Chicago car hire information
| Pick-up location | Chicago |
|---|---|
| Car types | Compact, Compact SUV, Economy, Full-size, Full-size SUV, Intermediate, Intermediate SUV, People carrier, Premium, Standard, Standard SUV |
| Hire locations | 113 |
| Airport locations | 41 |
| Popular agencies | Dollar, Avis, Thrifty, Sixt |
Cheap car rentals in Chicago
| Economy | AED 195/day |
| Compact | AED 200/day |
| Intermediate | AED 202/day |
| Standard | AED 193/day |
| Full-size | AED 212/day |
| People carrier | AED 346/day |
| Full-size SUV | AED 254/day |
| Premium | AED 202/day |
| Standard SUV | AED 196/day |
| Compact SUV | AED 200/day |
| Intermediate SUV | AED 214/day |
Top tips for hiring a car in Chicago
- Are you looking to make the most of your time in Chicago? Renting a car from the airport will allow you to be efficient and drive directly to the doorstep of your destination. With a car you will also have access to the glorious Lake Michigan, the fifth largest lake in the world, with its expanse of beaches and great fishing opportunities. If you are planning to visit the famous Brookfield Zoo, having a car will save you plenty of time and hassle as it is located 13 miles from downtown Chicago.
- A shuttle bus takes you directly from any of O’Hare International Airport’s 3 terminals to the Car hire Facility, where major hire companies such as Avis, Enterprise, Thrifty, and Budget have counters. O’Hare International Airport is located 18 miles from downtown Chicago and the drive will take approximately 30 minutes.
- When driving around Chicago keep in mind that it is a sport loving town and you will notice the effect this has on road traffic when the White Sox, Cubs, or Bulls play a game. Wrigley Field, Guaranteed Rate Field, and United Center are all located in close proximity to downtown Chicago, so be vigilant and check whether these teams are playing -- and plan an alternative route if necessary to avoid these stadiums during big events.
- Much like other major cities throughout America, rush hour means there will be a lot of congestion on the roads between 7 am and 9 am and 4 pm and 6 pm on weekdays. Being mindful of the increased amount of cars and cyclists on the road is crucial. Keep in mind that it is legal to turn right on a red light unless otherwise indicated.
- 25% of our users found rental cars in Chicago for AED 235 or less
- Book your rental car in Chicago at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Off-airport rental car locations in Chicago are around 0% more expensive than airport locations on average
- Mini rental cars in Chicago are around -31% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Chicago
Chicago car rental reviews and directory
Alamo
8.3
Very Good
835 reviewsBest rated
Cleanliness
8.5
Comfort
8.5
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.3
Value for money
8.0
3 locations in Chicago
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4.0 Mediocre
May 2021
Cons:
They did not have any cars. Was not able to rent anything8.0 Very Good
Apr 2021
Cons:
Was talked into buying a toll pass for $10.99 a day. Was a rip off.2.0 Poor
Apr 2021
Pros:
Staff sucks, car sucks, service sucks, if you like being shown one number and then charged double that number after the rental is completed, and then charged randomly for tolls months later rent here.Cons:
Basically take the reservation quote that you et and multiply it by 3 because they nickel and dime you2.0 Poor
Mar 2021
Cons:
I have been over charged10.0 Wonderful
Mar 2021
Pros:
Alamo staffs were very friendly and helpful. My flight arrived a little earlier. Not sure if that's the reason, but their system shows the total price more than doubled comparing to my reservation receipt. The airport Alamo staff were able to get it fixed.Cons:
Because of the price difference, it took quite some time for the airport Alamo staff to get it resolved. Wish the system, especially for the reservation through 3rd parties, can be more seamless and fewer issues.2.0 Poor
Mar 2021
Pros:
I was allowed to pick up my car earlierCons:
Price, I agree for one price and you would like to charge me more with reason.Enterprise
7.8
Good
650 reviewsCleanliness
8.0
Comfort
8.1
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.8
Value for money
7.5
28 locations in Chicago
Locations in Chicago
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Reviews
2.0 Poor
Jun 2021
Cons:
Charger 40% more on top of quote due to an additional “surcharge/tax” which I wasn’t told about until the very last minute of getting the car. Lame.2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
Drop off was the only positive to this experience. Park the car and go.Cons:
Pricing was terrible. The time it took to be able to talk to staff after an 11 hour flight was terrible. Car selection was terrible.10.0 Wonderful
Apr 2021
Pros:
Pick up was easy and the person that helped me was considerate. Drop off was easy and the person who received the drop off was fantastic!8.0 Very Good
Feb 2021
Pros:
The guy at midway airport was really nice. They were very quick and efficient too.Cons:
I did notice that there was a bunch sticky stuff in the back seat when I got to Kentucky. It didn’t come from me as the only thing I put in the backseat was my suitcase, so I’m a little disappointed with the cleanliness of the vehicle. Also the vehicle itself shakes a lot when you get up to 70mph, and overall I wasn’t impressed with the Ford Ecosport.10.0 Wonderful
Jan 2021
Pros:
good service and new clean roomy car2.0 Poor
Dec 2020
Pros:
They treated me very bad they made me wait for 2 hours they were late then changed the book car then wanted to charge me 360 dollars not the amount that was on your application. It was bad I had a child with me and travel bags and the employee refused to use any other type of payment except my credit card which didn’t have that much money I want a compensation for my lost time lost money my agony long wait and missed work day. Unprofessional unacceptable.Cons:
Hated all aspects and how they treated me really bad and made me wait two hours although I booked a day before didn’t pick us up and still told us to go get coffee while we wait. It was 45 min and extended to two hours then it was a different car and extraaaaaaaa money not the amount on ur app or even close. 360 dollars for whaaaaat???Payless
6.8
Okay
574 reviewsCleanliness
7.6
Comfort
7.5
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.5
Value for money
6.9
2 locations in Chicago
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10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
Sherry at Ohare facility was most accommodating.10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
Staff very friendly and helpful. Whole process was very easy.Cons:
I don’t have any recommendations for improvement.9.2 Wonderful
Nov 2020
Pros:
Almost everything was fantastic. Customer service was timely and pleasant...there were only two of us in line, but there was no effort to put me off. Drop-off was easy and also quick. No receipt provided at drop-off, told I would receive via email. I filled the car with gas before turn-in...haven’t seen the receipt yet, but do hope I wasn’t charged for gas as that appears to be a problem for some.Cons:
Getting the email receipt for the car rental facility is far from timely. When traveling for business in particular this receipt is critical for expense reports and a delay in the receipt costs money in disbursement lag, AND is frustrating. For this reason alone, I would generally rate lower, but the rest of the service and the car itself was really very good.7.2 Good
Sep 2020
Pros:
Swiftly processsCons:
The Smoke smell of the car was intense - has no tiene to go back and ask for another vehicle. The price was exorbitant. Two hundred dollar for three days.10.0 Wonderful
Sep 2020
Pros:
Great experience3.6 Poor
Aug 2020
Pros:
Car was cleanCons:
Car was leaning to left all the time. Brakes were so bad that it shaked like crazy everytime press on the brake pedals. I have not felt safe for a moment in that car. When I called them they were not helpfulAvis
6.6
Okay
252 reviewsCleanliness
7.0
Comfort
7.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.4
Value for money
6.2
11 locations in Chicago
Locations in Chicago
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5.9 Fair
Jun 2021
6.0 Okay
May 2021
Pros:
Nice car and very clean. Drop off was easyCons:
Price with add ons is ridiculous Pick up was horrible at Midway desk with only two agents working neither of whom was trying very hard to move the line. I was only 4 people back and had to wait 45 minutes to get to the counter.4.0 Mediocre
Feb 2021
Pros:
Pickup was confusing as avis had no one at the desks, ghost town. Drop off was simple.Cons:
Vehicle had broken glass under the seats and on floor mats at pickup, must've had broken windows previously?? 6 hour drive sounded like driving with the windows open, very loud and interior was not clean even though avis put a sticker on the dash starting vehicle was. Clean/sanitize from top to bottom....2.0 Poor
Feb 2021
Pros:
No the staff was rude the lady tried to get me to down grade for the same price and when I told her I chose one of the most expensive categories she got upset and said we’ll wait 45 mins till a car is readyCons:
They charged hidden fees that weren’t really put out there.6.0 Okay
Dec 2021
Pros:
Staff was helpful. Pickup/drop off was easyCons:
Car was dirty and smelled like cigarettes10.0 Wonderful
Dec 2020
Pros:
I’m probably never going to use another service except for you guys because of how smooth everything was!Cons:
N/A, I’m thoroughly impressedBudget
6.3
Okay
664 reviewsMost popular
Cleanliness
7.1
Comfort
7.1
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.3
Value for money
6.2
10 locations in Chicago
from AED 336/day
Locations in Chicago
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10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2022
4.0 Mediocre
Oct 2022
4.0 Mediocre
Oct 2022
2.0 Poor
Oct 2022
8.0 Very Good
Oct 2022
4.0 Mediocre
Oct 2022
Hertz
6.2
Okay
988 reviewsCleanliness
6.7
Comfort
6.8
Pick-up/Drop-off
5.9
Value for money
6.1
17 locations in Chicago
Locations in Chicago
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2.0 Poor
Nov 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2022
2.0 Poor
Oct 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2022
2.0 Poor
Jan 2022
Thrifty
6.1
Okay
362 reviewsCheapest deal
Cleanliness
6.8
Comfort
6.7
Pick-up/Drop-off
5.8
Value for money
6.1
5 locations in Chicago
from AED 135/day
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1.9 Poor
Jul 2021
10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Cons:
Had to wait at the car rental counter, the line was long.2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
Nothing, customer service representatives were rude and completely unhelpful. Stand in line for over 30 minutes only to learn there are no cars available for pick-up.Cons:
Do not accept reservations, if you do not have cars available to pick-up.2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
nothingCons:
I waited on line for a half hour. when I got to the front, the guy told me they had no cars, and I would have to wait 1-2 hours. Another customer told me they were waiting 3 hours. I went to Budget and got a car right away.2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
There were no cars. Waited 20 mon in a line 50 people long. When asked agent where line ended they didnt tell us there were no carsCons:
Honesty.4.0 Mediocre
May 2021
Cons:
Cutomer service to extend rental for 2 more days due to family emergency. I ended up renting something bigger for half the price. In addition, I got charged for unlimited tolls but there are no tolls btwn Ohare and ChicagoDollar
6.1
Okay
532 reviewsCleanliness
7.3
Comfort
7.1
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.0
Value for money
6.1
3 locations in Chicago
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10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2021
2.0 Poor
May 2021
Cons:
The counter agent was very rude. We waited for 45 minutes in the line. When we finally got to him, he told us we would have to wait 45 to 90 minutes until our car would be ready unless we upgrade by paying additional $18/day. After he rang the charges , it showed $19/ day. It gets worse. After driving for two hours, the car had engine light. We called the emergency roadside service, I was put on hold for 30 minutes. Next day, the car condition got worse, we drove back to the airport to change the car because the car had trouble starting. When we returned to the airport, the counter agent was at the return center. He was rude. He did not apologize.2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
The staff in the lot at pickup was friendly and helpful in figuring out the confusion from the mistake a the counter. The staff at drop off was friendly and helpful. Both of these staff were Hertz employees as they were handling the car pickup and dropoff.Cons:
The counter staff assigned the same car to me as to someone else. There was confusion as to who was supposed to be in the car. The counter staff added insurance that I did not want to the charges. They did not ask me; I never take the insurance. When I questioned the higher amount, she said it was due to a deposit that would be returned to me. When I called customer service to address the situation, "William" told me that there was nothing he could do to help and I would need to follow some 10 step process on a web site to submit a complaint. We normally rent from Hertz. I will never us Dollar again.4.0 Mediocre
May 2021
Pros:
Hard to find the car. Was parked in a lot marked with another agency. No instruction at all on the basics of the car. Never told how to operate the plate pass. Directions for drop off were incorrect. Never could get through through when I called for a question.Cons:
See above8.0 Very Good
May 2021
Pros:
The staff at the Chicago office went out of their way to help me choose the right vehicle. Pleasant experience. At Denver, not so much.4.0 Mediocre
May 2021
Pros:
Staff was friendly although it took more than 40 minutes in line to get to her.Cons:
More than 1 person at the desk on a Friday afternoonFox
6.0
Okay
219 reviewsCleanliness
6.0
Comfort
6.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.0
Value for money
6.2
One location in Chicago
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10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2021
Pros:
The staff was excellent, super friendly and accommodating. I was thoroughly impressed.4.0 Mediocre
May 2021
Cons:
There was a large dead mosquito on the dash-front of the car and the entire car reeked of smoke.4.0 Mediocre
May 2021
Pros:
The only positive things I can say about Fox car rental is one, the person who checked me in was friendly and courteous, number two, the person who checked me in upon my return was friendly and courteous. Their customer service took 45 minutes to answer the phone and the representative was discourteous and condescending. They did a bait and switch with the type of vehicle that I had requested. The vehicle smelled of cigarette smoke, the windshield on the interior was not cleaned. I had to buy a bottle of for breeze and Windex and paper towels to make the car suitable for my trip. I would never ever rent from this company.Cons:
They could be honest with their customer, they could train their customer service representatives to be more customer service oriented. And they should give the customer the type of vehicle that they had requested. It goes back I guess to the old saying, You get what you pay for.4.0 Mediocre
May 2021
Pros:
Only girl at window was sullen, uninterested in her job, and abrupt. I was the only customer at that late hour. She charged me $150.00 deposit on top of the rental charge. I have not yet been reimbursed and don’t know to whom I should demand my deposit back.Cons:
Seems the whole organization procedures and staff need complete change.10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
I found the staff to be very helpful and professional.Cons:
I think the sign-in process could be streamlined and made a bit less complex2.0 Poor
May 2021
Cons:
It would have been better if they had a car actually there ready to go at the time I reserved it.National
7.5
Good
40 reviewsCleanliness
7.8
Comfort
7.9
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.4
Value for money
7.1
3 locations in Chicago
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2.0 Poor
Jan 2021
Cons:
National didn't have my SUV available nor would they rent a car to me since I was local and not a distant traveler and booked on the same day. Why did they give the option on the website that a car was available? Wasted my time on Christmas day.6.0 Okay
Dec 2020
Pros:
The staff was happy to see and serve me. Good customer service.Cons:
Even though I called ahead, there were no full-sized trucks on the lot when I arrived. They had to get one from some auxiliary lot and drive it in for me. The truck they grabbed had not been properly cleaned - filthy steering wheels and side windows so dirty that I could not see the side mirrors. National made up for this by giving me a free day of rent (refund), and a deep apology from the management. So I will try them again next time.9.6 Wonderful
Nov 2020
Pros:
Staff was great, car selection was great (plus free upgrade). Drop off was very easyCons:
The pick up location garage is a little tight to navigate getting out10.0 Wonderful
May 2020
Pros:
Exceptional Experience.9.6 Wonderful
May 2020
Pros:
Friendly staff...Cons:
Cup holders and little cubby wasnt clean. Stick with spilled something.9.6 Wonderful
Oct 2019
Cons:
I was very pleasedSixt
6.7
Okay
93 reviewsCleanliness
7.4
Comfort
7.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.8
Value for money
6.7
2 locations in Chicago
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2.0 Poor
Nov 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Nov 2022
2.0 Poor
Oct 2022
2.0 Poor
Sep 2022
2.0 Poor
Aug 2022
2.0 Poor
Jul 2022
Airport Van
4.9
Mediocre
65 reviewsCleanliness
4.9
Comfort
5.1
Pick-up/Drop-off
4.7
Value for money
5.0
2 locations in Chicago
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Reviews
8.0 Very Good
Mar 2020
Pros:
The pick up was close by but I didnt realize it would not be at the airport. The sign is super small and if your not looking for it you would miss the pick up spot. Our group waited over 30 minutes before they finally picked us up.6.8 Okay
Jan 2020
Pros:
A good initial price, but was then increased when they forced me to buy insurance before I could get the keys. The vehicle was in excellent shape and clean.Cons:
The pickup experience was very frustrating and I will not use this company again.3.2 Poor
Jan 2020
Cons:
The car’s front end rattled the whole time. Alignment was off pulling to the right. Drivers door made a rattle like a can