This price is the cheapest per day rate found by a KAYAK user in the last 48 hours by searching for a car rental in Birmingham with a pick-up date of 5/30 and drop-off date of 6/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available at all agencies or on all dates of rental. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
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Cheap car rentals in Birmingham
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
Best rates found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours.
Useful Info
Good to know
Most popular agency
Turo
Most popular car type
Standard
Average price
$80/day
Good deal
$58/day
KAYAK’s insights & trends for Birmingham car rentals
Check out the latest trends and booking tips to rent a car in Birmingham with confidence.
How far in advance should you book a rental car in Birmingham?
You should book your rental car in Birmingham around 7 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.
What is the cheapest car rental company in Birmingham?
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Avis ($25.02/day), Dollar ($27.71/day) and Hertz ($32.10/day). The cheapest rental car price was found at Avis 5900 Messer Airport Highway (4.4 mi from city center).
What is the best rental car company in Birmingham?
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in Birmingham are Enterprise Rent-A-Car (7.9, 13 reviews), Budget (6.5, 31 reviews), and Avis (5.5, 50 reviews).
What is the most popular rental car in Birmingham?
Standard rentals (Chrysler Pacifica or similar) are the most popular type of vehicle to rent in Birmingham. Standard rentals in Birmingham cost $81/day on average, though some users have found deals as low as $44/day.
What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Birmingham?
The cheapest month to rent a car in Birmingham is January at an average cost of $40/day. July is the most expensive month to rent a car in Birmingham when prices are $61/day on average, which tends to be 17% above the yearly average rental price for Birmingham.
What rental car company in Birmingham has the most locations?
Enterprise Rent-A-Car operates 10 locations in Birmingham, more than any other rental company.
Downtown street parking can be interesting. Go with an appropriately sized rental. There's enough to do downtown to park and walk.
Verified travelerSep 2023
I went to visit a friend in Northport-Tuscaloosa and only picked up and returned the car to get off and on my flights. It would be nice to have a built-in GPS in the cars and that all cars, if possible have a cigarette lighter to plug in their own GPS s like I had to do. I have no smartphone and it would be dangerous for me, as the sole person in the vehicle, to have to look at a Smartphone and map to get to my destination.
SamSep 2023
Traffic was pretty bad going through BHM on I-59/I-20. Try to avoid rush hour. We had a 10 minute delay due to a wreck. Plan for extra time to get through the traffic.
THOMASOct 2023
PICK YOUR CAR UP EARLY!
Verified travelerAug 2023
It is a busy place so be prepared to be flexible and be patient. The employees are very helpful and kind, but I always expect a hiccup or two because of the volume of cars and people flowing in and out of BHM who need rentals.
Verified travelerAug 2023
Try to avoid peak times like 5 p.m. pickup. More traffic is on the road and may be challenging depending on the traffic.
Verified travelerJun 2023
it was fine- would do again but only bc it was the cheapest
TommyAug 2023
Make sure you have an actual credit card
KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Birmingham
Getting around Birmingham will be easier for you with a rental car, and best of all, you’ll be able to travel on your own schedule. With a rental car in Birmingham, you can easily take trips to towns like Guntersville, a lakeside town about 75 miles north of Birmingham, where you can fish, hike, and do some bird-watching. In your rental car, you'll also want to consider a drive to Talladega County, where you can visit the Talladega Speedway and the Desoto Caverns. The city of Talladega is about a 45-minute drive from the airport and 55 miles from downtown Birmingham.
The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) has its own rental car facility. Here you can rent a car from several different car-rental agencies, including Enterprise, Hertz, and National. To rent a car at the airport, you'll go to the airport's parking deck, which is right beside the taxi, shuttle, and limo pick-up areas. Having only one terminal, the airport is small enough for you to walk there in no time. The Birmingham car rentals at the airport are located in section 1B on the ground level of the parking deck. You will both pick up and return your rental car to this same area of the airport.
When driving past construction zones in Alabama, be extra careful. Alabama state law requires motorists to move over to the lane farthest away from the construction worker(s) for added safety. Also, all passengers in the vehicle, front or back, must wear a seat belt at all times.
Traffic congestion is not a big problem in Birmingham. This is true even during rush hour. However, if you're driving between 7am and 9am or between 4pm and 7pm, you might want to avoid Interstate 20/59. Also, be aware that during these times, you could experience traffic delays if there is construction or a car accident.
Get yourself a cheap car rental in Birmingham and explore the rest of Alabama in style. A rented car provides you with a perfect opportunity to enjoy road trips, access various points of interest, or get around downtown anytime you feel like doing so. In this case, you may drive yourself to Birmingham’s McWane Science Center, visit the Birmingham Museum of Art, tour the Ruffner Mountain Nature Center and wind up your day at the Alabama Theater to enjoy shows, classic films, live music, dance, and theatrical performances. All those top attractions are accessible by car rentals since most of them are within the city center.
Birmingham, Alabama boasts several locations with car rental agencies. Top on the list is Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) on 5900 Messer Airport Highway. At this car rental location, you will come across car rental agencies such as Budget, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Avis Car Rental, and Alamo Rent-A-Car. Upon your arrival at BHM, proceed to the car rental counter, choose the most appropriate car rental agency, present your identification, and sign the rental agreement. The representative at the counter will provide you with keys and directions to your rented car. Booking cheap car rentals with any of these BHM airport agencies allows you to start exploring the city and its numerous attractions right from the moment you sit behind the steering wheel.
Typical of larger cities, Birmingham, Alabama experiences heavy traffic at times. Therefore, you need to avoid getting caught up in a traffic snarl by driving around outside the rush hour. Usually, the rush hours in a city as big as Birmingham start at around 7:00 am and end at 9:00 am. In the evening, the rush hour starts at 4:00 pm and lasts up to 6:30 pm. In this regard, you need to stay away from major highways, and main entry or exit points to save your time. Also, acquaint yourself with the traffic flow lines on your navigation map if you are driving during the commute times. For instance, avoid Red lines since they indicate heavy traffic flow. Instead, choose Yellow/Orange lines for the medium traffic flow or take the Green line to drive within the normal traffic flow.
25% of our users found rental cars in Birmingham for $58 or less
Standard rental cars in Birmingham are around 37% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Birmingham
What type of car is recommended for driving in Birmingham?
Would you like to enjoy a scenic drive through the back roads and mountains of Alabama while on vacation? If this is your plan, make it more fun and safe by renting an SUV or a car with four-wheel drive to make it easier to drive on gravel roads or rough terrain. Because it’s typically very hot in Alabama during the summer months, you’ll want to rent a standard or intermediate-size car to give everyone room to spread out. Alabama can also get a lot of rain. If you’re traveling during the rainy seasons, an all-wheel-drive vehicle would be ideal for keeping traction on slick roads.
What’s the speed limit in Birmingham?
The speed limit on major highways in Birmingham is 65-75mph. When driving in residential areas in your Birmingham rental car, you’ll notice that the speed limit decreases to a maximum of 35mph or even as low as 25mph. Be aware that there are traffic cameras on many highways in and around Birmingham.
Where are the best places to park in Birmingham?
Parking can be hard to find in the downtown area. This is especially true on weekdays during business hours. For parking, there are five city-owned parking decks, located on Pierce Street, Park Street, Peabody Street, and N. Old Woodward Avenue. When you park in one of these parking decks, parking is free for the first 2h. If you want to park for the entire day, you can expect to pay around $10.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Birmingham?
On average a rental car in Birmingham costs $80 per day. But prices differ between operators and you can save money through a price comparison of car rental deals from different agencies. The cheapest price for a car rental in Birmingham found in the last 2 weeks is $42.
Which car rental companies are at Birmingham airport (BHM)?
Car rental companies onsite at Birmingham airport include Payless and Thrifty.
Which car rental companies will pick you up at Birmingham airport (BHM)?
Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Birmingham airport to off-airport locations include Payless, and Thrifty.
How much does a Standard car rental cost in Birmingham?
A Standard car rental in Birmingham costs $68 per day, on average.
How much does a Premium car rental cost in Birmingham?
A Premium car rental in Birmingham costs $100 per day, on average.
How much does a Special car rental cost in Birmingham?
A Special car rental in Birmingham costs $61 per day, on average.
What is the most popular rental car location in Birmingham?
In Birmingham, cars are most frequently rented at Avis 3439 Colonnade Parkway Ste 700 (7 miles from city center).
Should I get insurance when renting a car in Birmingham?
Most car rental providers in Birmingham offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car rental in Birmingham, check out KAYAK's car rental insurance guide.
How many car agencies are operating in Birmingham?
KAYAK has deals for you to compare from 11 car rental agencies in Birmingham.
What do I need to know before booking a car rental in Birmingham?
Finding the right price, understanding the add-ons and staying up to date with policy changes can be a challenge. That’s why KAYAK has produced the ultimate guide to renting a car to help you cut though the jargon and make the right choice for your rental car. Find tips and insights for how to book your rental, what car rental insurance you’ll need, how to deal with a car rental agency and what extra fees to expect (and avoid!).
Why should I use KAYAK to rent a car in Birmingham?
KAYAK searches thousands of car rental agencies to provide you with offers from all car rental agencies operating in Birmingham so that you can compare car rental rates, reviews and pick-up and drop-off locations to find the best deal for you.
Is it possible to rent a car for more than a month in Birmingham?
You can rent a car for a month or even longer in Birmingham. Several Birmingham car rental companies provide weekly or monthly car rentals for different types of cars. Choose the right car from one of the car rental agencies and explore every part of Birmingham and beyond.
What do I require to rent a car in Birmingham?
Just like in most cities across the county, getting cheap car rental in Birmingham requires you to present your current valid driver’s license and a credit card under your name. Make sure to read and understand car rental terms and conditions to be sure that there are no additional charges before the pickup date.
They needed more workers...very busy for only 2 counter people...q checking in and I checking out. Also they should tell u before coming that you need your declaration page for proof of full coverage insurance
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jul 2024
Standard SUV
Laila and Jay got us in and out so quickly! Very professional and answered all of the questions we had. We’ll definitely be back!
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jun 2024
Economy
Kayla was very courteous and professional
6.0 Okay
Anonymous, Mar 2021
Cons:
They over charged me at the counter than actuall deal which was online very disappointed
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Oct 2020
Pros:
NOTHING! ENTERPRISE IS TERRIBLE
Cons:
THEY OVERGHARGED MY CARD BY $275!!!!!
5.6 Fair
John, Aug 2020
Pros:
Car wasn’t ready at expected time. Delayed by 45+ minutes waiting for car to be cleaned.
When I picked up the car, the system wouldn’t take my debit card, I had to use a credit card which I didn’t want to do. Then the guy processing my rental told the other employee, “It says do not rent this car.” She looked at the screen and said to rent it anyway. I asked what was wrong with the car and she said it probably just needs an oil change or something. I said I had to drive it across the country, was it going to break down in the middle of nowhere? She said, “It should get you there.” I didn’t have time to look for something else. When I started it, the tire pressure light came on so I stopped at a tire place and they put air in all the tires. Every time I started the car, it said, “Oil change required”, and every morning I had to get someone to put air in the tires, especially the front right tire. The psi was supposed to be 40, and every morning it was about 25. I’ll never rent from Avis again and will tell everyone I know not to as well.
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Nov 2023
Full-size
Hidden fees and charges not in the agreement. Double the quoted cost
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Oct 2023
Economy
In my opinion, I would not recommend to anyone a different car rental place than Avis. I dealt with enterprise a lot They don't care about your opinion. And they try to nickel and dine you to death Also, they try to blittle you. They make you feel uncomfortable and at.Avis, always had the better deals. Cleaner cars and great staff.
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Oct 2022
Check in and check out was easy. There was a car waiting for me and it was even nicer than I reserved!
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Oct 2022
Horrible experience. No car received.
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, May 2021
Pros:
Drop off was quick but it looked like both the workers at the booth wanted to be anywhere other then there.
Cons:
It took awhile to pick up the car because the front desk was understaffed. The vehicle smelled heavily of smoke the interior driver and passenger side doors where cut up and the seats were stained and filthy. The front windshield had two big chips in it and there were scratches all over the vehicle. Lastly, someone took the floor mats out of the vehicle and never returned them. I will NEVER RENT FROM AVIS AGAIN and I strongly suggest you don’t either.
The Kayak reservation I made was intended to be for pickup at the Birmingham airport. Once at the Hertz counter at the BHM airport after a long wait in line, I was told that the address was another location and I would have to get myself there via taxi/uber. I called to confirm, but they had given away my reserved car and had no more available. I took another hour to rent from the airport Hertz counter at twice the price of my original Kayak reservation. I am very disappointed with both Kayak and Hertz for the miscommunication throughout the process, and will be asking for a refund.
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Jan 2024
Supplier choice
I came to the Hertz location as stipulated in advance. They told me the car would be ready in two hours. I left and came back in two hours. Then, they told me the car doesn’t exist and that I’d have to go to the Pelham office, a 30 minute drive away. I had to pay for an Uber to get there. They then didn’t care about the situation. Completely unacceptable to make a booking and then not have the car at the agrees upon time. No attempt was made to contact me to tell me there was no care despite my existing reservation.
4.0 Mediocre
THOMAS, Oct 2023
Intermediate SUV
NEVER ANY CARS FOR LATE NIGHT PICK UP. EVERYTIME PICK UP A CAR THERE IS A LONG WAIT.
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Oct 2023
Supplier choice
Upon arrival I was told no cars were available I ended up taking a 14 hour bus and cost me an additional 250 dollars because of this I have been a kayak user for years and I will not use in future because it’s not a reliable source
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Sep 2023
Intermediate SUV
Got there and they stated they did not have any cars
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Nov 2022
Called 20 mins before time of pickup and said they didn't have any cars, even though rate said guaranteed and was paid for in advance. Asked local office when they might have a car for my employee and they said, try back in 4-5 days! umm. no, bud that won't work!
Pick up with amazing super helpful. Though in the end, there was never anything in the car that said Alamo. So when I went to drop off, I couldn’t remember which brand I had used so I had to look that up and at the airport that we dropped off at there was literally no direction and no attendant to help, I think it’s an airport issue, but it was confusing . And then I never received a final invoice via email like they said.
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Oct 2023
Premium SUV
Blake, our check-in attendant, was excellent.
10.0 Wonderful
Curtis, May 2021
Pros:
Drop off was great - quick and easy and rep was polite.
Cons:
Had to ask the rep at pick up to note the obvious vehicle damage onto my rental contract.
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Feb 2021
Pros:
Staff both departing and returning were great. Needed Suv and was given as promised
Cons:
The only negative was there were no floor mats or paper sheet covers for the interior floorboard. The place I was going was rural and muddy, so I had to constantly lay down towels or garbage bags to keep the interior floor carpet clean.
The rental process was easy. The drop off process was confusing with lack of signage on where to return car and parking garage was one way so there was no turning around if needed. The price was good and the employees, especially return employees were friendly. The car had a loose sensor on the back bumper and caused it to alarm any time the car was reversed. the sensor indicator could be turned off, but reset every time the car was turned off and had to be changed each time again. That was annoying and could have been avoided if any employee backed the car up after the last return, they would have definitely noticed it. I did report it when returning the vehicle and they stated they would take a look at it. Overall, positive experience.
8.0 Very good
Fidelia, May 2024
Standard
Staff at pickup was slow, but nice when finally got to counter. Staff at drop off was excellent. Vehicle was good.
10.0 Wonderful
Steve, May 2021
Pros:
Competent staff.
Cons:
Price has gone up substantially in the past year.
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, May 2021
Cons:
They need to stay open later for late flight arrivals. Otherwise, great experience!
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, May 2021
Pros:
The staff was friendly and courteous. Drop off was super easy.
Cons:
I didn't get the car quoted, but I had a very good substitution. I realize what one wants is not always available at the time.
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, May 2021
Pros:
Not enough staff working. Waited an hour in line for a rental I had reserved several weeks in advance. Additionally, I was double charge. I am currently working on how to correct this.
Cons:
Better speed on processing customers. Better billing system.
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