔞 Age of Drivers
Basically all car rental companies charge drivers aged between 21 and 24 a surcharge of $16.00 to $37 per day of rental. This is due to the higher risk of causing an accident, the specific amount of the fee varies from rental company to rental company.
For younger drivers aged between 18 and 21, rental companies will either not entrust the car at all or charge them an even higher fee.
☂️ Insurance
Compulsory liability insurance (SLP) and collision damage insurance (CDW) are already included in the final price of a rental car in Chicago. The driver’s deductible should be zero, so he or she should pay nothing in the event of damage. Always check for any insurance exclusions in the booking process.
If any risks are not covered, I recommend paying for additional insurance.
🛰️ Accessories
You can buy additional services and accessories for your car for an additional fee. An additional driver with whom you can take turns driving the car is useful. If damage is caused by a person not named in the contract, it will not be covered by the insurance. The amount of the additional driver fee varies from rental company to rental company, usually from $13.00 to $15.00 per rental day. For example, Avis has set the maximum fee at $65.
If you’ll be travelling in the USA with children, you can buy a booster or child seat, which rental companies offer in several sizes.
I find it unnecessary to buy a GPS navigation system, which is very easy to replace with a mobile phone with the Google Maps app. As well as the mobile internet security often offered, just buy a USA eSIM through the Airalo app.
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Non-binding Car Rental Price Calculation in Chicago
The first Chicago car rental company you come across probably won’t be the cheapest. So the basic rule of thumb is: Compare. For example, RentalCars.com allows you to compare prices from over 200 different companies around the world at the same time. What’s more, it guarantees customers the lowest rental price.
To find out the best price for renting a car, I recommend filling out the form below. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to complete the booking, however the quote includes all major car rental companies in Chicago. This way you are assured of a favourable price.
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Cheap Car Rental Brands in Chicago
◻️ Chicago O’Hare Airport Car Rentals
Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt and Thrifty are all car rental companies operating directly at O’Hare Airport.
All car rental agencies are located in a separate Multi-Modal Facility (MMF) building, which is accessible by free ATS train. It operates 24 hours a day, with fully automated trains running at 3-5 minute intervals.
◻️ Chicago Midway Airport Car Rentals
Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National are the smaller of Chicago’s two airport rental agencies. Midway Airport car rentals are located in a separate building and are accessible by a free shuttle bus. It runs 24 hours a day at 15-minute intervals.
◻️ Car Rentals in Downtown Chicago
By far the most branches in Chicago are operated by Enterprise, with locations outside of downtown. Alamo, Avis, Sixt, and Zipcar are also found in downtown Chicago
Car rental Rating 
Alamo Rent a Car 8.7/10 
Avis Car Rental 8.2/10 
Budget Car Rental 8.1/10 
Dollar Car Rental 8.3/10 
Enterprise Rent-A-Car 8.6/10 
Hertz Rent a Car 8.3/10 
National Car Rental 8.6/10 
SIXT Rent A Car 8.3/10 
Thrifty Car Rental 8.3/10 -
Tips for the Best Road Trips in the Chicago Area
1️⃣ Indiana Dunes National Park
Indiana Dunes National Park is located on the shores of Lake Michigan about 39 mi east of downtown Chicago. The park is characterized by sand dunes, some of which reach heights of up to 194 ft.
The main attraction of the park is the 3 Dunes Challenge Loop, which is only 1 mi, but runs through the sand. How long will it take you to run to the top of the three sand dunes 177 ft, 184 ft and 194 ft? There are several campsites around the park that will provide good facilities for overnight stays.
2️⃣ Galena, Illinois
Known for its historic downtown and well-preserved Victorian-style buildings, the city of Galena is located 164 mi and less than three hours west of Chicago by car.
The name Galena refers to the mineral galena, which began to be mined here during the 19th century and was behind the development of the entire area. Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States, also lived in the town.
3️⃣ Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock is one of the most beautiful parks in Illinois, located 93 mi southwest of downtown Chicago, about an hour and a half drive. The state park is famous for its canyons and waterfalls, which are not very high, but blend in nicely with the surrounding greenery.
Visitors to the park can hike over 12 mi hiking trails, much of which pass through dense forests and canyons along the Illinois River. The history of the area dates back to the time of Native American tribes. Legend has it that a group of Native American women were once trapped on one of the rocks and starved to death, giving the park its name “Hungry Rock”.
4️⃣ Springfield, Illinois
Everyone probably knows Springfield as the home of the yellow Simpson family. This Springfield is a 202 mi drive southeast of Chicago and was made famous by someone else. The 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, lived and worked here and the city has a number of historical landmarks associated with his life.
An interesting place for history buffs is the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, which houses a number of interactive exhibits about his life.
5️⃣ Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva is a picturesque town and lake located 83 mi northwest of Chicago, about an hour and a half drive. Specific to the city of Lake Geneva are the historic buildings from the late 19th century. Many of them were built by wealthy industrialists who began traveling to the shores of Lake Geneva by train after the Great Chicago Fire of October 1871.
The lake itself is accessible not only by cruise ship, but also by paddleboard or fishing boat.
Car Rental in USA
- Car Rental in the USA - How to Save, Tips, and Experiences
- Driving in the USA
- Gas Stations in the USA
Car Rental in…
Boston — California — Chicago — Denver — Florida — Hawaii — Las Vegas — Los Angeles — Miami — New York City — Salt Lake City — San Francisco — Washington D.C.
