• Customer ratings 8.9 / 10
  • Over 1 million successful rentals

Car Hire Chicago

Save time and money. We compare the offers of car rental companies in Chicago on your behalf.

Enter city or airport code
- days
I live in:
Why book with us?
  • Free cancellation Up to 48 hours prior to the scheduled pick up time
  • Best price guarantee Have you found a better price? Let us know and we will make you a better offer.
  • Already 500,000+ bookings More than half a million people preceded you 24000+ pick-up locations Locations around the world
  • 24000+ pick-up locations Locations around the world
We compare all of the well known car hire firms - and many others!

Compare Car Hire

Carrentals.co.uk offers simple and straightforward car hire comparison services. We don't add a penny to your quotes!

Popular rental locations in Chicago

The following rental locations are the most popular for renting a car in Chicago

Car rental offers in Chicago

Whether you're looking for a small rental car or a station wagon for the entire family, we will always have a suitable vehicle for the lowest price. Below are some examples from our selection in Chicago.

Car type
Mini
Economy
Compact
Intermediate
Standard
Full-size
Luxury
Passenger van
Convertible
SUV
Electric

Car rental companies in Chicago

Below are the car rental companies in Chicago with the best ratings. Compare all ratings and prices of these rental companies in one search.

  • National Car Rental

    9.5 (435)
    From £ 34 / day
  • Alamo

    9.1 (9369)
    From £ 32 / day
  • Enterprise

    8.8 (2107)
    From £ 34 / day
  • Hertz

    8.3 (7510)
    From £ 26 / day
  • Thrifty

    8.3 (5898)
    From £ 30 / day
  • Sixt

    7.9 (3695)
    From £ 34 / day
  • Budget

    7.4 (10242)
    From £ 18 / day
  • Europcar

    7 (8795)
    From £ 28 / day
  • Dollar Rent a Car

    6.8 (4664)
    From £ 29 / day
  • Avis

    6.1 (6520)
    From £ 30 / day
  • Fox Rent A Car

    6 (13)
    From £ 27 / day
  • Nextcar

    No reviews
    No rates available
  • Routes

    No reviews
    From £ 29 / day
  • ACE Rent A Car

    4.9 (16)
    From £ 31 / day
  • Eaglerider

    No reviews
    No rates available
  • NÜ Car Rentals

    4.6 (22)
    No rates available
  • InterRent

    6.3 (5827)
    No rates available
  • Payless Car Rental

    6.2 (512)
    From £ 42 / day
  • Advantage Rent a Car

    No reviews
    No rates available

Recent reviews

Our customers rate us a 8.9/10 out of 2259

When is the best time to book a rental car in Chicago?

Chicago - When is the most affordable time to rent a mini class car?

At this destination (Chicago), February is the most affordable time to rent a mini class car with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. August is the peak month for renting mini class cars, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Chicago - When is the most affordable time to rent a economy class car?

At this destination (Chicago), February is the most affordable time to rent a economy class car with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. October is the peak month for renting economy class cars, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Chicago - When is the most affordable time to rent a compact class car?

At this destination (Chicago), February is the most affordable time to rent a compact class car with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. October is the peak month for renting compact class cars, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Chicago - When is the most affordable time to rent an intermediate class car?

At this destination (Chicago), February is the most affordable time to rent a intermediate class car with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. October is the peak month for renting intermediate class cars, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Chicago - When is the most affordable time to rent a standard class car?

At this destination (Chicago), February is the most affordable time to rent a standard class car with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. October is the peak month for renting standard class cars, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Chicago - When is the most affordable time to rent a full-size car?

At this destination (Chicago), February is the most affordable time to rent a full-size class car with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. October is the peak month for renting full-size class cars, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Chicago - When is the most affordable time to rent a luxury car?

At this destination (Chicago), February is the most affordable time to rent a luxury class car with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. October is the peak month for renting luxury class cars, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Chicago - When is the most affordable time to rent a SUV?

At this destination (Chicago), February is the most affordable time to rent an SUV with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. October is the peak month for renting an SUV, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Chicago - When is the most affordable time to rent a MPV?

At this destination (Chicago), December is the most affordable time to rent an mpv with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. October is the peak month for renting an mpv with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Chicago - When is the most affordable time to rent a minivan?

At this destination (Chicago), June is the most affordable time to rent a minibus with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. October is the peak month for renting a minibus, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Chicago - When is the most affordable time to rent a sports car?

At this destination (Chicago), February is the most affordable time to rent a sports car with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. October is the peak month for renting a sports car, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Chicago - When is the most affordable time to rent a convertible?

At this destination (Chicago), February is the most affordable time to rent a convertible with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. October is the peak month for renting a convertible, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Chicago - When is the most affordable time to rent a sedan?

At this destination (Chicago), June is the most affordable time to rent a sedan with an average daily rate of . The rest of the year, the average rate is per day. August is the peak month for renting a sedan, with an average rate of per day. To secure a good selection and favorable rates, it is recommended to make your rental car reservation well ahead of time. Last-minute bookings may result in limited options and higher prices.

Car rental companies in and around Chicago

Looking for a hire car in United States? Take a look at our Car rental United States directory.

Chicago

Available locations in Chicago

Chicago Midway Airport
Chicago Amtrak Union Station
181 W Washington St
1830 S Wabash Ave
203 North Lasalle
214 N. Clark Street
21W700 E North Ave
2640 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60616, USA
2828 N Clark St
2900 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, USA
3057 N Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60641, USA
3115 Beacon St, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
3130 N Sheffield Ave
3130 N Sheffield Ave
318 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
3255 W Fullerton Ave
335a S Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60606, USA
3658 N Clark St
3721 North Broadway
401 North State Street
4314 N Western Ave
4501 W 46th St, Chicago, IL 60632, USA
4520 W 63rd St
4621 W Belmont Ave
4825 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60632, USA
5050 N Lincoln Ave
5259 S Archer Ave
5313 N. Sheridan Road
5451 N Northwest Hwy
6740 S Western Ave
714 South Wabash
801 Chicago Ave
8181 S Cicero Ave
825 Patton Dr
850 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610, USA
909 N Michigan Ave
9240 S Stony Is Ave
930 W Division St
933 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60642, USA
9950 Joliet Rd
2300 S Martin Luther King Dr

Chicago Guide

Car Hire

Chicago certainly comes close to rivalling New York’s cultural, culinary and nightlife scene. Boasting stunning architecture, some of the best restaurants in the country and unstoppable theatres, it’s no wonder that it carries the label of America’s ‘Second City’. With so much on offer, the city’s surroundings are often sadly overlooked. But Chicago does serve as a great base from which to do some independent exploring, and many car rental companies are on hand to equip travellers with the perfect vehicle.

Who to Book With
Travellers can expect to find the usual international rental companies like Budget, Avis, Dollar and Hertz located in the city, usually at Chicago O’Hare Airport and several other places around the city itself. Online booking is highly recommended, especially during peak tourism seasons, when the rush for vehicles is great.

Best time to go
All four seasons can be enjoyed in Chicago, although the height of summer brings sweltering conditions and the depths of winter see below-freezing temperatures. Peak season in the city is during summer, but the best time to go is actually in autumn, when temperatures drop a bit. During winter, the streets are often covered in a thin layer of snow, which can be a driving hazard.

Need to Know Essentials
On collecting your vehicle, the following will need to be presented:

- An International Driving Permit or a valid United States driving licence
- The credit card used when making the initial booking
- Another form of photographic identification, such as an ID card or a passport.

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
Driving in Chicago city centre is generally reserved for the brave or the insane. Congestion seems to be a natural condition of the Downtown area, and one way systems dominate most of the roads. Most areas in the city can be explored by foot, but there is also an extremely reliable public transport system that takes the stress out of navigating the city by car.

Street parking is available, but drivers will be required to feed a meter. In the busier areas, the rates are higher. There are also a few parking garages in the city centre, but they can be quite expensive, with daily rates amounting to as much as $40. Outside of the centre, parking is also a bit tricky. Many residential areas require vehicles to have a permit, while in other areas, streets are closed for cleaning during certain hours.

You can read more about general driving in our guide to the United States.

Transport

Operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), the integrated public transport system in the city is of top quality. The city centre is generally quite difficult to navigate by car and, while walking is an option, the trains and buses are most popular for getting around and seeing the sites. Many of the local networks don’t extend too far outside of the city, however, which means travellers wanting to explore the outskirts will need to hire a car.

Tickets are also managed by CTA and are available from metro station ticket offices, information centres and official CTA ticket machines. Single-journey tickets are valid for 24 hours and must be paid for with a transit card or a Chicago Card. Travellers who plan to be in the city for longer can invest in one, three, seven or 30-day passes. These passes are valid on both buses and train services.

Trains
Chicago has an extensive network of trains in the city, but most lines operate on what locals call the ‘El’ (or the elevated rail), which circles above the city. All of the seven lines are colour coded, with each colour running to a different destination. All trains operate until midnight, at which point so called ‘Night Owl’ services take over until 05:00.

Buses
The bus system in the city is just as extensive as the train lines, running on almost every important street in Chicago. A ticket for any journey costs $2 if passengers pay with a transit or Chicago Card. There are bus stops dotted all over the city; at each one there should be a white and blue sign displaying the route. Travellers will probably be most interested in the free of charge trolley bus that operates between the city’s popular sites. This bus only runs during the peak tourism seasons, however.

Taxis
Hailing a taxi, especially in downtown, is quite easy, but travellers should keep in mind that all official taxis are restricted to the city boundaries. The fares are quite reasonable for a city in the United States, but a tip of about 10 per cent is usually expected. All metered taxis have a starting fee of $2.25. Travellers can also call ahead and book a taxi from one of the many companies in the city, including Checker Taxi Association and Yellow Cab.

Exploring

Central Chicago is bursting with historical and cultural attractions, but the city’s surroundings are just as appealing. Less than an hour away lie cultural gems, natural wonders and several famous scenic drives. Hiring a vehicle and exploring some of Chicago’s less-beaten paths is definitely a good idea.

Recommended Drives

Ernest Hemingway House - Bookworms will appreciate a trip to the birthplace of legendary author Ernest Hemingway. Located in Oak Park, just 15 minutes from Chicago city centre, the three story house is the site of many a literary pilgrimage. The house has since been turned into a museum, where visitors can explore the various rooms and artefacts that remain intact.

Brookfield Zoo - A great place to visit for those with children. Located only 20kms outside of Chicago, the zoo is home to such exotic animals as dolphins and polar bears. Families can spend a day exploring this massive enclosure.

Chicago Botanic Garden - For a taste of nature, head to the Chicago Botanic Garden in Gelencoe. The garden, only a 25-minute drive north of Chicago, is one of the most famous botanical gardens in the world. Spanning no fewer than 155 hectares, it is comprised of nine islands and 24 distinct gardens.

Practical information

  • Currency
    United States Dollar
  • Driving direction
    Right
  • City speed limit
    25 - 70 km/h
  • Freeway speed limit
    90 - 130 km/h
  • Language
    English
  • Popular car category
    SUV

What most people want to know

The following questions and answers are a selection of the most popular questions. If you do not find the answer to your question, have a look at the Frequently Asked Questions page or contact us.

Is Carrentals.co.uk the cheapest?

Yes, we offer a guarantee of the lowest price - because we compare various retailers, we can always offer you the best price in town.

What do I need to do when picking up a car?

To pick up your car, you will need your voucher, passport, driver's license and a credit card. It is very important that your driver's license and credit card are in the same name as the main driver. Keep in mind that the local rental company will reserve a certain amount on your credit card as a deposit. This requires the PIN code for your credit card. If your driver's license is foreign (for example, in Chinese), you must bring a translation with you. Only your original passport and driver's license will be accepted - a copy is not sufficient.

Are there any additional costs?

In general, our rates are all-inclusive. Should there be any additional costs, our booking department will get in touch with you before issuing the invoice. Should you object, you can always cancel your reservation with no obligations attached (at least 48 hours in advance).

What kind of insurance is applicable to my car rental?

In general, Liability Insurance, Fire Insurance, All-Risks Insurance and Theft Insurance are included in the cost of your rental car.

What is a worry-free label?

Only rental companies with a high level of customer satisfaction are eligible to be included in our Worry-Free selection. This rate includes excess cover and unlimited kilometres. Your vehicle will be provided and must be returned with a full tank of fuel. With a vehicle from our Worry-Free selection, you can travel with peace of mind and no hidden costs.

How can I change or cancel my reservation?

You can cancel your reservation through "My Account". We recommend contacting us by phone if your changes to your booking or cancellation takes place at short notice (48 hours or less).

When will I get a confirmation of my booking?

Most reservations will receive confirmation within minutes after payment takes place. We recommend contacting our Booking Department for last minute reservations (pick-up within 48 hours).

Which car rental companies are compared by Carrentals.co.uk at this location?
  • National Car Rental
  • Alamo
  • Enterprise
  • Hertz
  • Thrifty
  • Sixt
  • Budget
  • Europcar
  • Dollar Rent a Car
  • Avis
  • Fox Rent A Car
  • Nextcar
  • Routes
  • ACE Rent A Car
  • Eaglerider
  • NÜ Car Rentals
  • InterRent
  • Payless Car Rental
  • Advantage Rent a Car