If you’re planning to rent a car in Chicago but don’t have a big budget to play with, there are a number of hire companies that offer deals that won’t break the bank.
A street view in Chicago (Photo: Pedro Szekely via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED)
Several car rental companies can be found in Chicago most of which are located either in the downtown district or near to the city’s two main airports. And with car hire rates spiralling in recent years, it’s crucial to do your research to get the best deal. For those seeking a car that won’t hit you too hard in the pocket, we’ve picked out three companies that we’d happily recommend, listed below based on their specific city locations.
O’Hare International Airport: Enterprise
Our top pick for rental companies at Chicago’s busiest airport is Enterprise. For maximum convenience, their offices and car fleet are located directly at the airport terminal, meaning you don’t need to deal with the hassle of boarding a shuttle bus just after stepping off a long flight. As for cars on offer, Enterprise seem to have a strong selection of SUVs at O’Hare, including a Nissan Kicks that’s available for $381 for a week’s rental. They also have a Hyundai Elantra offered for a similar price.
Midway International Airport: Alamo
For car rentals at Midway Airport, we recommend Alamo. Their offices and cars are also situated at the terminal, and they have several types of car available here, from hatchbacks to sedans to SUVs. One of the deals we found was for a Mitsubishi Mirage, a small car with good fuel economy and ideal for city driving, which was available for $383 for a week’s rental. For something a touch cheaper, the Hyundai Elantra and Nissan Versa were both offered for about $15 less for the same period.
Downtown Chicago: Sixt
Many visitors to Chicago will want to be based around the city’s buzzing downtown district – also known as the Loop – and on South Wabash Avenue in the South Loop you’ll find Sixt rental agency, which has the cheapest rates of all the companies we researched. Here you can pick up a Nissan Versa for $301 per week, although for just a few dollars more you may well want to opt for a Toyota Corolla for its slightly superior size. And for even more space, you may even want to stretch to an SUV, with the Toyota RAV4 available for $332 per week.
By Paul Joseph