Securing a rental car is often one of the final steps in planning a trip—but it can have a lasting impact on the travel experience. A smooth pickup, a dependable vehicle, and clear, upfront pricing can make the difference between a stress-free journey and a vacation gone sideways. That’s why feedback from fellow travelers is invaluable when choosing a rental car company.
In Travel + Leisure’s 2025 “World’s Best Awards” survey, readers shared the rental car companies they return to time and again—those that consistently deliver on service, reliability, transparency, and value, no matter the destination.
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How Voting Works
Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 180,000 T+L readers completed the 2025 survey. A total of more than 657,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).
Car-rental companies were specifically rated on the criteria below:
- Vehicle selection
- Vehicle availability
- Car-rental location
- Service
- Value
For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.
What Readers Loved
Of the top five rental car companies, three are headquartered in the United States—including the No. 1 pick. There were two European car rental companies in the ranking: Europcar (No. 5), a French company that started in Paris in 1949, and Sixt (No. 2), which was started in Germany and is headquartered near Munich (but has a North American headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida).
One reader called Sixt a “bright spot in the industry,” while another called the company their “favorite rental agency. Customer service is the best in the business, their fleet is new, and car selection is far superior.”
The top four car rental companies in 2025 were also the top four in 2024. Europcar was the only new arrival on the list, replacing Hertz.
The Winner
National Car Rental
National
National Car Rental was rated the No. 1 car rental company by T+L readers, a designation the company must be used to by now—they were rated No. 1 in the survey in 2024 as well as in 2023.
Readers had a lot to say about National Car Rental’s Emerald Club, which offers benefits like choosing your own car from the “Emerald Aisle” (and not paying an upgrade fee) and free rental days. “The Emerald Club selection of any car within a category is still a game changer … outstanding!” said one reader, while another added that National is “hands-down my favorite rental car agency. Their Emerald Club has a ton of perks. Great vehicle selection. Typically always brand-new vehicles. Pricing is excellent.”
National, which is headquartered in St. Louis, has more than 1,500 rental locations around the world, including 300-plus in the United States.
The Full List
1. National Car Rental
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 86.75
2. Sixt
Reader Score: 79.84
3. Enterprise Rent-A-Car
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 79.39
4. Alamo
WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 77.11
5. Europcar
Reader Score: 77.07
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