Arlington car hire information
| Pick-up location | Arlington |
|---|---|
| Car types | Compact, Compact SUV, Economy, Full-size, Intermediate, Intermediate SUV, Luxury, People mover, Pick-up truck, Standard, Standard SUV |
| Hire locations | 27 |
| Airport locations | 14 |
| Popular agencies | Dollar, Thrifty, Alamo |
Cheap car rentals in Arlington
| Economy | $96/day |
| Compact | $96/day |
| Intermediate | $126/day |
| Standard | $108/day |
| Full-size | $108/day |
| People mover | $175/day |
| Luxury | $172/day |
| Pick-up truck | $196/day |
| Compact SUV | $113/day |
| Intermediate SUV | $134/day |
| Standard SUV | $155/day |
Top tips for hiring a car in Arlington
- If you want to experience the beauty that the city has to offer at your own pace, having a car rental in Arlington will provide you with the ultimate freedom. Transport is at the core of your travels and renting a car means you’ll have privacy, comfort, enough room for everyone, and freedom to let loose and have more fun. Renting a car is convenient as you can seamlessly navigate throughout the city. You’ll also find it easier to access nearby locations, such as Georgetown, which is approximately 15min away, or go as far as the Prince William Forest Park, which is 35 miles away, in about 45min.
- Once you arrive at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), you’ll find a rental car facility on the first floor of Terminal Garage A. You can opt to ride the Rental Car Shuttle that will take you directly to the rental car shop or walk there and follow the signs leading to Terminal Parking Garage A. This could take from about 10 to 15min depending on which of the three terminals you use. Here, you’ll find rental cars from various companies, including Alamo, Hertz, and Budget.
- One crucial thing you should know about Virginia is that pedestrians have the right of way. Drivers must fully stop, and not just yield, when passengers are crossing on marked and unmarked crosswalks. Pedestrians also have the right of way at intersections, so be vigilant and aware, or risk a hefty fine. There’s also a hand-held law that prohibits any use of cell phones while driving. Additionally, Arlington is a bike-friendly community, so avoid parking in bike lanes, even partially.
- There’s rarely traffic congestion in most areas of the county, but roads leading to the Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge and the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge are an exception. Rush hour times are especially chaotic from 6am to 9am and 4pm to 8pm. If you visit Arlington county during the winter months, you should be wary of slick and slippery roads. The snow can get heavy during storms, and you may run into the county’s snowplow teams on the roads.
- Book your rental car in Arlington at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Compact rental cars in Arlington are around 33% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Arlington
Arlington car rental reviews and directory
Budget
6.8
Okay
264 reviewsBest rated
4 locations in Arlington
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4.0 Mediocre
Oct 2022
8.0 Very Good
Oct 2022
2.0 Poor
Oct 2022
2.0 Poor
Sep 2022
6.0 Okay
May 2022
10.0 Wonderful
May 2022
Alamo
6.8
Okay
585 reviewsOne location in Arlington
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4.0 Mediocre
Mar 2021
Cons:
I rented a midsize suv such as the RAV 4. Alamo initially offered a small mitsubishi "suv" at the garage. I declined and they provided an "upgrade" to a chevy equinox...another compact suv nice car but one class lower than the midsize billed. Very nice staff, but that was wrong.10.0 Wonderful
Jan 2021
Cons:
Very friendly agent, great car.2.0 Poor
Jan 2021
Pros:
Absolutely nothing.Cons:
I didn't get to rent the car because after calling Alamo multiple times to confirm policies, I spent 30$ taking an Uber to the airport only to be told I had been given wrong information and they would not rent me the car. It nearly cost me a night of my vacation and I ultimately had to borrow a car at great inconvenience to a family member. Will never ever use Alamo again.10.0 Wonderful
Dec 2021
Pros:
Staff was very capable and able to accommodate a larger vehicle based on our needs on the spot.10.0 Wonderful
Dec 2020
Pros:
the staff was so welcoming and polite and made the process really easyCons:
nothing, excellent4.0 Mediocre
Dec 2020
Cons:
I wasn't able to rent it. They wouldn not accept my credit card which was a visa debit/credit card.Dollar
6.8
Okay
438 reviewsOne location in Arlington
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6.0 Okay
May 2021
Cons:
The return was a disaster. We input our drop off time of 5 am. Never received instructions for an after or before hours drop off. The gate was down and there was no access to drop off the vehicle. We ended up going through another rental companies gate and were forced to leave the car within the dollar return lot with no attendant. To date we’ve received no correspondence as to the close out of our contract because when we call customer service we get a message that they are closed. We did call the 800 number abs was told by attendant that she had closed our record with an email as prof that was never received.6.0 Okay
May 2021
Pros:
Drop off was easy.Cons:
I paid for a mid-size car and received what I would consider a compact car. Rental car pick up line was slow.2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
The drop-off was easy and the truck drove very well.Cons:
The check-in was awful. The line was super long and there was no additional help at the counter. Although I pre-registered, it still took over 1.5 hours in the line. I specifically booked a pick-up truck 2 months early. When I got there, I was informed that they did not have a truck and one had to be brought in - another 1.5 hour wait. It's like they were surprised I was coming. It caused me to miss my appointments on the day of pickup. It was a very very frustrating experience.2.0 Poor
May 2021
Cons:
The attendant lied and I was charged for the expanse.4.0 Mediocre
May 2021
Pros:
Reception staff was excellent. Very helpful and walked us to our car. Drop-off very mediocre. Person on duty was not pleasant. He was just there.Cons:
Drop-off staff could be more attentive. Value very mediocre, great car. But extra-charge so my wife could drive -- we declined. I understand COVID effect on the economy and particularly on travel industry. But price and experience seems a bit out of sync with the recovery.2.0 Poor
May 2021
Cons:
We waited more than an hour for a rental car after checking out at the rental counter. There was a backup of available cars, and it was also then clear that agents were not keeping good track of who had been taken care of. When we asked when we would be getting a car at the hour mark, one agent said he had been calling us, but he also didn’t have our name or phone number so could not have been true. The car still smelled like previous occupants and made a whistling sound from the windshield.Thrifty
6.8
Okay
159 reviewsOne location in Arlington
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8.0 Very Good
May 2021
Cons:
Did not get any email after returning the card, The guy at the airport told me I will get an email. Still waiting2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
The drop off worked well.Cons:
Terrible pick up at national airport. Waited in line for 4 hours. So, Thrifty rented out way too many cars with far too few staff. There were only 2 persons at the counter and frequently one would leave - reasons unknown. Then AFTER finally getting to the counter, we had to wait ANOTHER 45 MINUTES for our vehicle to be ready. THEN, while driving on our leg from Washington to Nashville (1st day of trip to Dallas), we got a low tire pressure warning. Stopped immediately, called Thrifty, waiting on and off hold for almost 2 hours - only to be hung up on in the end. Had to fend for ourselves and by the grace of god only, reached our destination. Never rent again from Thrifty, ever.2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
I did not like this experience at all. I went on April 30, 2021 for a 4 pm pickup. They had one person at the counter running thrifty, dollar and even hertz customers at one point. A long line was already formed by the time I arrived to pick up a van I "reserved". I ended up waiting for about 50 mins and in that time an even longer line formed down toward the stairwell. While waiting in line the lady announced that there would be a 45 min delay in getting a vehicle. I was hoping that only applied to people who did not have "reservations", although I do not wish that delay on anyone. When it was my turn I was prepared for the worse and was told that reservations do not matter because they do not have any vehicles available. Then she blamed customers for not returning them and for returning them dirty. If that was the case then do not allow people to reserve vehicles that are not available. I left without the vehicle I reserved in advance. Waste of time.Cons:
Have more people working at the counter. Do not allow for reservations unless the vehicle is actually available. It makes no sense to assume that customers will return a vehicle on the day and time they are suppose to and overlap reservations by letting people reserve that same vehicle for that time. It leaves no room for error, which seems to have happened to everyone that waited in that line for close to an hour.2.0 Poor
May 2021
Pros:
NoCons:
Yes2.0 Poor
Apr 2021
Pros:
It was cleanCons:
Pick up: waited over an hour to get a car because they had no cars (I had a reservation) 20 other people had this same problem. Car: was an older car. No CarPlay, so had to look at my phone for gps. If I’m paying hundreds of dollars for a car rental, I should I least get a newer car.6.0 Okay
Apr 2021
Cons:
There was only one person working the counter and over 15 customers in line. The wait was over an hour long.Avis
6.8
Okay
107 reviews4 locations in Arlington
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10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2022
8.0 Very Good
Mar 2021
Pros:
Staff was friendly and whole process was easy.4.8 Mediocre
Jun 2020
Pros:
They ran out of cars at my pick up location, told me to go to the airport for my car, and then the airport location said they couldn’t honor my reservation so I paid twice as much.Cons:
Being able to pick up the car where I wanted to pick it up. Being told the truth at the first location.5.2 Fair
Apr 2020
Pros:
Yes2.0 Poor
Jan 2020
Cons:
Not lying about the price5.2 Fair
Oct 2019
Pros:
Staff was friendlyCons:
Decreases wait times in the line, clean cars and more value in the per day rental price given the add onsPayless
6.8
Okay
108 reviewsOne location in Arlington
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6.0 Okay
Mar 2021
Pros:
Clean carCons:
Difficult to find staff at dc airport - mixed with Avis and others2.4 Poor
Oct 2020
Pros:
Absolutely nothing - The entire experience was a nightmare.Cons:
The car they initially rented to me was broken and required software updates. There were no tenants around to help. I received my second car over an hour later and was unhappy with it due to the car being uncomfortable and full of blind spots (it was different than what I rented as well -- and definitely not any sort of an upgrade or similar to what I rented). The second car they gave me had a bald tire and I experienced a blow out less than 300 feet from the garage door in the driveway leading to/from the rental location. And then they charged me for the blow out.4.8 Mediocre
Sep 2020
Pros:
Long wait. Excessive and repeated attempts at upselling despite telling them I wasn’t interested2.8 Poor
Sep 2020
Pros:
I was able to get a different call after all the warning lights on my first car came on.Cons:
People working at the airport were not helpful at all; the payless call center foes not exist; no one gave me a copy of my contract after I left the airport to get my car; no one at avis or budget rental could find my contract - I had to drive to a special payless location to find someone who could look up my contract.4.0 Mediocre
Jul 2020
Cons:
The cancellation policy was unclear when making the booking. It was unclear how to report the dents I located on the car before I drove away. I paid the DAILY rate, picked up the car at noon, and indicated initially I would return at 9PM. When I inquired about returning the car the next morning instead (4th of July in DC, all the access points to highways were closed to it was extremely difficult to get to the airport), they told me I had to pay a $65 extension fee even though I had paid the equivalent of 24 hours.6.0 Okay
Jun 2020
Cons:
There wasn’t anyone to receive the car at drop off and they didn’t check in the car.Enterprise Rent-A-Car
6.8
Okay
82 reviews6 locations in Arlington
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4.0 Mediocre
Apr 2021
Pros:
Reserved a mini-van online and called Enterprise support to confirm that mini-van will be available that weekend. They assured that either mini-van or something similar will be available that weekend. Then got a call a day before that they couldn't guarantee the vehicle that I wanted. I ended up getting a small SUV. Very disappointing!Cons:
This car company doesn't seemed to guarantee a vehicle you reserve online. I went through couple Enterprise rental location and both couldn't provide mini-van or large SUV.8.0 Very Good
Dec 2020
Cons:
It would have been better if the attendant located my reservation with the reservation number as opposed to scanning my drivers license. It would have saves 30 minutes.9.2 Wonderful
Oct 2020
Pros:
All was easy!Cons:
The price was high compared to rental prices I’ve experienced before. It was a big chunk of our weekend expense.10.0 Wonderful
Jul 2020
Cons:
Nothing it was outstanding I really appreciate you all9.2 Wonderful
Jun 2020
Pros:
Staff friendly. Easy pick up and drop off.Cons:
Bit of a line up at 9 when it opened so took 30 minutes to get the car.10.0 Wonderful
May 2020
Pros:
Staff at Crystal City location very nice and helpful. Car was great, super comfortable, and the price was fantastic.E-Z Rent-A-Car
6.8
Okay
30 reviewsOne location in Arlington
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2.0 Poor
Sep 2019
Cons:
notify whether it's cancelable or not7.6 Good
May 2019
Cons:
The car smelled like body odor7.6 Good
Sep 2018
Pros:
Car was nice and clean. People were niceCons:
Awkward meeting point for off airport pickup. Pretty slow process vs some of the name brands3.2 Poor
Mar 2018
Pros:
The car was pretty clean and drove decently. There were no major dents or scratches.Cons:
Pick up was done with an agent that was a bit less than friendly. The car was in desperate need of an oil change and tune-up. Drop off was even worse! The man that did The Returned was abrupt and barely willing to help me in any way with my luggage or anything else. The woman who was driving the shuttle for me back to the airport insisted that I get out in spite of the cold weather and walk so that she didn't have to be inconvenienced by dropping me off at the normal stop. It was cold, I was hauling three pieces of luggage and it only made my experience that much worse! One of the three gentlemen who were on the shuttle who have been picked up at the stop (and had waited far longer than they had expected) called this service "not so ez" car rental. I now understand why he called it that. I won't rent with this service again.2.0 Poor
Feb 2018
Cons:
Our airplane was slightly delayed but still arrived before midnight which is when E-Z rent-A-car closes. But for whatever reason they decided to close at 11PM, before we even landed, which left us stranded and looking for an available car rental at the airport when all other agencies were closing soon. Fortunately we did find one but ended up spending nearly 7 times as much for the car. I have half a mind to file a complaint with the BBB and get EZ to pay for this since it's their fault we were left in that situation. I will NEVER rent a car with them again.2.0 Poor
Feb 2018
Pros:
Nothing, EZ rental seems like a scam did not pick up rentalCons:
They do not properly inform customers and try to add hidden charges.Hertz
6.8
Okay
21 reviews2 locations in Arlington
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5.6 Fair
Nov 2019
Pros:
The car itself was nice.Cons:
6 hours before the pick up time, I received a call telling me that the car likely would not be available. We had reserved a mini van so we could drive our son from D.C. to college in Chicago. I expressed extreme concern because it was now too late to change our plans and rent from another company. The agent indicated that he would call back shortly with an update, while he tried to locate a minivan. He did not call back. We contacted him 6 hours later and he had not even tried to locate a minivan. He then agreed (again) to look for a minivan. He called back 2 hours later and indicated that he thought it was likely he could secure a large SUV, but that instead of it being available that evening as we had reserved and requested, it would be available in the morning. Then, when we showed up at the pick up spot the next morning (Key Bridge Marriott), the agent was not there. We called his number, only to find out that the agent and the SUV were at the Crystal City Marriott. We were already delayed overnight in leaving on our trip, but we then had to drive to Crystal City to pick up the SUV. While the SUV was excellent, the experience was horrible. I have rented from Hertz for 30 years, and this was the absolute worst experience I have ever had.2.0 Poor
Aug 2019
Pros:
I'm still fuming. At 5 pm the night before my early morning departure on a one way 600-mile road trip, Hertz in Arlington called me to say that they did not have an SUV for me to rent. No car at all, no help finding a replacement and barely an apology. Terrible, terrible service. I am still shocked.Cons:
Hertz could have made it right. The last-minute rental I was lucky to find from Budget cost almost triple the price, but I had no options. Hertz customer service offered a weak apology and a $50 voucher for my next rental. Very, very poor effort. I expected better from Hertz. Never again!2.8 Poor
Aug 2019
Pros:
Absolutely nothing. Had a booking reserved and had to call and talk for 15 minutes on the phone with the employee who told me there was nothing he could do.Cons:
The employee at the pickup location literally told me on the phone that I should have called ahead to make sure he had a car. He said he didnt have any cars and couldnt do anything. I told him this was unacceptable and was pointed to a helpline, who just left me stranded in DC waiting on a call.2.0 Poor
Jun 2019
Pros:
Nothing, everything was terrible, they did not have my mini van. It was the worst experience I've ever had renting a vehicle as I was depending on the minivan to move, I had the loading dock at my apt. scheduled and no vehicle. Hertz never notified me that my vehicle was not there.Cons:
Everything, could have called me, could have told me a different location to get the minivan. I probably will never rent with Hertz again.4.4 Mediocre
May 2019
Cons:
No one was at the counter when I arrived and I had to wait for 45 minutes. I was in such a rush at that point that I only checked the outside of the car, but when I got home realized that the interior looked as though it hadn’t been cleaned for months.8.8 Very Good
Apr 2019
Pros:
ONLY1 EMPLOYEE. HE WAS FRIENDLY. HE WAS RUNNING 2 LOCATION SAME TIME. HE NEED TO GO ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER PLACE. HARD TO HANDLE AND ANSWER PHONE TO CUSTOMER AS I NOTICE.Cons:
Need help to run more employee for 2 location.National
6.8
Okay
11 reviewsOne location in Arlington
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10.0 Wonderful
Apr 2019
Pros:
The calculation at the end was wrong. The person at national fixed it on the spot.10.0 Wonderful
Dec 2018
Pros:
Got a luxury coupe so that was a very pleasant surprise. Fast ride and felt just right for our vacation.Cons:
When I was first choosing a ride, I was told the car had apple CarPlay, but it in fact did not have that so putting on my navigation was a bit difficult at first but we made it work. I got the 2018 q60 3.0t awd.10.0 Wonderful
Nov 2017
Pros:
They had my car ready with no delays. Car was perfect10.0 Wonderful
Aug 2016
Pros:
We were able to find a large.SUV at the last minute for our trip at a great rate that also included insurance.8.0 Very Good
Apr 2022
Sixt
6.8
Okay
19 reviewsOne location in Arlington
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10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2023
8.0 Very Good
May 2023
6.0 Okay
May 2023
4.0 Mediocre
May 2023
2.0 Poor
May 2023
8.0 Very Good
May 2023
Europcar
7.4
Good
No reviews available
One location in Arlington
One location in Arlington
Locations in Arlington
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One location in Arlington
Locations in Arlington
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One location in Arlington
Locations in Arlington
1 Aviation Cir, Arlington, , USA Washington DC
+1 914 368 0091
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1824 travellers who rented a car in Arlington gave the car agency they used an average rating of 7.0
Car hire locations in or near Arlington
Good to know
Most popular car type | Compact |
|---|
When to book a car hire in Arlington
Average daily price per month
Car hire prices as pick-up date approaches