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Des Moines car hire information
| Pick-up location | Des Moines |
|---|---|
| Rental locations | 14 |
| Airport locations | 12 |
Des Moines car hire reviews and directory
Rated no. 1
Alamo
Best rated
8.6 Excellent (36 reviews)
1 location in Des Moines
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Alamo reviews
Car hire locations
Alamo
Locations in Des Moines
5800 Fleur Dr
+1 844 816 4385
- 8.6
- 8.4
- 8.7
- 8.9
- 8.6
Recent reviews
10.0 Excellent
8 Sep 2016
Perfect
Pros: Great price. Perfect experience.
9.2 Excellent
29 Jun 2017
Pros: Service
Cons: Ugly car .
10.0 Excellent
27 Dec 2015
Great experience
Pros: Attendant was very professional and helpful especially on Christmas day. Car was practically new and very clean.
Cons: The experience was perfect and therefore there is nothing I didn't like.
9.2 Excellent
5 Feb 2016
Radio didn't work
Cons: Radio
9.6 Excellent
13 Apr 2016
Easy!!
Pros: The pick up and drop off was quick and easy!
The car was fantastic to drive and in very good condition!'
10.0 Excellent
11 Jul 2016
Pros: Good customer service in Des Moines.
9.2 Excellent
7 Oct 2016
Pros: The attendant at return was quite pleasant.
Cons: Car had no wiper fluid.
10.0 Excellent
1 Jan 2017
Pros: I drove fromkansas city to Des Moines same night.. And dropped off car at airport. It was easy to do a one way rental and drop off. The fee seemed reasonable as well.
6.0 Good
5 Jan 2017
Pre pay gas was sold as a per gallon coat not a fu
Pros: The pick up and drop off were quick and easy but...
Cons: They sold me prepay gas fill up as 2.09,/g but failed to mention this was for a full tank, not per gallon for what was needed to top off the tank.. I dropped the SUV off with a half tank and was still charged for the full tank
10.0 Excellent
5 Jan 2017
Great experience
Pros: Ease of picking up and returning vehicle; courteous and professional staff, especially - Patricia (Pat) Klosterman at the Des Moines Airport location.
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Enterprise reviews
Car hire locations
Enterprise
Locations in Des Moines
1545 E Euclid Ave
+1 515 262 2222
200 Se 6th St
+1 515 282 8000
5800 Fleur Dr
+1 515 256 5665
- 7.9
- 8.2
- 8.3
- 7.8
- 7.6
Recent reviews
6.8 Good
31 Aug 2018
If you take a reservation then keep the reservation.
Cons: I got a call saying that the car I rented was not going to be ready for when I had rented it. The manager who called me communicated that this is their prerogative and that it was business as usual.
In no uncertain terms, this is not OK. I had to change my plans and then get an uber to another rental location to make it all work. If you take a reservation then keep the reservation.
2.0 Mediocre
4 Oct 2019
Cons: When the agency called to confirm the reservation it would have been nice for them to mention when they closed.
Reservation was for 12:00PM and the agency closed at 12. When i arrived at 12:15 they had already closed and I was unable to get the rental.
8.0 Excellent
25 Feb 2016
Pros: Prompt service, and friendly.
Cons: I didn't get the car I originally wanted and the front right tire was 10psi under and I got a warning signal from the vehicle system. That suggests that the car was poorly inspected.
9.6 Excellent
22 Apr 2018
A very good experience.
Pros: A very good an clean car. Easy pick Up and return. Your company was very fast and easy to work with you system.
Cons: The price for the rental.
9.6 Excellent
11 Jan 2016
Pros: Friendly, efficient service, I choose enterprise because I consistently get a quality product and service.
4.8 Okay
2 Feb 2016
Pros: Great service
Cons: Gross car
6.4 Good
10 Mar 2016
Cons: Nobody present to assist with returning vehicle
10.0 Excellent
10 May 2016
Great service and rental
Pros: They were very helpful, we got in late and they were out of the economy car I had booked and they gave us a complimentary upgrade!
10.0 Excellent
4 Aug 2016
Pros: Everything worked out fine. In airport desk. Covered parking just a short walk from bag claim.
10.0 Excellent
1 Sep 2016
Pros: It was our first car rental. We planned ahead an got a good deal. I was nervous but everything went smooth at pick up an drop off. The car was awesome.
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National reviews
Car hire locations
National
Locations in Des Moines
5800 Fleur Dr
+1 844 816 4384
All National reviews
National reviews in Des Moines
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Hertz reviews
Car hire locations
Hertz
Locations in Des Moines
5800 Fleur Drive
+1 515 256 5839
- 8.4
- 8.9
- 8.6
- 8.3
- 8.6
Recent reviews
10.0 Excellent
13 Jul 2018
Pros: Staff was friendly and helpful!!
Cons: N/a
10.0 Excellent
7 Jun 2016
Quick and easy
Pros: It was busy, but the guy was prepared for me and the five other customers.
Cons: Not sure if I have to fill the cat before I return it as he didn't say.
2.0 Mediocre
8 Oct 2016
Didn't get to rent
Pros: Had a rental for 10/5 through 10/6. When I got thee they told me that I didn't have the rental until 10/6.
Cons: Whether it was my fault or the computers, the hertz personnel, wasn't able to help me out. She didn't even offer.
6.8 Good
26 Feb 2017
Cons: My rental car was not parked in the correct spot so I could not find my car in the cold weather. I had to go back inside and ask the agent to find my car. Not convenient and a waste of my valuable time too.
8.0 Excellent
6 Mar 2017
Pros: The first car I was given was dirty
Hadn't been cleaned yet
So I traded it for amother
10.0 Excellent
19 Mar 2017
Pros: Gas mileage was great!. Car was clean and comfortable to drive. No problems.
6.8 Good
30 Mar 2017
Pros: The people were very pleasant.
Cons: The car was an older model which had more than 40,000 miles on it. It was very worn.
10.0 Excellent
21 May 2017
All good!
Pros: Cleanliness and ease of pickup
10.0 Excellent
12 Jun 2017
Happy camper
Pros: Hertz' employee Ryan was professional: efficient and courteous.
The rental car was in excellent condition.
All good.
10.0 Excellent
19 Jun 2017
Super easy
Pros: This was probably the most pain free rental I've ever done
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Thrifty reviews
Car hire locations
Thrifty
Locations in Des Moines
5800 Fleur Drive
+1 877 283 0898
- 8.0
- 8.0
- 8.0
- 8.4
- 7.5
Recent reviews
10.0 Excellent
6 Jan 2016
Pros: Due to the weather conditions and a lack of a pilot out original flight was cancelled, our make up flight was delayed enough that we would have missed out connection, and our third flight was late (but it got us to our destination)! Thrifty gladly accepted all of these changes with no fees, etc. the car we got was great, although much smaller than we had anticipated.
10.0 Excellent
28 Mar 2016
Extraordinarily Easy
Pros: Pick up in two minutes, $8/day, super easy.
7.2 Good
16 Apr 2016
Thrifty charged more than my Kayak reservation!
Cons: When Thrifty sent the email receipt, they had charged more than my Kayak reservation by more than $25. There were no add ons. It appears then charged more in fees and taxes than Kayak stated.
5.6 Okay
27 Feb 2017
NO
Pros: GOOD MILEAGE
Cons: NO CRUISE CONTROL !!!!!!!-----CONFUSING DROP OFF----NO THRIFTY SIGNS AT ALL !!!
4.4 Okay
5 Mar 2017
Smoky
Pros: Gas milage
Cons: When I picked the car up it reeked of cigarette smoke. I had to purchase an air freshener to be able to even stay in the car. Won't do it again.
10.0 Excellent
26 Mar 2017
Cons: Great service and car at an awesome price!
8.0 Excellent
3 Apr 2017
Pros: Easy check in with friendly staff to assist. The car was clean inside and out.
8.0 Excellent
9 May 2017
Smooth and practical
Pros: Easy pick up and drop off at Airport, friendly staff
Cons: Misleading about the description of the car. It says special size for "5 people, 2 luggages", actually just a smallest "compact" car. If they just be simple use "compact" will be better to understand.
9.6 Excellent
17 Oct 2017
Pros: Very efficient and good price.
10.0 Excellent
28 Oct 2017
Pros: Customer service and price
Cons: Availability of cars
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Avis reviews
Car hire locations
Avis
Locations in Des Moines
5800 Fleur Drive
+1 515 256 5623
- 7.0
- 8.7
- 8.7
- 6.7
- 7.0
Recent reviews
2.0 Mediocre
29 Oct 2015
totally unsatisfied
Cons: mechanical issues...3rd rental in a row.... customer srvc also denied backdating my wizard points to my preferred membership and was rude on the phone and hung up on my face!!!
10.0 Excellent
11 Nov 2016
Pros: The pick up and drop off was easy and fast.
5.2 Okay
28 Mar 2017
Bad customer service
Cons: Our pickup lady decided to add $45 to our rental fee by adding on some optional insurance that she did not ask if we would like to add. She never asked up if we would like to add those options. She failed to get any initials from us on the lines that asked for my initials when agreeing to add those insurance options
10.0 Excellent
25 Jun 2017
Customer service was excellent!
Pros: I received a new vehicle and the service provided was excellent. My flight was delayed and I arrived to the airport four hours later than pickup selected time, but had no problem.
10.0 Excellent
2 Nov 2017
Wonderful
Pros: Great price, nice big car, great customer service
Cons: NY plates which made me stand out when I was driving. Prefer to have local plates next time.
8.4 Excellent
26 Aug 2019
Pros: Very friendly staff and made the experience interesting.
Cons: System issues meant a longer wait time
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Payless reviews
Car hire locations
Payless
Locations in Des Moines
5800 Fleur Drive
+1 515 256 5228
- 7.3
- 8.0
- 8.0
- 6.9
- 7.1
Recent reviews
10.0 Excellent
12 Sep 2016
Pros: Car was great, very clean and drove well
Great price/value
Convenient location right at the airport terminal
Staff were very nice and helpful, check-in/check-out was prompt
8.4 Excellent
8 Nov 2016
Payless Rental Des Moines Airport
Pros: Pick up car in the terminal airport no shuttle needed. The price and the car was great. The desk person iwas friendly.
Cons: Drop off the car at the airport required going into the terminal after you park the car in the lot. Recommend Payless use the drop off booth like the other rental companies at this airport.
10.0 Excellent
10 Jun 2017
Wonderful service
Pros: Representatives at Des Moines Airport counter were the BEST I've ever encountered! The car was excellent - would highly recommend this business in Des Moines.
Cons: Nothing - was great!
8.0 Excellent
5 Jul 2017
Pros: Car was nice and clean
Cons: Do not have my receipt yet, it was supposed to be emailed
2.0 Mediocre
24 Nov 2018
Damaged paint and flat tire - paperwork said no damage at all.
Pros: Nothing at all. Never again.
Cons: Long slow line, 1 person handling 3 rental car companies. While waiting another customer came back and said their car was malfunctioning, she was in a hurry but still told to go to back of the line. I finally got my keys and paperwork, found the car with an obviously flat tire and very long deep scratch in the rear door, I didn't look any further. I went back in, the lady said back of the line to me as well. Eventually got up towards the front and the person originally ahead of me came back in and said his car was not out there. The lady told him to go look again, he said he had already looked for 20 minutes, and he had. When I got to the front of the line I said I wanted my contract cancelled. I left without a rental car and had to pay to park to boot, and lost almost 2 hours of my life. Never again.
9.2 Excellent
7 Apr 2019
Pros: There was a line at the check in. But after about 10 minutes more staff came on and the service was then friendly and helpful.
2.0 Mediocre
16 Apr 2019
Pros: No
7.6 Good
11 Aug 2019
Pros: drop off was easy.
Cons: took too long to get a car. Short staffed at our location
10.0 Excellent
2 Sep 2019
Pros: Super friendly staff
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Dollar reviews
Car hire locations
Dollar
Locations in Des Moines
5800 Fleur Dr
+1 866 434 2226
- 6.2
- 6.4
- 6.4
- 7.1
- 6.4
Recent reviews
9.6 Excellent
2 Nov 2015
Pros: The rental process was efficiently handled, staff were friendly and helpful, and the car was perfectly adequate for my needs.
2.8 Mediocre
21 Nov 2015
diuble charged me on credit card after car returne
Pros: Not much
Cons: Attitude of customer service rep. Trying to upsell even after being told no. Trying to sell insurance when told insurance was there. Lying to customer in car availability
3.6 Mediocre
29 Nov 2015
Who runs this company?
Pros: The employees were nice
Cons: The seats of the car were absolutely filthy and when I brought it up with the guy at the rental office he said "yeah, we know." And then later talking to the manager, she told me that all the Kias with light upholstery have stained seats, like that was going to make it OK. I don't really understand why the CEO of the company thinks she should make her employees rent out disgusting cars just so she can earn her bonus for the year. It's crazy.
9.2 Excellent
17 Jan 2016
Almost perfect
Pros: Fine car, very clean. Service at the counter at pickup and dropoff was great.
Cons: Only difficulty is that windshield wipers were terrible. Made for horrible visibility, especially at night, in the snowy/slushy conditions.
10.0 Excellent
31 Jan 2016
Problem and hassle free
Pros: Easy drop off and pick up
3.6 Mediocre
10 Feb 2016
Stinky Car
Pros: The car didn't break down.
Cons: Besides having no modern amenities (usb outlet/bluetooth), the car smelled terrible. At one point I even searched the car to see if anything had been left behind... like a bag of poop. I bought two car air fresheners, but the stank overpowered them. Nasty 3 days.
8.0 Excellent
28 Mar 2018
Dependable, Clean Vehicle At A Good Price
Pros: We requested an intermediate SUV to drive from Iowa to California and back. Dollar gave us the Ford Escape. It was comfortable, handled really well, had good pickup, and many features you'd find in a more expensive car. Gas mileage was reasonable and the price Dollar charged me was more than fair.
Cons: I had to get an oil change once I reached California. However, Dollar reimbursed me for my cost when I returned. Dollar also said that any Hertz or Dollar outlet will handle that type of maintenance when needed on the road.
10.0 Excellent
1 Jun 2018
Pros: Lots of room, great gas mileage, very comfortable, great customer service.
2.0 Mediocre
2 Jul 2018
Can’t Use Debit Card
Cons: I booked through Kayak and they took my debit card number and the reservation was made. When I got to Dollar rental they said I needed a credit card. I was never told during the booking process that I needed a credit card to make this reservation so I was extremely inconvenienced. Now I have to try to get a refund for the insurance I paid for.
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Budget reviews
Car hire locations
Budget
Locations in Des Moines
5800 Fleur Drive
+1 515 287 2612
- 5.6
- 4.8
- 6.0
- 6.0
- 6.0
Recent reviews
8.4 Excellent
13 Oct 2015
Mini Van Rental
Pros: We loved the fully loaded van. My daughter was able to watch DVD's the whole trip. This helped for our long road trip.
Cons: Van was not clean we had to take it straight to car wash and windex the windows that were wiped with a dirty rags that left smears all over them.
4.0 Okay
30 Nov 2015
Car was reasonable, service was atrocious !!!!!!!!
Cons: No attendant at the Budget booth.
Sign said go to Avis.
Avis attendant said all they had left were SUV'S. Three times she made this statement and the cost would increase by $75 per day in addition to the $39 for the full size car I contracted for online days before and had a certification thereof.
After some discussion she said ok lets get you a full size car...and she did. She actually had several full size cars.
Why was she lying, stating she did not have any full size, only SUV's? increase sales maybe???
8.8 Excellent
1 Sep 2018
Pros: Quick and.easy pick up and drop off. Clean, decent gas mileage.
Cons: Very uncomfortable riding vehicle. It was a Mitsubishi SUV. Convinced me to never buy that vehicle.
2.4 Mediocre
13 Jan 2019
Never again
Pros: Such a disappointment with Budget. Due to some issues with the van we rented through Budget during our drive from the Midwest to Florida (lack of oil, low air in tires) I called in asking for an extension time to drop off, which they confirmed after explaining the situation. At drop off Budget charges me the additional entire day of $350+ saying there were no notes in their system.
Cons: Their lack of professionalism, I feel I have been ripped off from this rental company.
4.8 Okay
23 Jun 2019
Pros: Phone & Des Moines staff were helpful
Cons: I got a car with oil level warning and I was dropping off at an airport 250 miles away. So had to return to
Airport & switch out cars.
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Car hire locations
Airport Van
Locations in Des Moines
4410 Merle Hay Road
+1 877 826 4680
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Car hire locations
Easirent
Locations in Des Moines
Des Moines International Airport
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Car hire locations
Sunnycars
Locations in Des Moines
Fleure Drive & Army Post Road
125 travellers who rented a car in Des Moines gave the car agency they used an average rating of 8.0
Car hire locations in Des Moines
When to book a hire car in Des Moines
Average daily price per month
Car hire prices as pick-up date approaches
-1 day
-2 days
Top tips for renting a car in Des Moines
- The capital city of Iowa is only waiting to be explored by travelers, and what easier and more convenient way is there to do it than with your own four wheels? Rent a car for your time in Des Moines and discover everything from city attractions to more remote places outside the city, such as the Saylorville Lake, which is about half an hour away by car.
- When flying into the International Airport of Des Moines, pick up a car from their on-site car hire center to be in the city in less than 15 minutes via Fleur Drive. Located inside the terminal close to the Baggage Claim area, travelers will find various agencies available, such as Avis, Alamo, or National, which offer vehicles in all shapes and sizes.
- If you’re visiting Iowa during the winter, you may have to prepare for slick and slippery roads due to snow and ice. But good preparation is everything, and driving in the winter is no problem when the hire car has winter tires fixed and even snow chains in the trunk (you may have to rent them separately from the agency). When driving in snow, refrain from braking or accelerating too fast, and bring blankets and warm drinks with you, if possible, in case you get stuck. Also bear in mind that the roads will most likely be narrower due to snow piled up on the sides.
- Don’t drink and drive during your time in Des Moines. Iowa has very strict drinking laws and hefty fines are enforced if a driver is found behind the wheel with more than 0.08% of alcohol in the blood (BAC). Also try to avoid driving in the daily peak times when traffic is heaviest, usually between 7-9am and 4:30-6pm, as roads can be congested and waiting times will occur.
- Book your rental car in Des Moines at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
FAQs about hiring a car in Des Moines
What is the best rental car company in Des Moines?
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in Des Moines are Alamo (8.7, 6576 reviews), Enterprise (8.5, 12886 reviews), and Budget (7.4, 4182 reviews).
How can I find car rentals near me in Des Moines?
Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.
What type of car is recommended for driving in Des Moines?
A 4-wheel-drive car is definitely a wise choice to make when renting a vehicle for Des Moines, especially in the winter. When venturing out of the city, a 4-wheel-drive will give drivers the essential traction for icy roads or dirt tracks. Talk to your agency about insurance and what is covered, and always check your car beforehand for scratches you did not cause.
What's the speed limit in Des Moines?
In residential areas, 25 mph is permitted and up to 65 mph on rural roads. On highways, the state of Iowa allows drivers to speed up to 70 mph, but remember to always take the weather and street conditions into account and slow down when necessary.
How are gas prices in Des Moines?
When refilling your hire car, make sure to know what kind of petrol it needs. The average price for petrol in Des Moines is around $2.55 per gallon, but some stations are cheaper than others. Casey’s, for instance, also has rates as low as $2.30, so start looking for a petrol station well ahead of time to ensure you can find the cheapest price.
Where are the best places to park in Des Moines?
There is on-street parking available all throughout Des Moines, with charges around $0.25 to $1.25 per hour, depending on how close to the center you are parked. Fees usually apply Monday to Saturday between 9am and 9pm, and parking is free on Sundays. Parking garages are another alternative, and there are seven garages in and around Downtown, charging an approximate daily limit of $10 or around $1 per hour.