AWD rental cars – how to choose the right 4×4 for your trip

Planning a driving trip off-road, in the snow, or in other harsh terrain? Then an ordinary road car may not cut it. Choosing an all wheel drive rental car can make your journey smoother, but with so many different makes and models it can be hard to know which to pick. Here’s everything you need to know about 4WD and AWD rental cars.

If you’re planning a road trip into rough terrain, it pays to know the types of car available to rent. Accessories and add-ons can also play a major role in keeping you and your vehicle safe in harsh conditions.

Say you’re gearing up for a ski trip where you know the roads will be icy or snow-covered. You could consider getting an all wheel drive (AWD) or 4×4 (4WD) rental car. But you may also need a ski rack, winter tires, and snow chains. Knowing what works best in different conditions and what accessories are available from rental companies will save you hassle and help keep you motoring along in all conditions.

AWD vs. 4WD: which car rental is right for my trip?

Think of a four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicle and you’ll likely imagine a rugged jeep, SUV or pickup truck. Which you choose will determine where you can go and in what conditions. But not all so-called off road capabilities are the same.

It’s important to know the terrain you’ll be tackling to avoid getting stuck or, if you’re somewhere remote, stranded. AWD vehicles like SUVs are primarily for driving on the road. They can handle tougher conditions than normal – snow, ice, mud or rough surfaces, but aren’t off-roaders. 4WD vehicles are at their best at low speed off-road, where you need serious ground clearance to traverse obstacles.

Here’s a quick overview of the right vehicle type for the different kinds of terrain you may encounter.

There are fewer AWD and 4×4 rental cars available compared to standard road-going cars. Book well in advance and prepare to pay more than you would for a front-wheel drive car.

Many car rental companies and search engines don’t offer a 4WD or AWD filter. Instead, search for standard or full-size SUVs or trucks, as these usually offer AWD or 4WD capabilities. Renting from locations close to tougher terrain – like airports near ski resorts – will give you more choice. Demand is often high here so the rental companies are likely to have lots of Jeeps, Audis and other marques known for their all and four wheel drive cars.

Where can I drive a 4WD or AWD rental car?

Most rental car companies forbid off-road driving and towing in their vehicles to limit the potential for damages. You’ll find this communicated clearly in your rental contract. Beware that many rental cars have GPS trackers so the rental company can see where you’ve been.

If you break this rule, get caught or damage the car, you risk big fines and getting banned from renting in the future. In this scenario, your rental car insurance, personal auto insurance, and whatever damage waiver you bought won’t cover your damages.

In most cases, you’ll never need to drive off road. Dirt and gravel tracks and mountainous or snow bound roads are usually fine to drive on. If in doubt, check with the company before choosing your AWD or 4×4 car rental.

Driving in the snow

Your first instinct may be to get a more expensive 4×4 rental car for driving in snow. In truth, a front-wheel drive (FWD) car with all-season tires will be fine for all but the worst road conditions. In most places where roads are subject to snow and ice, you’ll find them to be well gritted and maintained. Think ski resorts, mountain viewpoints and restaurants.

With limited inventories for 4WD and AWD cars, rental companies often prefer to offer standard FWD cars equipped with the right winter tires. Typically, they know the areas and conditions their cars will be driven in and choose their vehicles accordingly. Renting a FWD car is straightforward, cheaper and you won’t have any trouble booking last minute.

Do rental cars have snow tires?

If the rental company is located near an area of the US prone to snowy and icy roads, like a ski resort, they will likely offer snow tires. It’s also commonplace for most major rental companies in the US to feature all-season tires on their cars by default. These perform much the same function as snow tires.

Can I rent snow chains?

In parts of the US like Yosemite, snow chains are mandatory for driving during certain times of the year. Rental cars are not exempt from this requirement, even if they have all-season tires.

Yet no major rental car companies offer snow chains in the US (or Canada). Indeed, most of them explicitly ban snow chain use as they can damage tires, rims, wheel covers, and fenders. Trips with these constraints require extra planning so pick your rental carefully.

Driving in the snow overseas

Depending on when and where you travel overseas, you may find your rental car fitted with snow tires by default. Snow tires (commonly known as winter tires) are mandatory during winter in many countries, whether you’re near the mountains or not.

In some countries, you have to request the tires and pay for them yourself. In others, it can depend on the car rental company, and sometimes it depends on the region of the country you’re in.

In Canada, for example, snow tires are required on all rental cars during the winter months. This can stretch from October to April, depending on the region, and so cars usually come with them as standard.

As the rules vary across so many countries, it’s best practice to check requirements in advance. Make sure to review the terms and conditions when booking so you know what comes as standard and what will cost extra.

What types of 4WD and AWD rental cars are available?

Not all car rental companies offer the same types of vehicles. Here’s a quick rundown of four major rental companies and the AWD rental cars they offer.

Budget

Budget’s fleet includes mid-size to large SUVs, many of which offer 4WD or AWD capabilities. This isn’t always made clear during booking, however, so it’s best to speak to the specific rental office you’re booking at if off-roading is essential to your plans. Depending on the location, you can also specifically reserve a Hummer H3 SUV for a dedicated 4WD experience.

Enterprise

Enterprise lists a variety of cars under its SUV category, almost all of which offer AWD or 4WD capabilities. It’s important to check as the compact and mid-range models are often 2WD only. Anything from a midrange SUV, all-terrain or crossover vehicle is likely going to be a 4WD or AWD rental. Marques available include Audi, Chevrolet, Ford, Jeep, Range Rover, and Rivian.

Hertz

Hertz makes it very hard to find an all wheel drive or four wheel drive rental car. It offers no filter for this functionality and doesn’t include that information in the car details. It does feature a ‘Standard SUV AWD’ category featuring vehicles like the Ford Edge, and most large pickup trucks like the Ram 2500 Big Horn are four-wheel drive. To be sure you’re renting something that meets your needs, talk to them before you book.

SIXT

SIXT also offers a range of SUVs that feature 4×4 or AWD capabilities. Its most popular models include the Range Rover, Grand Jeep Cherokee, Chevrolet Suburban, and Mercedes G-Class. SIXT has a handy ‘Guaranteed All-Wheel Drive’ option to check when booking. This guarantees you’ll get an off-roader as long as it’s available at the branch where you’re booking. As with all rental companies, I recommend checking at the branch in advance to make sure they have one available.

How to use the 4WD and AWD rental car filters on KAYAK

Renting a car on KAYAK is easy. With refined filtering and options, you can also quickly choose to see only results for 4WD or AWD rental cars.

1. Go to kayak.com/cars, enter your car rental drop-off and collection points and dates, and hit the orange search button.
2. On the results page you’ll see a range of filter options across the top of the page to help refine your search. Select ‘Car features’.
3. In the dropdown you’ll see a series of checkboxes for different features. Select either ‘AWD’ or ‘4WD’ depending on what type of car you want. Once you select the filter, the button below will update to show you how many cars that meet your criteria are available. Hit the button to see them.
4. The results page will now show only the available cars that have the features you’ve selected. Pick the one you want, and you’re ready to hit the road!

How does KAYAK know what to put in this guide?

I first learned to drive in the mountains of Lesotho and later had to battle ice and snow on the roads of Germany. I’ve learned the hard way that sometimes, having an all-wheel drive rental car makes or breaks a trip. I’ve also learnt what accessories I will never go without in harsher terrain again.

Together with the KAYAK team, I put together this guide with years of experience driving on all kinds of terrains and what to look out for when getting a rental car anywhere in the world.

Read on if you want to know more about car rentals, whether you need unlimited mileage, or how to pay for your rental car.