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20 Best Car Rental Franchises [Cost, Fees]

Do you want to start a car rental business franchise but you lack ideas? If YES, here are 20 best profitable car rental franchise opportunities for sale and their cost. Nothing spells convenience than having a car to move around with wherever and whenever you need it.

The ease it offers people is what has lent prominence to the service, and car rental businesses are not going anywhere anytime soon because people would always need cars to move around with especially when they are on holidays in an unfamiliar terrain.

It should be noted that most car rental services do not only rent out cars, some rent out vans, motorcycles, trucks, trailers, and we even have some that specialize in renting out luxury cars to people who are already living the American dream. In fact, the industry is divided into Luxury cars, Executive cars, Economy cars, SUV cars and MUV cars.

Renting a car has become generic, with statistics reporting that the industry was worth approximately $58.26 billion in 2016 and it is further expected to reach approximately $124.56 billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of around 13.55% between 2017 and 2022.

The viable United States tourism industry is expected to sustain the car rental industry to attain this expected high, and if you want to become part of this very viable industry through purchasing a car rental franchise, here are 20 profitable car rental franchises for you to consider and choose from.

20 Best Car Rental Franchise Opportunities for Sale and the Cost

  1. J.D. Byrider

Founded in 1989, J.D. Byrider is a used car and finance company. The franchise integrates vehicle sales and financing, allowing franchisees the ability to sell to any qualified customer.

  • Initial Investment – $675,480 to $3,477,500
  • Net-worth Requirement – $1,000,000 to $1,500,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement – $1,000,000 to $1,500,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $50,000
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee – 2.5%
  • Ad Royalty Fee – $1,500 per month
  1. EagleRider Motorcycle Rental 

EagleRider Motorcycle Rental rents scooters and ATV and organizes tours for its patrons. The Motorcycle Rental started in Newport Beach, California in 1992. Utilizing their honed marketing expertise, the founders, McIntyre and Brown built a business that outfits its clientele with motorcycles and biker gear for trips or week-long excursions.

EagleRider centers are located in major cities across the United States, renting motorcycles, selling clothing and accessories, and offering guided tours.

  • Initial Investment – $68,400 to $216,500
  • Net-worth Requirement – $400,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement – $200,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $30,000
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee – 10 percent
  1. Rent-A-Wreck

Rent-A-Wreck is a used car rentals and leasing service. Rent-A-Wreck offers in-house financing to cover franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory and the company also has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover accounts receivable, payroll etc, thus making its franchise operation easy.

  • Initial Investment – $159,105 to $459,607
  • Net-worth Requirement – $250,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement – $50,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $18,000 to $75,000
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee – $34 per car, per month
  • Ad Royalty Fee – $8 per car, per month
  • Veteran Incentives – $2,000 off franchise fee
  1. U-Save Car and Truck Rental

U-Save Car and Truck Rental is a Car and truck rental company. U-Save Auto Rental of America Inc. was founded in 1979 and began franchising that same year. It is based in Jackson, Mississippi.

  • Initial Investment – $73,250 to $685,800
  • Net-worth Requirement – $300,000 to $500,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement – $60,000 to $150,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $10,000 to $250,000
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee – 3 to 6%
  • Ad Royalty Fee – 1 to 2%
  1. Priceless Rent-A-Car

Priceless is a car and truck rental brand. Since 1998, Priceless Car Rental has owned, operated and franchised car rental locations all over the United States. Their unparalleled customer service, premium fleet and competitive rates allow them to maintain their status as one of the best values in the car rental industry.

  • Initial Investment – $188,255 to $719,607
  • Net-worth Requirement – $250,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement – $50,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $18,000 to $75,000
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee – $34 per car, per month
  • Ad Royalty Fee – $8 per car, per month
  1. Sixt Franchise USA LLC

Starting out with just three cars, Martin Sixt opened his first rental agency in Munich, Germany, in 1912. The Sixt Company which is still operated by his family, began franchising in 1998, opening offices around the world. In 2012, 100 years after its founding, the company brought its franchise program to the US. Franchisees rent cars, SUVs, and vans to the public.

  • Initial Investment – $1,056,275 to $10,486,000
  • Net-worth Requirement – $500,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement – $150,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $25,000 to $400,000
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee – 5%
  • Ad Royalty Fee – 2%
  1. Hertz

Hertz is the world’s largest airport general used car rental brand and it is the number one airport car rental brand in the United states. Hertz has operated company owned as well as franchised car rental locations all over the world for over 90 years.

Their Product and service initiatives such as Hertz #1 Club Gold®, NeverLost® customized, onboard navigation systems, SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio, and unique cars and SUVs offered through the Company’s Prestige, Fun and Green Collections, set Hertz apart from the competition.

  • Net worth – $500,000
  • Liquid capital – $150,000
  1. Racing Limos

Racing Limos provides unique and fun limousines that look like stock cars. It is the 8th largest limousine service in the United States. Every vehicle has the same hood/tail pins, window clamps/supports, driver’s net, roof rails, fuel intake/overflow and the adjustable spoiler/wing.

Franchises get to meet celebrities, attend concerts, watch sporting events and see places they have never been before. Playstation 3, karaoke, ipod docking stations are just a few of the amenities added to their vehicles not found in traditional limousines.

  • Liquid capital required – $35,000

9. Avis car rental

Avis Car Rental and its subsidiaries operate one of the world’s best-known car rental brands with approximately 5,500 locations in approximately 170 countries. Avis has a long history of innovation in the car rental industry and it is one of the world’s top brands for customer loyalty. Avis Budget Group operates most of its car rental offices in North America, Europe and Australia directly, and operates primarily through licensees in other parts of the world.

  • Cash Investment – $9,500
  • Investment Range – $9,500
  • Franchise Fees – $9,500

10. Advantage Rent A Car

Advantage Rent A Car is privately held by Denny Hecker Family Ventures, with headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and San Antonio, Texas. Advantage serves travel and leisure, lifestyle, business, government and insurance replacement rentals in more than 100 U.S. locations and 36 affiliates internationally.

Advantage is America’s first major car rental company committed to going 100 percent green and providing environmentally conscientious travelers with a fleet of 100 percent fuel efficient vehicles.

  • Liquid capital required – $157,900
  • Initial Investment – $157,900 to $8,000,000
  • Franchise fee – $25,000
  1. Affiliated Car Rental

Affiliated Car Rental is a company that specializes in renting cars, trucks, mini vans, luxury and 4×4 vehicles. Certain centers also rent moving trucks and offer towing services. Affiliated Care Rental has been in the local car and truck rental industry for more than 25 years, with more than 200 locations nationwide and more than 3,000 vehicles on the road.

Affiliated provides new and pre-owned vehicles for rental, ranging from foreign to domestic, economy to full-size, and even seven- and eight-passenger mini vans, SUVs and light duty trucks. All Affiliated vehicles are equipped with automatic transmission, air conditioning, AM/FM radios and CD players, cruise control and automatic door locks and windows.

  • Liquid capital required – $45,000
  • Initial Investment – $46,500 to $69,500
  • Franchise fee – $6,000
  • Units in operation – 150
  1. Bates International Motor Home Rental

The Bates Motor Home Network, established in 1973, is the premier motor home rental franchise in North America. After more than three decades of experience in the RV travel business, Bates stands as one of the world’s leading RV rental brands, and offers business and leisure customers quality RV products and services.

  • Initial Investment – $33,800 to $250,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $17,000 to $35,000
  • Royalty Fee – 8%
  • Term of Agreement – 10 years
  • Renewal Fee – $1,000
  1. Dollar Rent A Car

Dollar Rent A Car is part of the Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group. Dollar Rent A Car has corporate and franchise locations including suburban and on-airport car rental locations all major cities across the United States. The Dollar Rent A Car franchise offers value and convenience.

  • Liquid capital required – $150,000
  • Net worth required – $250,000
  • Initial Investment – $639,419 to $6,818,295
  • Franchise fee – $12,500
  1. Thrifty Rent a Car

This rental company is one of the largest car rental companies in the world and one of Canada’s fastest growing car and truck rental companies. The company provides daily, weekly and monthly rental of all passenger vehicles and light trucks.

  • Initial Investment – $150,000 to $300,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $15,000 to $50,000
  1. Right Cars

Established in 2012, Right Cars is now recognized as one of the leading family orientated car rental brands. The Business model of Right Cars is driven by the desire to offer the 5 star service customers expect and they pay close attention to details in every aspect of the company’s operational functions.

Their motto “Right Cars! Right Locations! Right Service! Right Price!” says it all. Although they are established in 22 countries already, the company is still looking to expand its operations through franchise.

  1. National Car Rental

National Car Rental was founded by 24 independent car rental operators in 1947, with 800 vehicles at 60 locations. The international car rental company now has more than 2,000 locations. National Car Rental is based in Clayton, Missouri, and is owned by Enterprise Holdings, which also owns Alamo Rent a Car and Enterprise Rent A Car. National Car Rental acquired the Canadian fleet of Tilden Rent-a-Car in 1996.

  • Liquid capital required – $60,000
  1. Green Motion Car and Van Rental

Established in 2007 in the united kingdom, Green Motion is now recognized as a world leading brand in the provision of lower CO2 car and van hire. The company started in 2005 when the founder, Richard Lowden decided to play a genuine part to reduce the effects of climate change in the country (other than sitting down and talking about it).

The result was the world’s first vehicle rental company which is kinder to the environment. This is indeed a good niche in the car rental industry and it offers franchise in other countries of the world including the United states.

  1. Airport Van Rental

Airport Van Rental is recognized as a leader in the passenger van rental industry and more so as they have over a decade of experience specializing in passenger van rentals. AVR is a progressive company that is driven by providing the best customer experience possible. The rental company has expanded to 14 locations in 7 states. AVR’s focus is renting vans to seat seven to 15 passengers, and it also offers cargo and wheelchair-accessible vans.

  1. Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals

Imagine Lifestyles is a solution to luxury rentals across the United States. The company maintains an impressive fleet of exotic rental cars and luxury rental properties, and equally provides up to date information on luxury living, details and trends such as where to dine, what to drive, where to stay, and where to shop. In addition to exotic cars and room rentals, Imagine Lifestyles provide a concierge service to its customers.

  1. Budget Rent-A-Car

Budget Rent-A-Car is one of the largest car and truck rental companies in the world, with locations in more than 110 countries and in all 50 states of the United States. With more than 3,000 rental shops, including at 825 airports, Budget Rent a Car circulates approximately 232,500 vehicles. The company began as a strictly low-cost rental option to other companies charging daily and per-mile rates, but today, it has grown substantially in its 50-plus years of operation, and has been ranked as the world’s third-largest vehicle rental company.

  • Liquid capital required – $170,000
  • Initial Investment – $166,700 to $451,000
  • Franchise fee $20,000
  • Royalty – 7.5%