Is Alamo Car Rental Good? (Top 5 Issues + Comparisons)
Despite being a relatively small US car rental in total locations and fleet size, Alamo is one of the better companies for renters.
Is Alamo Car Rental Legit?
Founded in 1974 in Orlando, Florida, Alamo’s ownership has changed hands multiple times.
Alamo is a legit car rental company with over 1,100 locations worldwide, spanning the North American, South American, African, European, Oceania, and Asian continents.
Although Alamo’s customer satisfaction record is mediocre at some user review sites, a good number of renters have reported pleasant experiences.
Is Alamo Car Rental Part of Enterprise?
Enterprise Holdings own Alamo, Enterprise, and National car rentals.
Is Alamo Car Rental Reliable?
Despite mixed reviews among renters, Alamo is a relatively reliable car rental, as long as you avoid the common pitfalls of not reading or clarifying the add-ons before signing on the dotted line.
You could do worse when opting for one of the lesser-known car rentals.
Alamo Car Rental Problems & Complaints:
Customers are likelier to complain about their grievances than share smooth and uneventful experiences; most car rental companies receive more dissatisfied reviews than glowing appraisals of their services.
Still, these are the common issues and complaints about Alamo car rental.
#1 Inability to Pay Now on Website with Lower Prices
Although Alamo published that the company accepts credit and debit cards, some customers reported that attempts to prepay for the lower price with a debit card on the Alamo website failed.
When contacting the rental office, the officer took the same payment card information, but only the pricier “Pay Later” option was available.
Although paying a marginally higher price isn’t a major issue, nickel-and-diming customers is a turnoff.
Several major car rental services have marginally lower prices but with a similar overall customer satisfaction level, like Budget and Dollar.
As the alternatives have rental locations in most major airports and cities, you can still net an affordably-priced rental for your trip.
See the US Car Rental Comparisons for details.
#2 Exorbitant One-Way Drop-Off Charges
Some companies offer free one-way rentals between airports, while others charge a small fee if you make prior arrangements with the counter before or at the scheduled pickup time.
However, some customers reported exceptionally high Alamo drop-off charges resulting from itinerary changes – several times higher than the rental amount.
Costs increase when you need to make last-minute drop-off changes, leaving you exposed to unexpected and pricey additional charges.
Technically, the rental company isn’t at fault for charging a fee when you return the rental car to another location than originally planned – as long as it’s reasonable – as the company may need to drive the vehicle to its original site.
Still, customers can better protect themselves by inquiring beforehand and noting the most common extra charges on the rental contract.
The typical extra charges due to changes in travel plans include:
- Late return – per hour or per day charge.
- Return at a different location – list a few locations near the original return destination, and note their drop-off fees on the rental contract, so you have options if the need arises.
#3 Charges for Pre-Existing Vehicle Damages
Alamo charged several customers for damages that they did not cause.
It is worth noting that customers who faced this issue did not inspect the car before accepting it at pickup.
Further, customers who did not purchase insurance with the rental company suffer from this problem more than those that did.
It is a common mistake to accept a rental vehicle without inspecting its condition, particularly with first-time renters.
Always inspect before accepting, and be thorough and take photographs of defects before driving off with the rental car.
If the car’s condition isn’t satisfactory, ask for a replacement.
Or, if you don’t have time to wait for a replacement, list the defects on the rental contract and ask the officer to sign off on it.
#4 Poor Customer Service When Involving Extra Charges
While the types of additional charges vary, a common issue with extremely slow customer service persists, especially when billed with expensive charges on top of the original rental amount.
The treatment seems indifferent even for frequent Alamo travelers.
Head to consumeraffairs.com to lodge a complaint, and you will typically get a response from Alamo within two or three days.
Forget about other review sites, as your complaint will not get Alamo’s attention.
#5 Persuasion to Accept Sub-Standard Vehicle Condition
This problem is similar to an earlier issue.
Still, customers reported that Alamo customer service persuaded the renter to accept a damaged, filthy, but otherwise driveable vehicle – which the customer took.
After that, the customer received an email from Alamo asking for insurance information to pay for damages.
If you find damages or an exceedingly filthy car at pickup, decline the vehicle, and stand your ground.
Unless you and the attending officer agree to list the conditions on the rental contract for mutual acceptance, verbal acknowledgment means little if you need to waste precious time fighting your case after the bill arrives.
Worse still, you lose money because you couldn’t substantiate your claim due to inadequate documentation.
Alamo vs. Other Car Rental Companies:
Alamo vs. Avis Car Rental
| ALAMO | AVIS | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 837/1000 | 826/1000 |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Moderate to Pricey. | Pricey. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 3.5/5 | 2.5/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 4.0/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.0/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Deposit | $300-$400 for credit and debit cards; debit cards accepted only if accompanied by a ticketed return itinerary. | $250-$300 via credit or debit card hold. $100 if you prepaid with a debit card. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges apply and vary depending on the location. Higher rental rates may apply. | Yes; charges and higher rates apply, and they vary depending on the location. |
| Unlimited Miles | Available in all vehicle classes. | Yes; standard for most vehicle classes and locations. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | NA |
| Additional Driver Fee | $5-$15/day, location dependent. Free for spouse or domestic partner. | $3/day in New York, no max. $11/day in Nevada, max. $65/rental. $13/day in other States, max. $65/rental. Qualifying family members drive for free. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay approx. $25/day surcharge, location dependent. | 21-24-year-olds pay $28-$35/day surcharge, location dependent. 18-20-year-olds in NY and MI pay $41-$84/day surcharge. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | $12/day | Up to $14/day, depending on rental length. Must return the seat to the same location, or pay a $50 fee. |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, crated. Service animals without carrier is OK. | Yes, but keep the car clean. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Most US vehicles can travel into Canada. Exotics and vans may not travel outside the US. Most renting locations forbid travel into Mexico w/o additional insurance. | Can travel into Canada w/ prior arrangement; a Canadian non-resident insurance may be necessary. Can drive into Mexico only when renting from select Avis locations, through a corporate account, and with special Avis insurance. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. | No. $450 cleaning fee. |
Although Avis is the larger company by the number of locations, Alamo is the better car rental, with lower rates and marginally improved customer satisfaction.
Owned and managed by Enterprise, arguably the most reputable car rental in North America, Alamo offers a relatively good booking experience on their website, with upfront pricing for an easier decision.
Alamo vs. Budget Car Rental
| ALAMO | BUDGET | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 837/1000 | 807/1000 |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Moderate to Pricey. | Moderate. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 3.5/5 | 3.0/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 4.0/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.0/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Deposit | $300-$400 for credit and debit cards; debit cards accepted only if accompanied by a ticketed return itinerary. | $250-$300 via credit or debit card hold. $100 for prepaid rentals. Canadian rental holds are $500 for the 1st day and $75/day for each additional day. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges apply and vary depending on the location. Higher rental rates may apply. | Yes. Unauthorized different drop-off location incurs a minimum $45 fee. Some US locations allow one-way travel into Canada. No US rental drop off in Mexico. |
| Unlimited Miles | Available in all vehicle classes. | Yes, for most vehicle classes, except Exotics and passenger vans. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | Approx. $0.25 per additional mile for cars with mileage limitation. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $5-$15/day, location dependent. Free for spouse or domestic partner. | $3/day in New York, no max. $11-$13.75/day in Nevada, no max. $13/day in other States, max. $65/rental. Spouse or domestic partner drives for free. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay approx. $25/day surcharge, location dependent. | 21-24-year-olds pay a $27/day surcharge; 18 years old or older in New York and Michigan. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | $12/day | $14/day. |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, crated. Service animals without carrier is OK. | Yes, but cleaning fee applies if returned unclean. Renters with service animals will not incur a cleaning fee if hair and stains aren’t excessive. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Most US vehicles can travel into Canada. Exotics and vans may not travel outside the US. Most renting locations forbid travel into Mexico w/o additional insurance. | Yes, anywhere within the US. Can drive into Canada with prior Budget consent and non-resident insurance card. Can drive into Mexico only through corporate account and with a special insurance. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. | No. |
Despite the slightly higher rental rates, Alamo betters Budget in available vehicles for selection and better satisfaction ratings by JD Power.
Alamo vs. Dollar Car Rental
| ALAMO | DOLLAR | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 837/1000 | 786/1000 |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Moderate to Pricey. | Moderate. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 3.5/5 | 3.0/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 4.0/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.0/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Deposit | $300-$400 for credit and debit cards; debit cards accepted only if accompanied by a ticketed return itinerary. | $200 for credit cards. $500 for debit cards. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges apply and vary depending on the location. Higher rental rates may apply. | Yes, but a one-way drop fee may apply. Fee amount unavailable at reservation. |
| Unlimited Miles | Available in all vehicle classes. | Yes; standard, except for some vehicles and locations. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | Determined at rental confirmation, if applicable. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $5-$15/day, location dependent. Free for spouse or domestic partner. | $13.50/day per driver. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay approx. $25/day surcharge, location dependent. | Available at time of rental. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | $12/day | $13.99/day |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, crated. Service animals without carrier is OK. | Yes. But keep the car clean, or risk a $50-$250 cleaning fee. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Most US vehicles can travel into Canada. Exotics and vans may not travel outside the US. Most renting locations forbid travel into Mexico w/o additional insurance. | Allowed anywhere within the US and Canada, subject to geographic restrictions. Driving into Canada requires prior notice at the counter. Cannot drive into Mexico without Mexico Insurance at the rental counter. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. | No. $400 de-smoking fee. |
Alamo beats Dollar car rental in overall customer satisfaction and pricing transparency on their website, making it a more reliable service.
Alamo vs. Enterprise Car Rental
| ALAMO | ENTERPRISE | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 837/1000 | 861/1000 |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Moderate to Pricey. | Pricey. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 3.5/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 4.0/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.0/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Deposit | $300-$400 for credit and debit cards; debit cards accepted only if accompanied by a ticketed return itinerary. | $400-$850, depending on the vehicle class. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges apply and vary depending on the location. Higher rental rates may apply. | Yes, but only at participating outlets. A one-way drop charge applies but varies by location. Higher rates may apply. |
| Unlimited Miles | Available in all vehicle classes. | Yes for most car classes. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | $0.10-$0.25 per additional mile, if applicable. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $5-$15/day, location dependent. Free for spouse or domestic partner. | $5/day in New York. $15/day in other States. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay approx. $25/day surcharge, location dependent. | $25/day surcharge. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | $12/day | $12/day; max $72/rental. |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, crated. Service animals without carrier is OK. | Yes, but crated. Cleaning fee may apply if unclean. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | Generally, no. But allowed for select pickup trucks in Enterprise truck rental locations. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Most US vehicles can travel into Canada. Exotics and vans may not travel outside the US. Most renting locations forbid travel into Mexico w/o additional insurance. | Yes; anywhere within the US and Canada, except for Exotics and large vans. Can drive into Mexico with Enterprise’s special insurance. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. | No. |
Alamo and Enterprise come under the same parent company, Enterprise Holdings, adopting similar practices, making Alamo a better rental than Enterprise to get a cheaper deal.
That said, Enterprise typically has a wider selection of vehicles and greater customer satisfaction than Alamo, although its rental cars come at a premium.
Alamo vs. Fox Car Rental
| ALAMO | FOX | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 837/1000 | NA. |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Moderate to Pricey. | Low. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 3.5/5 | 2.5/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 4.0/5 | 3.0/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.0/5 | 3.0/5 |
| Deposit | $300-$400 for credit and debit cards; debit cards accepted only if accompanied by a ticketed return itinerary. | $150-$1,000, depending on the rental location, payment method, and vehicle class. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges apply and vary depending on the location. Higher rental rates may apply. | Yes, available between rental locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Washington only. One-way fee may apply. |
| Unlimited Miles | Available in all vehicle classes. | Yes, all vehicles. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | Nil. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $5-$15/day, location dependent. Free for spouse or domestic partner. | $5-$12.99/day per driver, depending on the location ($12.99 in most locations). Additional drivers not allowed on cash rentals. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay approx. $25/day surcharge, location dependent. | 21-24-year-olds pay $20/day surcharge. 18-20-year-olds in NY and MI states pay $25/day surcharge. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | $12/day | $10.99/day |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, crated. Service animals without carrier is OK. | Yes, but cleaning fee applies if returned unclean. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Most US vehicles can travel into Canada. Exotics and vans may not travel outside the US. Most renting locations forbid travel into Mexico w/o additional insurance. | Restrictions vary by State. Check each State’s policy for details. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. | No. Cleaning fee applies. |
When considering Alamo or Fox car rental, opt for Alamo as it is under the reputable Enterprise’s ownership, and Fox’s low rates have seen customers complaining about them as deceptive.
Alamo vs. Hertz Car Rental
| ALAMO | HERTZ | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 837/1000 | 826/1000 |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Moderate to Pricey. | Pricey. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 3.5/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 4.0/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.0/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Deposit | $300-$400 for credit and debit cards; debit cards accepted only if accompanied by a ticketed return itinerary. | Up to $200 for credit cards. Up to $500 for debit cards. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges apply and vary depending on the location. Higher rental rates may apply. | Yes, intercity fee applies. If change return location after rental started, a $10 return change fee applies. One-way return unavailable for Teslas. |
| Unlimited Miles | Available in all vehicle classes. | Yes, for most vehicles. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | NA. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $5-$15/day, location dependent. Free for spouse or domestic partner. | $13.50/day per driver, max $189/rental per driver. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay approx. $25/day surcharge, location dependent. | $19/day per driver. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | $12/day | $13.99 |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, crated. Service animals without carrier is OK. | Yes. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | Yes for vehicles with a tow bar. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Most US vehicles can travel into Canada. Exotics and vans may not travel outside the US. Most renting locations forbid travel into Mexico w/o additional insurance. | Yes. Restrictions apply for driving into Mexico. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. | No. $400 cleaning fee. |
Although Avis has a bigger fleet and more rental locations, Alamo edges it with marginally lower rates and better satisfaction, according to JD Power.
Still, their services are competitive with each other, making your rental decision location and deal-dependent.
Alamo vs. National Car Rental
| ALAMO | NATIONAL | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 837/1000 | 852/1000 |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Moderate to Pricey. | Pricey to Exorbitant. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 4.0/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.0/5 | 5.0/5 |
| Deposit | $300-$400 for credit and debit cards; debit cards accepted only if accompanied by a ticketed return itinerary. | $300-$400, depending on the rental location and vehicle class. $800 for luxury and performance vehicles. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges apply and vary depending on the location. Higher rental rates may apply. | Yes. Typically no drop charge for one-way rentals between airport locations. |
| Unlimited Miles | Available in all vehicle classes. | Yes. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | NA. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $5-$15/day, location dependent. Free for spouse or domestic partner. | $15/day per driver. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay approx. $25/day surcharge, location dependent. | Approx. $25/day, location-dependent and subject to specific car classes. Free for govt. employees on authorized govt. travels. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | $12/day | $12-$13.99/day. |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, crated. Service animals without carrier is OK. | Yes, crated, except for service animals. If returned unclean, a cleaning fee may apply. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Most US vehicles can travel into Canada. Exotics and vans may not travel outside the US. Most renting locations forbid travel into Mexico w/o additional insurance. | Yes, anywhere within the US and Canada. Limited rental locations allow travel into Mexico. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. | No. |
National car rental outdoes Alamo in general customer satisfaction across major review sites, and it has the best website user interface, including upfront rates for ease of navigation.
But if getting a lower price is your top priority, Alamo’s offers are cheaper than National’s rates, although both have a comparable number of locations for convenience.
Alamo vs. Payless Car Rental
| ALAMO | PAYLESS | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 837/1000 | NA. |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Moderate to Pricey. | Low. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 3.5/5 | 2.5/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 4.0/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.0/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Deposit | $300-$400 for credit and debit cards; debit cards accepted only if accompanied by a ticketed return itinerary. | $250 for credit cards. $300 for debit cards. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges apply and vary depending on the location. Higher rental rates may apply. | Yes, depending on the rental location. |
| Unlimited Miles | Available in all vehicle classes. | Yes for most vehicles. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | NA. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $5-$15/day, location dependent. Free for spouse or domestic partner. | $13/day. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay approx. $25/day surcharge, location dependent. | $25/day. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | $12/day | $14/day. |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, crated. Service animals without carrier is OK. | Yes. $250 cleaning fee applies if returned unclean. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Most US vehicles can travel into Canada. Exotics and vans may not travel outside the US. Most renting locations forbid travel into Mexico w/o additional insurance. | Yes, but must notify the rental location first. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. | No. $450 cleaning fee. |
If you need to decide between Alamo and Payless for your next car rental, opt for Alamo, as it has a record of providing better services and a significantly greater number of locations to enable one-way drop-offs.
Payless may have lower advertised rates, but a large number of complaints point to final bills that get considerably higher (rpd).
Alamo vs. Sixt Car Rental
| ALAMO | SIXT | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 837/1000 | NA. |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Moderate to Pricey. | Low. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 4.0/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.0/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Deposit | $300-$400 for credit and debit cards; debit cards accepted only if accompanied by a ticketed return itinerary. | Minimum $200. $2,500 or more for the priciest vehicle group. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges apply and vary depending on the location. Higher rental rates may apply. | Yes. $0 between airport locations. |
| Unlimited Miles | Available in all vehicle classes. | Yes for most vehicles, except for some sports and premium models. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | $0.55/mile or higher, vehicle-dependent. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $5-$15/day, location dependent. Free for spouse or domestic partner. | $15/day. Free for renter’s spouse and immediate family members. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay approx. $25/day surcharge, location dependent. | Not disclosed. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | $12/day | $15/day. |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, crated. Service animals without carrier is OK. | Yes. Cleaning fee applies if returned unclean; no cleaning fee for rental w/ service animal. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Most US vehicles can travel into Canada. Exotics and vans may not travel outside the US. Most renting locations forbid travel into Mexico w/o additional insurance. | Yes. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. | No. |
Sixt is a non-US headquartered rental company and outside JD Power’s annual satisfaction survey, tilting the Sixt vs. Alamo contest in favor of Alamo, which has above-average customer satisfaction.
But still, Sixt has a comparable number of rental locations and lower rates than Alamo, so do not rule it out without first comparing their offers at the time of booking.
Alamo vs. Thrifty Car Rental
| ALAMO | THRIFTY | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 837/1000 | 768/1000 |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Moderate to Pricey. | Moderate. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 3.5/5 | 2.5/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 4.0/5 | 3.0/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.0/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Deposit | $300-$400 for credit and debit cards; debit cards accepted only if accompanied by a ticketed return itinerary. | $200 for credit cards. $500 for debit cards. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges apply and vary depending on the location. Higher rental rates may apply. | Yes, at select locations. One-way drop fee applies. |
| Unlimited Miles | Available in all vehicle classes. | Yes, standard. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | NA. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $5-$15/day, location dependent. Free for spouse or domestic partner. | $13.50/day per driver. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay approx. $25/day surcharge, location dependent. | Not disclosed. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | $12/day | $13.99/day. |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, crated. Service animals without carrier is OK. | Yes. But $50-$250 cleaning fee if returned with damage or unclean. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Most US vehicles can travel into Canada. Exotics and vans may not travel outside the US. Most renting locations forbid travel into Mexico w/o additional insurance. | Yes. Can cross into Mexico only with Mexico Insurance. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. | No. $400 smoke cleaning fee will apply if evidence of smoking found. |
Alamo beats Thrifty as the overall better car rental if you compare JD Power’s annual satisfaction survey, fleet size, and transparent pricing on their websites.
Still, user reviews on Consumer Affairs and Trust Pilot suggest Thrifty to be ahead of Alamo when meeting renter expectations.
The US car rental comparison post has the details.
Alamo vs. Turo Car Rental
| ALAMO | TURO | |
| JD Power Satisfaction Study (830 industry avg.) | 837/1000 | NA. |
| Relative Rental Rate (v low, low, moderate, pricey, exorbitant) | Moderate to Pricey. | Very low. |
| Range of Vehicles (1 to 5; 5 = extensive) | 3.5/5 | 5.0/5 |
| Fees transparency when booking on website. (1 to 5; 5 = most upfront) | 4.0/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Website User Interface for easy navigation (1 to 5; 5 = best) | 4.0/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Deposit | $300-$400 for credit and debit cards; debit cards accepted only if accompanied by a ticketed return itinerary. | $200-$750, depending on car class and renter’s age. |
| One-Way/ Drop Off at different Locations | Yes; charges apply and vary depending on the location. Higher rental rates may apply. | Possible; must be within host’s pickup areas or radius. Fee applies. |
| Unlimited Miles | Available in all vehicle classes. | No. |
| Mileage Fee | NA | Varies by host; typical range is $0.15-$0.50/mile. The priciest luxury or sports models can exceed $3/mile. |
| Additional Driver Fee | $5-$15/day, location dependent. Free for spouse or domestic partner. | No. |
| Under-25 Fee | 21-24-year-olds pay approx. $25/day surcharge, location dependent. | 18-20-year-olds pay $50/day surcharge. 21-25-year-olds pay $30/day surcharge. 18-21-year-olds must buy the Minimum or Standard insurance. |
| Child Safety Seat Fee | $12/day | Availability varies by host. Best to bring your own. |
| Allow Pet/Dog? | Yes, crated. Service animals without carrier is OK. | Prohibited in vehicles without a “pet-friendly” label and the host’s consent. Allows service animals. $150 + 3% processing fee for cleaning. |
| Allow Towing? | No. | No. |
| Allow Out-Of-State? | Most US vehicles can travel into Canada. Exotics and vans may not travel outside the US. Most renting locations forbid travel into Mexico w/o additional insurance. | Yes, within the US and Canada. Prohibits driving into Mexico. |
| Allow Smoking? | No. | No. $250 + 3% processing fee for violation. |
Pitting Alamo against Turo isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison as the latter is a car-sharing network (rpd).
If you must choose one, though, Turo is the better choice than Alamo should you want to rent an atypical make and model, lower rates, and don’t need a one-way rental.
But unlike Turo, Alamo rental vehicles come with unlimited mileage.
Alamo Car Rental FAQs:
Does Alamo Car Rental Have Unlimited Miles?
Alamo offers unlimited mileage with their rental cars in all vehicle classes.
It is a standard provision, making your rental decision easier, so you don’t need to worry about extra mile charges wherever you drive within the US or Canada.
Does Alamo Car Rental Charge for Mileage?
Unlimited miles are standard with Alamo car rental in most rental locations.
In the unlikely situation that you have a mileage-limited option, check the details for extra-mile charges before making a reservation.
Does Alamo Car Rental Allow Pets?
Fortunately for cat and dog owners, Alamo allows customers to travel with their pets, but with the following conditions:
- The pet shall be in a crate, except for service animals.
- Keep the car interior free of animal hair and dirt, and return the vehicle in a clean condition to avoid exorbitant cleaning fees.
Does Alamo Car Rental Allow Out-of-State Travel?
Vehicles rented in the US can travel anywhere within the country and Canada.
Alamo prohibits driving into Mexico unless you purchase additional insurance with Alamo. Further, one-way travel is unavailable when crossing into Mexico.
Plus, some exotic and larger vehicle classes (like passenger vans) must stay within US borders, so it’s best to check your renting location for cross-border restrictions.
Does Alamo Charge for Additional Drivers (incl. Spouse)?
Alamo allows two or more drivers to operate a rental car, subject to conditions.
The renter’s spouse or domestic partner drives for free if they meet the renter’s age and driver’s license requirements, depending on the State.
Any other extra drivers will incur a $15 per day surcharge, except for $5 per day in New York state.
But if you’re securing a rental with a debit card, a spouse or domestic partner is the only permitted additional driver.
Except for the renter’s wife or domestic partner, additional drivers must be present when adding the name to the rental contract.
What Is Alamo’s Cancellation Policy?
The penalty for canceling varies, depending on your reservation method.
If you did not use any form of payment to secure the reservation, including a credit or debit card, cancellation is free at any time.
For guaranteed reservations, canceling more than 24 hours before pickup time is free; less than 24 hours incurs a $50 fee.
Reservations with Pay Now are stricter still. Alamo charges a $100 fee if you cancel within 24 hours of pickup or fail to show up and $50 for any time outside those 24 hours.
References:
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/travel/alamo.html