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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. 



Unlimited mileage car rental - what's that?

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.

Unlimited mileage

If you select an unlimited mileage rental car, the price you pay to drive 10 miles or 1,000 miles is the same – you won’t have to keep track of your mileage allowance or risk paying more. This makes sense for long-distance trips. For example, you could take your unlimited mileage minivan rental across the country for a family road trip without watching the odometer. Unlimited mileage is 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.

A couple stands next to their vehicle, overlooking the undulating rocky mountain range under the gloomy sky.
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Limited mileage

If you select a mileage cap, your car rental has mileage limits that you can drive the car per day or per rental period, so you have to keep track of your mileage allowance. When you reach the limit, you’ll be charged for every extra mile or kilometer at a fixed rate, which is usually around $0.10 - $0.25. This makes sense for shorter trips where you’re more certain about the total distance. For example, you could take your limited mileage economy car from the airport to your destination and back. Limits vary by rental company but can range from 20 miles / 30 kilometers per day to 250 miles / 400 kilometers per day, so check the terms and conditions of your rental contract to be sure.

Crossing borders

In the US and Canada, there are typically no mileage restrictions for driving a rental car to another state or province, or for driving across the border. In Europe, unlimited mileage is typically available as long as the rental car remains within the country where it was rented or picked up. Additional restrictions may apply if you drive the car outside of the country of origin. Make sure to check the exact terms and conditions of your rental contract to determine whether you can drive to another country.

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 is 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 will drive, it will be cheaper to go with unlimited or limited mileage.

A couple sitting inside a car, with the woman waving her hand out the window and the man driving.

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 unlimited mileage options do actually have a cap when you rent a car for a week or longer.

Which companies offer car rentals with 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. And sometimes very small local suppliers will also have the option of unlimited mileage.

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. 

Our tips to find a cheap rental car with unlimited mileage

As you will see, an unlimited mileage car rental offers 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. 

How does KAYAK know what to put in this guide? 

Experience and research! Our team has enthusiastic travelers from all over the world who love a good road trip. Together, we have racked up countless miles. We have learned, sometimes the hard way, when it makes sense to rent a car with unlimited miles and when it doesn’t. We like to pass on our experience to you so you can find the best rental car for your upcoming holiday!
Hands holding a car's steering wheel.

Unlimited mileage car rental FAQ

Do rental cars charge per mile? Yes, usually rental car companies will restrict how many miles you can drive for free per day or over a given rental period. This is called free mileage and will depend on the company, the location, and the car type you choose.
However, many offer the option of an unlimited mileage car rental. This can be useful if you are planning a longer road trip and don’t want to worry about excess fees when going over the mileage limit.
An unlimited mileage rental offers you unlimited miles though usually at a higher cost.
Yes, usually rental cars come with a mileage limit or rather you will need to pay extra for more or to have the option of unlimited mileage. Calculate beforehand how far you want to drive and compare prices for a set amount of free miles vs. unlimited mileage. It can make financial sense to get a rental with limited free miles or an unlimited mileage rental, depending on where you want to go. 
That depends on the car rental company and the type of car you get. Unfortunately, unlimited mileage doesn’t always mean truly unlimited. If you plan to test the limits it can pay off to read the fine print of your rental agreement.
Some companies do cap their unlimited mileage. You might have unlimited miles on a given day but can only accumulate a certain amount of miles in a week, a month, or over a year if you are renting on different occasions.

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.

About the author

Annika ZiehenAnnika is an author, foodie and diver. Originally from Germany, Annika now travels the world, constantly on the lookout for the tastiest plate of noodles, and either frog fish or sharks. She writes about her experiences above & below the water surface on her blogs The Midnight Blue Elephant and The Very Hungry Mermaid. Follow her on Instagram for more travel inspiration.

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