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Washington, D.C.

Cheap Car Hire in Washington, D.C.

Driver's age: 26-65
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What is the cheapest time to rent a car in Washington, D.C.?

Discover the most affordable period to rent a car in Washington, D.C. and save money on your trip. The monthly average price data is based on historical data over the last year and was last updated on 24 March 2025.

January

R837

February

R728

March

R873

April

R1 001

May

R1 110

June

R1 128

July

R1 183

August

R910

September

R855

October

R964

November

R891

December

R1 001

Currently, the cheapest month to rent a car in Washington, D.C. is February. The most expensive time to rent a car is July. The cheapest prices for each month are shown above, but prices will vary based on availability, how far out you book your rental car, and of course, car type.

Compare available car types for rental in Washington, D.C.

Compare and contrast the various car types offered for hire in Washington, D.C. to find the perfect fit for your trip. Price data is based on averages over the last 12 months and was last updated on 24 March 2025.

Small cars

R636 - R1 908

All Car Types

R725 - R2 140

To hire a small car in Washington, D.C., the United States, you would pay an average price of R1 012/day. May is the cheapest month to hire a small car in Washington, D.C., the United States (~R636/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is March (~R1 908/day). In fact, May is about 38% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a small car hire for Washington, D.C.. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Washington, D.C., renting a small car saves you 13% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity.

To hire a medium car in Washington, D.C., the United States, you would pay an average price of R1 099/day. November is the cheapest month to hire a medium car in Washington, D.C., the United States (~R615/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is June (~R2 197/day). In fact, November is about 45% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a medium car hire for Washington, D.C.. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Washington, D.C., renting a medium car saves you 6% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity.

To hire a large car in Washington, D.C., the United States, you would pay an average price of R901/day. August is the cheapest month to hire a large car in Washington, D.C., the United States (~R736/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is June (~R2 289/day). In fact, August is about 19% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a large car hire for Washington, D.C.. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Washington, D.C., renting a large car saves you 23% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity.

To hire a SUV in Washington, D.C., the United States, you would pay an average price of R1 144/day. October is the cheapest month to hire a SUV in Washington, D.C., the United States (~R662/day), while the most expensive month to rent that same car type is June (~R2 344/day). In fact, October is about 43% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a SUV hire for Washington, D.C.. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Washington, D.C., renting a SUV saves you 2% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity.

Top rental agencies in Washington, D.C.

Explore the leading car hire agencies in Washington, D.C. known for their outstanding service and extensive range of vehicles to choose from. There are currently 8 car hire companies in Washington, D.C.. Reviews were last updated on 24 March 2025.
Hire a car with one of the top providers serving the Washington, D.C. area such as Hertz, Dollar and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Skim reviews, hire company locations, prices, and more before making your decision.

Hertz

5,3
Fair
265 reviews6 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6,1

Comfort

6,1

Overall

5,3

Pick-up/drop-off

5,2

Value

5,4

Dollar

2,9
Poor
123 reviews3 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

3,6

Comfort

3,3

Overall

2,9

Pick-up/drop-off

3,0

Value

3,6

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

7,4
Good
35 reviews9 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,7

Comfort

7,6

Overall

7,4

Pick-up/drop-off

7,5

Value

7,4

Avis

6,4
Okay
51 reviews6 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,2

Comfort

7,1

Overall

6,4

Pick-up/drop-off

6,4

Value

6,8

Budget

5,7
Fair
72 reviews6 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

6,4

Comfort

6,5

Overall

5,7

Pick-up/drop-off

5,6

Value

6,0

Thrifty

4,0
Mediocre
75 reviews3 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

4,4

Comfort

4,0

Overall

4,0

Pick-up/drop-off

4,0

Value

4,0

National

3 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

9,0

Comfort

9,0

Overall

9,0

Pick-up/drop-off

9,0

Value

8,0

Alamo

7,5
Good
12 reviews2 locations
Overview

Cleanliness

7,6

Comfort

7,5

Overall

7,3

Pick-up/drop-off

6,8

Value

7,3

Car hire FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in Washington, D.C., including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 24 March 2025.
  • Which car hire company is considered to be the best in Washington, D.C.?

    Taking our users’ ratings and reviews into consideration, National (9,2 rating), Alamo (7,3 rating) and Enterprise Rent-A-Car (7,3 rating) seem to be the best car hire companies in Washington, D.C..

  • What are petrol prices like in Washington, D.C.?

    The average price of petrol in Washington, D.C. is R16,39/litre over the past month, costing you anywhere between R737 and R1 065 to fill up a car’s fuel tank.

  • How much does it cost to hire a car in Washington, D.C. for a week from Alamo?

    Alamo is one of the top picks in Washington, D.C.. They can have you in a hire car for about R22 293 per week on average.

  • How far in advance should I hire a car in Washington, D.C. for the best price?

    Our data suggests that booking early can save you up to 43% on a hire car in Washington, D.C.. Take advantage of below-average prices by booking at least 7 days prior to your desired date.

  • Can I rent a car for a month in Washington, D.C.?

    Yes, hiring a vehicle in Washington, D.C. for a month is certainly possible.

  • What car do most people hire in Washington, D.C.?

    The most popular car chosen by those travelling to Washington, D.C. is Standard (Nissan Rogue) based on our Cheapflights data.

Travelling to a place near Washington, D.C.?

Hire a car at Washington, D.C. if you plan to visit one of these locations
Linthicum Heights
Alexandria
Owings Mills

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