Des Moines car rental information
| Pick-up location | Des Moines |
|---|---|
| Car types | Compact, Compact SUV, Economy, Full-size, Full-size SUV, Intermediate, Intermediate SUV, Luxury, Minivan, Standard, Standard SUV |
| Rental locations | 16 |
| Airport locations | 14 |
| Popular agencies | Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Turo, Payless, Avis, Hertz |
Cheap car rentals in Des Moines
| Economy | $39/day |
| Compact | $39/day |
| Intermediate | $41/day |
| Standard | $42/day |
| Full-size | $43/day |
| Minivan | $67/day |
| Full-size SUV | $61/day |
| Luxury | $63/day |
| Standard SUV | $44/day |
| Intermediate SUV | $44/day |
| Compact SUV | $44/day |
Top tips for renting a car in Des Moines
- From the breathtaking rolling landscapes to a rich history and culture, Iowa's capital city has so much to offer travelers. The best way you can enjoy all these spectacular sights and sounds is by having a rental car which gives you complete control to cruise around the city at your own pace. Forget the expensive taxi rides and instead find cheap car rentals in Des Moines so you can have the freedom to visit the Living History Farms Museum, about 15 minutes from the city. Other popular attractions include the Covered Bridges Scenic Byway, which you can visit in less than an hour by car, or the Historic Hills Byway, located less than 2 hours away. You can tour these places and more on your to-do list with cheap car rentals in Des Moines.
- Once you land at the busy International Airport of Des Moines, go to the baggage claim area and find several renowned Des Moines car rentals. Avis, Dollar, Alamo, and Hertz are a few examples of Des Moines car rentals with on-site offices and others located in different parts of the city. Then, having booked your rental car through KAYAK, take a 15- minute drive to the city via Fleur Drive to your various destinations.
- During winter, Des Moines naturally experiences heavy snowfall, making your driving experience uncomfortable. If your visit coincides with the winter season, we recommend safe driving at all times. Before hitting the road, keep your windshield and headlights clear of excess snow. It would be best to observe safety precautions at all times and always be prepared should you get stuck in snow for some time. Otherwise, while it is safe and legal to make right turns at red lights, be sure to yield the right of way to other road users before you make a turn. Finally, having a blood-alcohol content of 0.08% and above can land you in trouble with the law. If you plan on drinking, don't get behind the wheel; instead, get a designated driver to move you around.
- The capital city of Iowa is only waiting to be explored by travelers, and what easier and more convenient way is there to do it than with your own four wheels? Rent a car for your time in Des Moines and discover everything from city attractions to more remote places outside the city, such as the Saylorville Lake, which is about half an hour away by car.
- When flying into the International Airport of Des Moines, pick up a car from their on-site car rental center to be in the city in less than 15 minutes via Fleur Drive. Located inside the terminal close to the Baggage Claim area, travelers will find various agencies available, such as Avis, Alamo, or National, which offer vehicles in all shapes and sizes.
- If you’re visiting Iowa during the winter, you may have to prepare for slick and slippery roads due to snow and ice. But good preparation is everything, and driving in the winter is no problem when the rental car has winter tires fixed and even snow chains in the trunk (you may have to rent them separately from the agency). When driving in snow, refrain from braking or accelerating too fast, and bring blankets and warm drinks with you, if possible, in case you get stuck. Also bear in mind that the roads will most likely be narrower due to snow piled up on the sides.
- Don’t drink and drive during your time in Des Moines. Iowa has very strict drinking laws and hefty fines are enforced if a driver is found behind the wheel with more than 0.08% of alcohol in the blood (BAC). Also try to avoid driving in the daily peak times when traffic is heaviest, usually between 7-9am and 4:30-6pm, as roads can be congested and waiting times will occur.
- 25% of our users found rental cars in Des Moines for $52 or less
- Book your rental car in Des Moines at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Off-airport rental car locations in Des Moines are around 12% cheaper than airport locations on average
FAQs about renting a car in Des Moines
Des Moines car rental reviews and directory
Alamo
8.6
Very good
116 reviewsBest rated
Cleanliness
8.1
Comfort
8.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.7
Value for money
8.6
One location in Des Moines
from $62/day
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Mar 2021
Pros:
Staff was very helpful picking up and returning. Very convenient location in the airport and the cars are right outside the door in the baggage claim area6.0 Okay
Aug 2020
Pros:
Nice sized suvCons:
The gas gauge was way off. No horse power.9.6 Wonderful
Jan 2020
Pros:
Staff was super helpful. Class of vehicle rented wasn't available so they provided an upgrade and reduced the price for the trouble. Would highly recommend!10.0 Wonderful
Sep 2019
Pros:
Outstanding service. They were swamped when we got there, but they dealt with the long quickly. They did not have our size of car so they gave us a choice of upgrade that would suit us and gave us free gas to compensate the mileage. And they were very happy to do it. So we are very happy!Cons:
It was as good as it could have been.6.0 Okay
Aug 2019
Pros:
Staff was helpful and gave discount for dirty car.Cons:
Cleaner car.10.0 Wonderful
Jul 2019
Pros:
My flight was delayed 3 times. I arrived at the counter 3.5 hours past my reservation. Alamo had my information ahead of time and everything was ready for me. Staff was very friendly & helpful!Enterprise Rent-A-Car
8.4
Very good
118 reviewsCleanliness
8.7
Comfort
8.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.1
Value for money
8.0
3 locations in Des Moines
from $54/day
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Reviews
2.0 Poor
Jun 2021
Cons:
Everything can't be rated because I got a phone call from Enterprise telling me that they had overbooked and that I would be on a wait list for a car. That was the last I heard from them.10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
Jack at the counter is a wonderful asset to the company. He did a,great job getting us into the vehicle that we wanted.2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
NothingCons:
I spent 35 minutes in line in the hot sun just to get to the counter and be told they didn’t have a vehicle for me even though I had previously reserved one. I thought the point of a reservation was to guarantee it would be there. The employee stated that he had tried to call me to let me know about this but I had zero missed calls and zero voicemails so I do not believe he tried to call me. I will not be renting from Enterprise in the future and will be sharing this experience with everyone I know.2.0 Poor
Oct 2020
Pros:
I didn’t even have a car when I had placed a reservation well in advance.Cons:
The pick up time for my car was set for 5pm, the location closed at 5pm. I called first thing the following morning to pick up my rental & they told me they no longer had the vehicle available because I hadn’t showed up to pick up the car at my scheduled appointment time— even though I did, they were just closed by that time. I was told theyd call me later on that same afternoon to give me an update & I never even got a call, no apologies for the inconvenience, nothing. Frustrating to say the least.6.8 Okay
Jun 2020
Pros:
the rental guy in Des Moines wasn't very friendly but did his jobCons:
More friendliness would help. otherwise all is good.5.6 Fair
Jun 2020
Pros:
Pick up was easy, drop off was just a drop box since it was a Sunday evening.Cons:
The whole 3 hour drive we kept having large ants crawling on us! So gross and annoying.Hertz
7.8
Good
65 reviewsCleanliness
8.0
Comfort
8.2
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.0
Value for money
7.6
One location in Des Moines
from $56/day
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6.0 Okay
May 2021
Cons:
The vehicle we had reserved had been "given away". We were given an upgrade; however it was not very comfortable. We had reserved a vehicle we knew we would be comfortable in for the long drive. Vehicle was dirty inside - used our own wipes to sanitize. Windshield wipers did not work properly. Was stressful on day 2 of the drive in the rain.6.0 Okay
Feb 2021
Pros:
The staff was incredibly helpful and friendly, at the airport.Cons:
The person I spoke to on the phone, after my initial flight was canceled, could not have been less helpful, or more condescending.2.0 Poor
Jan 2021
Pros:
NothingCons:
They were not open when I arrived and I had to spend 3x as much getting a car from another company8.0 Very good
Aug 2018
Pros:
Nice car and people.Cons:
Sirius should be included, especially when one already has a sirius account.10.0 Wonderful
Jul 2018
Pros:
Staff was friendly and helpful!!Cons:
N/a10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2018
Pros:
Excellent Service!Budget
7.0
Good
48 reviewsCleanliness
6.8
Comfort
7.4
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.3
Value for money
6.8
One location in Des Moines
from $75/day
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2022
2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
Staff was friendly and helpfulCons:
Late fees and charges are outrageous as is charges for gas8.0 Very good
Mar 2021
Cons:
Car had been smoked in.6.0 Okay
Mar 2021
Cons:
The budget customer service staff needs to work on their customer service experience. Their behavior is what drives this poor review. If you book a car through any of the travel apps they are not inclined to offer you any information Other than what you received while pre-booking.5.6 Fair
Sep 2020
Cons:
I had no washer fluid which made the ride home in the mist quite dangerous.2.0 Poor
Sep 2020
Pros:
Staff at desk was friendly.Cons:
Long lines. Misleading car. Too small. We didn’t fit. Had to cancel our trip.Payless
6.7
Okay
35 reviewsCleanliness
7.3
Comfort
7.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.5
Value for money
6.4
One location in Des Moines
from $54/day
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Dec 2021
Cons:
Thanks y’all are great7.2 Good
Sep 2020
Cons:
Way too long of a line to pick up the car4.4 Mediocre
Feb 2020
Cons:
Will never use them again. Insane after-the-fact price hijacking and terrible service. I have been renting cars several times a year for years. I had never used Payless before but needed to book something about a week in advance of the date. It was about $300 to book for 3 days which was already expensive but when I picked up the car they tacked on another full day because they charge by the “24 hours” not by the day, which was already absurd. They would not budge on the cost, which was a surprise upon pickup. When I picked up the car the total came to over $600! For 3 days with a car! They wouldn’t explain the Huge increase except that it was a high demand time and that’s just the cost of the car. Awful experience. Will stick with the better name brands that are fair and honest about pricing.10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2019
Pros:
Easy, friendly, clean, and wanted a car that had a trunk so that my luggage wouldn't be obvious. Got just wanted I wanted/needed, thanks!10.0 Wonderful
Sep 2019
Pros:
Super friendly staff7.6 Good
Aug 2019
Pros:
drop off was easy.Cons:
took too long to get a car. Short staffed at our locationThrifty
6.6
Okay
37 reviewsCleanliness
7.4
Comfort
6.9
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.5
Value for money
6.1
2 locations in Des Moines
from $72/day
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Reviews
8.0 Very good
Jul 2020
Pros:
staff was very friendly. Drop off was confusing as it was no longer Thrifty but Hertz9.6 Wonderful
Mar 2020
Pros:
The entire experience could not have been easier and more convenient.2.8 Poor
Dec 2019
Cons:
My car stopped working. Had to get an uber to get where I needed to go. The lyft they got me didnt even bring me to the right place to pick up my car at first. I had an extremely disappointing experience.2.0 Poor
Jul 2019
Cons:
I reserved a 7 passenger and after my card was scanned and I walked outside, I noticed I was given a 5 passenger. Transaction was supposed to be avoided but there continues to be a hold on my account5.6 Fair
Jul 2019
Cons:
Staff was incredibly rude and very unhelpful10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2019
Pros:
It as quick and easyNational
9.6
Wonderful
4 reviewsCleanliness
10.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
10.0
Value for money
8.0
One location in Des Moines
from $83/day
Dollar
6.8
Okay
28 reviewsCheapest deal
Most popular
Cleanliness
7.1
Comfort
7.1
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.2
Value for money
7.1
One location in Des Moines
from $42/day
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2.0 Poor
Jul 2018
Cons:
I booked through Kayak and they took my debit card number and the reservation was made. When I got to Dollar rental they said I needed a credit card. I was never told during the booking process that I needed a credit card to make this reservation so I was extremely inconvenienced. Now I have to try to get a refund for the insurance I paid for.10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2018
Pros:
Lots of room, great gas mileage, very comfortable, great customer service.8.0 Very good
Mar 2018
Pros:
We requested an intermediate SUV to drive from Iowa to California and back. Dollar gave us the Ford Escape. It was comfortable, handled really well, had good pickup, and many features you'd find in a more expensive car. Gas mileage was reasonable and the price Dollar charged me was more than fair.Cons:
I had to get an oil change once I reached California. However, Dollar reimbursed me for my cost when I returned. Dollar also said that any Hertz or Dollar outlet will handle that type of maintenance when needed on the road.3.6 Poor
Feb 2016
Pros:
The car didn't break down.Cons:
Besides having no modern amenities (usb outlet/bluetooth), the car smelled terrible. At one point I even searched the car to see if anything had been left behind... like a bag of poop. I bought two car air fresheners, but the stank overpowered them. Nasty 3 days.10.0 Wonderful
Jan 2016
Pros:
Easy drop off and pick up9.2 Wonderful
Jan 2016
Pros:
Fine car, very clean. Service at the counter at pickup and dropoff was great.Cons:
Only difficulty is that windshield wipers were terrible. Made for horrible visibility, especially at night, in the snowy/slushy conditions.Avis
6.0
Okay
19 reviewsCleanliness
5.5
Comfort
6.4
Pick-up/Drop-off
5.9
Value for money
6.6
One location in Des Moines
from $61/day
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8.0 Very good
Apr 2021
Pros:
The service was good. I really liked the car, clean and nearly new. Good experience and better rates than other rental companies.Cons:
Tried to call the rental location several times and never got someone to answer. Customer service these days is the way to stay ahead of the rest.8.4 Very good
Aug 2019
Pros:
Very friendly staff and made the experience interesting.Cons:
System issues meant a longer wait time10.0 Wonderful
Nov 2017
Pros:
Great price, nice big car, great customer serviceCons:
NY plates which made me stand out when I was driving. Prefer to have local plates next time.10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2017
Pros:
I received a new vehicle and the service provided was excellent. My flight was delayed and I arrived to the airport four hours later than pickup selected time, but had no problem.5.2 Fair
Mar 2017
Cons:
Our pickup lady decided to add $45 to our rental fee by adding on some optional insurance that she did not ask if we would like to add. She never asked up if we would like to add those options. She failed to get any initials from us on the lines that asked for my initials when agreeing to add those insurance options10.0 Wonderful
Nov 2016
Pros:
The pick up and drop off was easy and fast.American Rent-A-Car
4.8
Mediocre
7 reviewsCleanliness
7.7
Comfort
6.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
5.1
Value for money
4.8
One location in Des Moines
from $61/day
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Feb 2023
4.0 Mediocre
Feb 2023
2.0 Poor
Jan 2023
2.0 Poor
Aug 2022
2.0 Poor
Jun 2022
Airport Van
No score available yet
One location in Des Moines
Easirent
No score available yet
One location in Des Moines
One location in Des Moines
Locations in Des Moines
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477 travelers who rented a car in Des Moines gave the car agency they used an average rating of 7.6
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