Knowing the best time to rent a car depends on your travel destination and the time of year. We have done some research based on our internal data, and we got some answers. Follow the guide.
In this article
When should you book?
Best booking window by trip type
Is last-minute cheaper?
Early vs. last-minute booking: when each makes sense
Top 3 tips to save on car rentals
Why prices fluctuate
FAQs
When should you book?
One of the main questions people ask when trying to find the best deal on a rental car is about the best time to book. Is it better to book weeks in advance or last-minute? When do car rental prices drop?
These are all important things to wonder, and the answers may surprise you.
If your road trip dates are set in stone, you can still save money. Knowing the cheapest time to book your car makes a real difference. According to the following data collected by KAYAK, the answer will most likely be to book your car 1 month in advance, or less.
The following graph shows the average daily cost of renting a car by month of travel. It compares bookings made 1 month, 3 months, and 6+ months in advance.
The following graph shows the average daily cost of renting a car by month of travel, comparing bookings made 1 month in advance, 3 months in advance and 6+ months in advance.
Key takeaways of our data analysis
January is the cheapest month of the year to rent a car, with an average daily rate of $43. If you want warmer temperatures, I recommend you to travel in May ($55/day) or September ($51/day).
Booking 1 month in advance is consistently cheaper than booking 6+ months ahead. It saves $10 per day on average all year, and up to $17 per day in April.
Best booking window by trip type
The ideal time to book a rental car depends on what kind of trip you’re planning. Here’s how to approach it based on your situation:
Low-demand travel (off-peak, midweek, smaller cities)
Book 2-4 weeks in advance. Inventory is plentiful and prices often drop closer to your travel date. You have flexibility to wait for better deals without much risk.
Peak season vacations (summer, spring break, major holidays)
Book 2-3 months in advance. Demand spikes during these periods, so waiting too long means higher prices and limited selection. The savings from last-minute booking disappear when everyone’s competing for the same cars.
Airport rentals
Book 3-4 weeks in advance for the best balance of price and availability. Airport locations see consistent demand, so prices stay relatively stable. Booking too early costs more. Waiting until the last week risks inventory shortages.
Minivans, SUVs, and luxury cars
Book 2-3 months in advance. Rental companies keep fewer minivans, SUVs, and luxury cars in their fleets, so these book up faster than standard sedans. If you need a specific vehicle type, don’t gamble on last-minute availability.
Is last-minute cheaper?
Yes, rental car prices generally go down closer to your travel date. There’s a catch, though.
KAYAK data shows the sweet spot is typically 2-4 weeks before your trip, saving $10 per day on average.
However, waiting until the last minute comes with real tradeoffs. As you get closer to your travel date, you’re betting that prices will drop faster than inventory disappears.
During busy periods, that bet often doesn’t pay off. You might find a cheaper daily rate, only to discover the car you wanted is gone.
The bottom line: last-minute booking works best for off-peak travel when rental lots are full and companies are motivated to move inventory. For peak season, holidays, or when you need a specific vehicle type, the availability risk outweighs the potential savings.
Early vs. last-minute booking: when each makes sense
- Book last-minute (1-2 weeks out): Off-peak travel, flexible on vehicle type, smaller cities, midweek rentals
- Book 1 month out: Standard vacations, airport pickups, when you want the best price-to-availability balance
- Book 2-3 months out: Peak season, holidays, popular destinations, when inventory matters more than price
- Book 3+ months out: Minivans, SUVs, luxury cars, large groups, must-have dates with no flexibility
Top 3 tips to save on car rentals
1. Don’t book too early
While it may seem counterintuitive, booking more than 6 months in advance is often the most expensive option. In most months, rates rise the earlier you book, especially for peak travel periods like July and August.
2. Target the shoulder seasons
If you’re flexible with travel dates, consider going in March, April, September, or October. Prices are significantly lower than in peak summer. You still get pleasant weather and fewer crowds.
For example, September 1-month bookings are $51/day, vs. $69/day in July.
3. Choose the same pick-up and drop-off time
Car rental companies typically charge by the day, not by the hour. This means if your drop-off time is later than your pick-up time, you could be charged for an extra full day.
For example, picking up a car at 4 pm on Monday and returning it at 6 pm on Wednesday would count as 3 days, not just 2 and a few hours. To avoid this and save money, try to match your pick-up and drop-off times.
Why prices fluctuate
The first thing to keep in mind is that rental car prices change a lot, and there are a number of factors that determine the price on any given day. Prices can fluctuate because of the season, a particular holiday, the car category, the rental company and timing, just to name a few.
In general, rental companies want to rent out as many cars as possible, just like hotels want to rent out as many rooms as possible. They’ll price cars competitively to increase demand, but when demand is high, they may raise prices to capitalize on it.
Keep in mind that the base price is the most likely thing to change. All of the additional elements of the rental, from young driver fees to baby seats to ski racks, will stay the same price regardless of the timing. This background information will help explain how far in advance you should book your rental car.
FAQs
January, with an average daily rate of $43. If you need warmer weather, May ($55/day) and September ($51/day) are the next best options.
It depends on your trip. For standard vacations, 1 month out offers the best price-to-availability balance. For peak season or specialty vehicles like SUVs or minivans, book 2 to 3 months ahead.
Yes. Booking 6+ months in advance is often the most expensive option, on average $10/day more than booking 1 month out, and up to $17/day more in April.
Shoulder seasons (March, April, September, and October) offer significantly lower rates than peak summer months, with September averaging $51/day versus $69/day in July.
Yes. Since rental companies charge by the day, returning a car even slightly later than your pick-up time can trigger a full extra day’s charge.
Yes. These vehicle types have smaller fleets, so they sell out faster than standard sedans.
