Do you need an unlimited mileage car rental for your next trip? That all depends! In this guide, we explain what it means to get a car rental with unlimited miles vs. a car with limited mileage. This way, you can select the most budget friendly option for your road trip.
In this article
What does unlimited mileage mean on a rental car?
Which rental car companies offer unlimited mileage?
When unlimited mileage does not apply.
Is it cheaper to rent cars with unlimited or limited mileage?
How to verify unlimited mileage before booking.
How to use KAYAK to find cheap rental cars with unlimited miles.
Frequently asked questions.
What does unlimited mileage mean on a rental car?
How far can you drive a rental car? The limit to how many miles you can drive a rental car depends on the mileage allowance you select. Typically, you have two options: unlimited mileage or limited mileage, otherwise known as a mileage cap.
Unlimited mileage is increasingly common across providers, especially in the United States, and you’ll be able to see if it’s offered when you browse through deals on KAYAK. Availability varies by location, vehicle category, rental duration, and rate plan.
Unlimited mileage vs. limited mileage.
Unlimited mileage:
- You pay a flat rate no matter how far you drive: 10 miles or 1,000 miles costs the same,
- No per-mile overage fees,
- Available on most cars, and can also be found on one-way car rentals.
- One exception to watch out for is larger or specialty vehicles, including large cargo vans and exotic cars, which may not be available with unlimited mileage.
Limited mileage:
- Includes a set number of miles per day or per rental period (mileage cap),
- Exceed that cap and you’ll pay a fee for each additional mile, typically $0.10–$0.25,
- You have to keep track of your mileage allowance,
- Makes sense for shorter trips where you’re more certain about the total distance,
- Limits vary by rental company, region, vehicle type, and rental duration, so check the terms and conditions of your rental contract to be sure.
Always double-check what “unlimited” really means; some rentals exclude cross-border travel or have other location-based restrictions.
Lily Cichanowicz, travel expert
Which rental car companies offer unlimited mileage?
A lot of big car rental companies like Budget, Enterprise, Avis, and Hertz offer unlimited mileage for some or all of their rental car types. Availability varies by location, vehicle category, rental duration, and rate plan.
Ultimately it never hurts to ask if you know you have a long road trip ahead of you and will put unlimited mileage to good use.
Unlimited mileage car rentals: everything you need to know.
When unlimited mileage does not apply.
Unlimited mileage is not universal, certain vehicle categories and booking conditions commonly exclude it. Watch for these exceptions:
- Large SUVs: Full-size and premium SUVs may come with daily mileage caps
- Passenger vans: 12- and 15-passenger vans often have mileage limits
- Cargo vans: Commercial-style cargo vans typically include mileage restrictions
- Luxury and exotic cars: High-end vehicles almost always have mileage caps
- One-way rentals: Some one-way trips include mileage limits, especially for longer distances
- Location-specific limits: Certain pickup locations (airports, resort areas) may apply different policies
- Rate-plan-specific limits: Discounted or promotional rates may include mileage caps even when standard rates do not
Is it cheaper to rent cars with unlimited or limited mileage?
At first glance, it seems cheaper to rent a car with limited mileage. Otherwise, everyone would be taking advantage of an unlimited mileage rental car! Depending on where you are renting, the car rental usually includes different amounts of free miles – maybe the amount offered by your rental company will suffice?
Either way, it can be smart to sit down and do the math. How far are you planning to drive? What’s the difference between the car you want to rent with unlimited and limited mileage?
Check how much each additional mile will cost and calculate if you will get enough use out of the unlimited mileage car rental offer. Depending on how far you’ll drive, it will be cheaper to go with unlimited or limited mileage.
If you’re planning long drives, unlimited mileage can actually save money compared to daily mileage caps that rack up fees fast.
Lily Cichanowicz, travel expert
How many miles can you put on a rental car in a week?
If you select a vehicle with unlimited mileage you can usually put unlimited miles on your rental car over a week. That said, there might be restrictions in place depending on the type of vehicle you choose and the car rental company.
You should definitely read the fine print before you rack up a crazy amount of miles for fun. Some longer rentals may come with a mileage cap instead of unlimited mileage.
How to verify unlimited mileage before booking.
Before you finalize your reservation, check these items to confirm your rental includes unlimited mileage:
- Rate rules: Open the full rate details and look for “unlimited mileage” or “mileage cap” language
- Vehicle class: Confirm the specific vehicle category you’re booking—larger or specialty vehicles may have different policies
- One-way restrictions: If booking a one-way rental, verify mileage terms apply to one-way trips
- Mileage cap language: Search for terms like “daily mileage limit,” “included miles,” or “overage fee” in the rental terms
- Final checkout page: Review the summary before payment to ensure unlimited mileage is listed in your rental inclusions
How to use KAYAK to find a cheap rental cars with unlimited miles.
Rental cars with unlimited miles offer you a lot of freedom and flexibility when it comes to your trip. All without the worry about increasing fees if you were to go over your allocated mileage.
When looking for a cheap rental car with unlimited mileage anywhere in the world, KAYAK can help you. Simply select your location and dates for your car rental and set the filter to “unlimited mileage” under “Policies.” This way you will only get the best offers for inexpensive, unlimited mileage car rentals.
Frequently asked questions.
Yes, many car rentals offer unlimited mileage, especially in the United States. However, availability depends on the rental company, vehicle type, location, and rate plan—always confirm before booking.
Unlimited mileage means you can drive as many miles as you want without paying per-mile overage fees. You pay a flat rental rate regardless of distance traveled.
Major companies including Enterprise, Budget, Avis, and Hertz offer unlimited mileage on many of their vehicles. Availability varies by location, vehicle class, and rate plan.
Read more about car rentals
Read on if you would like to know more about the best time to book your car rental, when you should get an all-wheel drive rental, and what insurance to get for your car.
