Champaign car rentals

Choices for car rentals in Champaign depend on the season and the type of driving you’ll be doing while traveling in and around the city. If you’re planning to spend time driving to one of the nearby cities of Chicago, St. Louis or Indianapolis, you may opt for a comfortable and fuel-efficient sedan to accommodate the longer distances. On the other hand, an SUV or other all-wheel-drive vehicle may be an ideal choice if you’re traveling in the winter months.

The speed limits for I-57 and I-74, the two major interstates crossing through Champaign, are 70mph and 60mph, respectively. Speed limits for roads in the most-congested areas are typically 30mph or 35mph. Most other main roads in the city have speed limits of 45mph, including wide, four-lane roads. Drivers should use caution when driving on these wide-open roads where it often feels like the speed limit should be 55mph, leaving drivers open to getting speeding tickets from awaiting police officers. Another tricky area for drivers is where I-72 enters Champaign and becomes University Ave; here, the speed limit drops quickly from 55mph to 30mph.

There is ample parking available in municipal parking lots and on the streets in the busiest areas of Champaign, but most of the parking is metered. Meters cost between $0.25 and $1.50 per hour during the workweek, starting as early as 7am and enforced as late as 6pm. In the hospital district, you should also expect to feed the meter on Saturdays. The most expensive meters are located in the busiest downtown area, and parking gradually gets less expensive as you move farther away from the downtown area.

On average a rental car in Champaign costs $67 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 Champaign found in the last 2 weeks is $44.

In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Hertz ($34/day).

The average gas price in Champaign is $3.52 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between $42 and $56, depending on the car size.

Intermediate (Mazda Mazda3 or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Champaign.

Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from University-Willard airport to off-airport locations include Hertz, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Budget, Avis, and Alamo.

Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.

An Intermediate car rental in Champaign costs $42 per day, on average.

A Standard car rental in Champaign costs $43 per day, on average.

A Compact car rental in Champaign costs $48 per day, on average.

In Champaign, cars are most frequently rented at Hertz 707 North Mattis (2 miles from city center).

On average a rental car in Champaign costs $466 per week ($67 per day).

On average a rental car in Champaign costs $1,999 per month ($67 per day).

Most car rental providers in Champaign offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car rental in Champaign, check out KAYAK's car rental insurance guide.

KAYAK has deals for you to compare from 2 car rental agencies in Champaign.

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!).

KAYAK searches thousands of car rental agencies to provide you with offers from all car rental agencies operating in Champaign so that you can compare car rental rates, reviews and pick-up and drop-off locations to find the best deal for you.

Yes, several agencies provide rental services in downtown Champaign if you’re not accessing the city via plane. Hertz’s offices are along North Mattis Avenue, and Zipcar has offices on E University Avenue. They provide several rental categories like SUVs, station wagons, sedans, and trucks.

Roads within Champaign itself are not tolled. However, Illinois has several toll roads to watch out for when driving around the state. These include Interstate 355, Interstate 88, and I-90, just to name a few. Some roads allow cash-only payments, while transponders like the E-ZPass transponders are acceptable on others.