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 Champaign with a pick-up date of 6/16 and drop-off date of 6/20. 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 Champaign
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
Hertz
Most popular car type
Economy
Average price
$64/day
Good deal
$53/day
KAYAK’s insights & trends for Champaign car rentals
Check out the latest trends and booking tips to rent a car in Champaign with confidence.
How far in advance should you book a rental car in Champaign?
You should book your rental car in Champaign around 7 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.
What is the cheapest car rental company in Champaign?
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Enterprise Rent-A-Car ($32.35/day), Thrifty ($33.78/day) and Hertz ($35.90/day). The cheapest rental car price was found at Enterprise Rent-A-Car 1212 N Prospect Ave (5.0 mi from city center).
What is the best rental car company in Champaign?
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in Champaign are Enterprise Rent-A-Car (7.4, 8 reviews), Hertz (6.4, 9 reviews), and National (2.0, 2 reviews).
Compact rentals (Nissan Kicks or similar) are the most popular type of vehicle to rent in Champaign. Compact rentals in Champaign cost $65/day on average, though some users have found deals as low as $52/day.
What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Champaign?
The cheapest month to rent a car in Champaign is February at an average cost of $51/day. July is the most expensive month to rent a car in Champaign when prices are $77/day on average, which tends to be 18% above the yearly average rental price for Champaign.
What rental car company in Champaign has the most locations?
Enterprise Rent-A-Car operates 3 locations in Champaign, more than any other rental company.
A great way to get around Champaign and its sister city, Urbana, is in your Champaign car rental. The airport isn’t serviced by public transportation, and it is a 5-mile ride to the University of Illinois campus, and a 6-mile ride to the city center. Once you have your rental, you’re free to explore the city’s museums (such as the Krannert Art Museum), sample the libations at the local vineyards and breweries, and enjoy the city’s parks. You may also want to spend some time in one of the nearby cities: Chicago, St. Louis and Indianapolis are all less than 3h from Champaign by car.
When flying into the Willard Airport (CMI), arranging car rentals in Champaign is convenient and easy. The rental car counters are located in the lower level of the airport’s only terminal, near the baggage claim. The cars are parked in the lot closest to the rental car counters. All of the airport and car rental services are within a short walking distance in and around the terminal.
Champaign is a college town and as you’d expect, there are a lot of college students walking and biking along the roads, especially when classes are in session in the fall, winter and spring. Drivers should use caution and keep an eye open for pedestrians and cyclists, especially around the University of Illinois campus. Also, a large number of streets throughout Champaign have designated bike routes, with or without special bicycle lane markings, so drivers should be especially vigilant on these streets.
As in most cities, motorists should expect traffic to slow a bit in the morning and evening rush hours, but the traffic is not as heavy in Champaign as it is in other major cities of the region. The North Prospect and Neil Shopping District straddling I-74 can be congested in the busy shopping hours after work and on holidays. Although snow is efficiently removed after winter storms, drivers should be prepared for driving in snowy and icy conditions when traveling in the city from December to April.
Cheap car rentals in Champaign will not find navigation around the city and its sister, Urbana, not too difficult. Most of the city's grid layout aligns with the north. However, the oldest section of downtown aligns east from the main grid. Navigating around the streets in Champaign also allows easy navigation around the streets in Urbana. The east and west of Champaign have two Green Streets. Urbana also has two Green Streets on its east and west. So be careful while driving not to confuse the similar streets in the two cities. For instance, you can start driving on West Green in Champaign, drive through East Green, and end up on West Green again but in Urbana. Green Streets in both cities are designated with their city names for differentiation.
Driving cheap car rentals in Champaign demands a lot of patience. Drivers can get frustrated since traffic lights in the city tend to favor pedestrians, and parking is limited. Moreover, many streets in Champaign are one-way, and only buses can drive through certain streets, so drivers can find themselves driving around in loops. To avoid getting frustrated, avoid roads on Lincoln Avenue, Fourth Street, Green Street, and Florida Avenue. Also, drivers of Champaign car rentals should avoid engaging in aggressive driving, such as speeding, as this attracts hefty fines. Speed cameras are located throughout the city.
Several key roads in the city can help you get around Illinois state. The key road from the city to Cincinnati and Indianapolis in the east is Interstate 74. On the west, it connects Champaign to cities like Bloomington-Normal, Galesburg, and Peoria. It also leads to the quad cities of Bettendorf, Moline, Rock Island, and Davenport. Interstate 72, which terminates in Champaign, connects it to Decatur, Springfield, and Quincy. Interstate 57, on the other hand, connects Champaign to the north and south of Illinois, heading to Chicago in the north. It also joins Interstate 55 to take you to Memphis.
25% of our users found rental cars in Champaign for $53 or less
Intermediate rental cars in Champaign are around 33% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Champaign
What type of car is recommended for driving in Champaign?
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.
What’s the speed limit in Champaign?
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.
Where are the best places to park in Champaign?
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.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Champaign?
On average a rental car in Champaign costs $64 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 $51.
Which car rental companies will pick you up at University-Willard airport (CMI)?
Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from University-Willard airport to off-airport locations include Hertz, Alamo, and Avis.
How much does an Economy car rental cost in Champaign?
An Economy car rental in Champaign costs $61 per day, on average.
How much does a Standard car rental cost in Champaign?
A Standard car rental in Champaign costs $107 per day, on average.
How much does a Compact car rental cost in Champaign?
A Compact car rental in Champaign costs $58 per day, on average.
What is the most popular rental car location in Champaign?
In Champaign, cars are most frequently rented at Budget 11 Airport Way (11 miles from city center).
Should I get insurance when renting a car in Champaign?
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.
How many car agencies are operating in Champaign?
KAYAK has deals for you to compare from 4 car rental agencies in Champaign.
What do I need to know before booking a car rental 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!).
Why should I use KAYAK to rent a car in Champaign?
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.
Are there car rentals in downtown Champaign?
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.
Which roads in Champaign are tolled?
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.
Even though this site "checked to make sure a car was available " when I arrived at the time I chose to rent... no cars were available. I did not get to rent a car that day
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Feb 2024
Minivan
My experience using Enterprise was great. The staff was friendly and helpful. They also noticed a screw in the tire during the vehicle pre-inspection. This saved me many troubles on the trip had I experienced the flat during the trip, and it also led to a free upgrade to a nicer vehicle since they didn't have another comparable vehicle on the lot.
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Jan 2024
Full-size
They did not have the car we reserved available. We had reserved it for $81. They wanted to rent us an SUV for $450. Said they could not negotiate the price, we canceled the reservation. Did not rent the car, had to find one somewhere else because we could not pay $450.
2.0 Poor
Sara, Apr 2021
Cons:
EVERYTHING! Rented car through Kayak/Priceline, but the location rented from in Savoy had ZERO cars available - at all - and could NOT honor reservation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everything was fine. It was quite inconvenient that both spouses had to be present for both to be able to drive the vehicle; I’m sure there’s a good reason, but not everywhere has this requirement, so we’ll probably go back to rental services at CMI airport next time. Had to rearrange our whole afternoon last minute and bring our too-young-to-mask-or-vaccinate child in to the building. Drop off would have been better with a prior heads up or better signage regarding leaving the mileage report in the car; I put the keys in the box, then read that I was supposed to put the paperwork in the (locked) car. The car worked out great. Thanks.
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Feb 2021
Pros:
They allowed me to book and didn’t have any cars available. They called me 20 minutes before I was supposed to go pick it up asking me to wait until the next day to MAYBE get a car . I just flown into Champaign and I was left stranded
Cons:
The organization and the staff . It was a terrible experience never again
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jul 2020
Pros:
Staff was friendly and helpful!
Cons:
Hours are somewhat restrictive ... closing at 5p seems early!
8.0 Very good
Anonymous, Jul 2020
Cons:
The car was about 1/8 below a full tank. And then the car showed that one of the rear tires was very low which I didn’t notice until I was off the lot but it made me a bit nervous while on the highway.
Our confirmed reservations were not honored. After driving for over an hour to location to pickup car we were told there were not available. Confirmed reservation were worthless.
Cons:
If we had gotten a car per our reservations.
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Aug 2020
Cons:
It was great, there wasn't a line i was in and out. The gentleman upgraded me at no extra cost, some the best customer service I've had in a while
27 travelers who rented a car in Champaign gave the car agency they used an average rating of 4.7
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