Charlottesville car hire

Driver's age: 25-65

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Cheap car rentals in Charlottesville

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Booking Insights

KAYAK’s insights & trends for Charlottesville car hire

Check out the latest trends and booking tips to hire a car in Charlottesville with confidence.

How far in advance should you book car hire in Charlottesville?

You should book your car hire in Charlottesville around 12 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.

What is the cheapest car hire company in Charlottesville?

In the past 72 hours, the cheapest hire cars were found at Dollar (32,02 €/day), Alamo (36,68 €/day), and Thrifty (40,43 €/day). The cheapest car hire price was found at Dollar 104 Meade Ave (1,2 km from city centre).

What is the most popular rental car in Charlottesville?

Hires in the SUV category (Toyota RAV4 or similar) are the most popular option in Charlottesville, costing 44 €/day on average. Some users have found deals as low as 39 €/day.

What is the cheapest month to hire a car in Charlottesville?

The cheapest month to hire a car in Charlottesville is January at an average cost of 46 €/day. July is the most expensive month to hire a car in Charlottesville when prices are 68 €/day on average, which tends to be 2% above the yearly average hire price for Charlottesville.

What car hire company in Charlottesville has the most locations?

Enterprise Rent-A-Car operates 3 locations in Charlottesville, more than any other car hire company.

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Good to know

Most popular agency

Most popular car type

Average price

Good deal

Budget
Medium
43 €/day
43 €/day

Charlottesville car rental experiences: the best tips from KAYAK users

Insights shared by verified travelers who rented a car in Charlottesville 
Learn how KAYAK collects reviews and tips from users.
Verified travelerFeb 2025
If you use the Pantops location, be sure to know your insurance information or be prepared for extra charges of their collision protection!
Verified travelerSept 2023
Allow enough time to thoughtfully go through the car before you drive off in it. But the staff in Charlottesville was very friendly and kind.
AnemoneJun 2023
I did not stay in Charlottesville. My SUV broke down in the mountains and I just rented from there.
JameelJun 2023
Maybe more staff. One person had to do all the work of checking in and out vehicles.

KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Charlottesville

  • If you're looking to experience as much as you possibly can from your Charlottesville trip, having a rental car can go a long way. Transportation plays a major role in how well you can enjoy your trip and how much you can do in the amount of time you have. Most cars from car rentals in Charlottesville come equipped with high-tech GPS navigational systems that will help you reach the city’s hidden spots. You won't have to worry about getting there or getting back because everything will be at your own pace. Besides, renting a car is budget-friendly, especially if you're traveling in a group or with children. Even better, you can explore outside the city and enjoy some wine at Cardinal Point Winery, which is about 24 miles away. The Massanutten Indoor Waterpark, situated about 56 miles away from the city, is another popular day excursion.
  • The Charlottesville Albemarle Airport has an on-site rental car counter where you can conveniently pick up your car once you arrive. It's located in the baggage claim lobby. Just follow the "Arrivals" and "Baggage Claim" signs to get there. This is where you'll find Charlottesville car rentals, including National, Budget, and Hertz. The cars are located right outside the baggage claim.
  • Jaywalking violations are no longer enforceable in Virginia, so it is advisable to watch out for pedestrians that may be inattentive when crossing the street, whether on a marked crosswalk or not. Cyclists are also allowed on the road and even though they’re advised to ride as close to the sidewalk as possible, make sure you keep three feet between you and the bike when passing them.
  • You may have to commute early because the morning rush hour starts around 7am and ends around 10am. Interstate 64, in particular, gets congested, and traffic on US 29, especially close to the US 250 bypass, often drags for miles during evening rush hours, which span from 4pm to 6pm. If you can hang out where you are and wait until 7pm, you'll get to your destination much faster. You might experience snow and patches of slippery ice on Charlottesville roads during the winter, so you’ll want to choose the right kind of vehicle for these conditions.
  • 25% of our users found a car hire in Charlottesville for 43 € or less
  • Medium rental cars in Charlottesville are around 20% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about renting a car in Charlottesville

  • What type of car is recommended for driving in Charlottesville?

    Charlottesville is a city well-suited for on-road cars unless you specifically intend to go off-roading on some of the trails around the city. You can choose any car from a premium to an economy or a standard SUV, depending on your needs and budget. If you're bringing kids to the city, a minivan or station wagon is an ideal choice. If you're here on business, consider getting a premium or luxury car from car rentals in Charlottesville.

  • What’s the speed limit in Charlottesville?

    In Charlottesville, VA, the statutory speed limit for all highways is 55mph, and in business or residential areas, you have to adhere to a limit of 25mph. When driving your rented car on unpaved roads, you need to maintain a limit of 35mph, and when cruising around school zones, you have to drive at 25mph.

  • Where are the best places to park in Charlottesville?

    On-street parking in the city streets around the mall is free for a maximum of 2h. If you need to park longer, you'll find parking garages in the immediate vicinity of the downtown area. The Market Street Garage and Water Street Garage offer free parking for the first hour, then charge about $1 for every half-hour after that.

  • How much does it cost to rent a car in Charlottesville?

    On average a rental car in Charlottesville costs 43 € per day. But prices differ between operators and you can save money through a price comparison of car rental deals from different agencies. The cheapest price for a car rental in Charlottesville found in the last 2 weeks is 39 €.

  • Which car rental companies are at Albemarle airport (CHO)?

    Car rental companies onsite at Albemarle airport include Budget and Alamo.

  • Which car hire companies will pick you up at Albemarle airport (CHO)?

    The only car rental company that offers shuttle or pick-up services from Albemarle airport to off-airport locations is Budget.

  • How can I find car hires near me in Charlottesville?

    Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.

  • How much does a Medium car rental cost in Charlottesville?

    A Medium car hire in Charlottesville costs 40 € per day, on average.

  • How much does a Luxury car rental cost in Charlottesville?

    A Luxury car rental in Charlottesville costs 50 € per day, on average.

  • Should I get insurance when renting a car in Charlottesville?

    Most car rental providers in Charlottesville offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car rental in Charlottesville, check out KAYAK's car rental insurance guide.

  • How many car agencies are operating in Charlottesville?

    KAYAK has deals for you to compare from 10 car rental agencies in Charlottesville.

  • Why should I use KAYAK to rent a car in Charlottesville?

    KAYAK searches thousands of car rental agencies to provide you with offers from all car rental agencies operating in Charlottesville so that you can compare car rental rates, reviews and pick-up and drop-off locations to find the best deal for you.

Charlottesville car rental reviews and directory

 
All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car rental booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.

Budget

7,8

Good

Read 17 reviews

Cleanliness

8.1

Comfort

8.3

Pick-up/Drop-off

7.8

Value for money

8.0

2 locations in Charlottesville

Show locations

Locations in Charlottesville

100 Bowen Loop Suite 102

+1 434 973 3079

Monday08:00 - 23:59
Tuesday08:00 - 23:59
Wednesday08:00 - 23:59
Thursday08:00 - 23:59
Friday08:00 - 23:59
Saturday09:00 - 23:59
Sunday09:00 - 23:59

325 Rivanna Plaza Drive

+1 434 973 1595

Monday08:00 - 23:59
Tuesday08:00 - 23:59
Wednesday08:00 - 23:59
Thursday08:00 - 23:59
Friday08:00 - 23:59
Saturday08:30 - 13:00
Sunday09:00 - 23:59

Filters

Reviews

10,0 Wonderful

Anonymous, May 2026

Intermediate SUV

KAYAK
Easy pickup. Nice car. Best price..

10,0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Apr 2026

Intermediate SUV

KAYAK
Easy pick up and return. Professional stuff. Good pricing

10,0 Wonderful

Anonymous, May 2022

KAYAK
The inside front window needed some cleaning. Otherwise, it was terrific. I loved the car (Toyota Camry), the people were nice, and the whole process was very quick and smooth. Thanks!

1 out of 6

Alamo

10,0

Wonderful

Read 2 reviews

Cleanliness

10.0

Comfort

10.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

10.0

Value for money

10.0

One location in Charlottesville

Show locations

Locations in Charlottesville

100 Bowen Loop

+1 844 934 1095

Monday08:00 - 23:59
Tuesday08:00 - 23:59
Wednesday08:00 - 23:59
Thursday08:00 - 23:59
Friday08:00 - 23:59
Saturday08:00 - 23:59
Sunday08:00 - 23:59

Filters

Reviews

10,0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Apr 2025

Compact

KAYAK
Will rent from Alamo again

1 out of 1

Hertz

7,5

Good

Read 8 reviews

Cleanliness

7.3

Comfort

7.5

Pick-up/Drop-off

7.5

Value for money

6.9

2 locations in Charlottesville

Show locations

Locations in Charlottesville

100 Bowen Loop #200

+1 434 208 1295

Monday08:00 - 23:59
Tuesday08:00 - 23:59
Wednesday08:00 - 23:59
Thursday08:00 - 23:59
Friday08:00 - 23:59
Saturday08:00 - 23:59
Sunday08:00 - 23:59

104 Meade Ave

+1 434 978 4433

Monday08:00 - 23:59
Tuesday08:00 - 23:59
Wednesday08:00 - 23:59
Thursday08:00 - 23:59
Friday08:00 - 23:59
Saturday09:00 - 23:59

Filters

Reviews

2,0 Poor

Anonymous, Aug 2024

Supplier choice

KAYAK
They cancelled my reservation because they didn’t have any cars. No apology. I then had to wait for a ride or pay $300 for an Uber. Poor process. If there wasn’t cars to rent, I shouldn’t have been given the option to reserve one.

10,0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Jul 2024

Economy

KAYAK
Hertz website let us search non airport locations easily. The guy at the location was friendly and professional especially considering the CloudStrike cyber issue that was affecting all systems.

2,0 Poor

Anonymous, Jan 2024

Supplier choice

KAYAK
They didn’t have a car - any car! Had to wait an extra 1.5-2 hours and ride to a local body shop to get the not-cleaned car.

2,0 Poor

Anonymous, Dec 2021

KAYAK
Under staffed, car was filthy,1/4 tank of gas. Paid up front and had to wait a hr to pick up cat

1 out of 3

Avis

7,3

Good

Read 4 reviews

Cleanliness

7.7

Comfort

8.1

Pick-up/Drop-off

7.5

Value for money

7.3

One location in Charlottesville

Show locations

Locations in Charlottesville

100 Bowen Loop Suite 102

+1 434 973 6000

Monday08:00 - 23:59
Tuesday08:00 - 23:59
Wednesday08:00 - 23:59
Thursday08:00 - 23:59
Friday08:00 - 23:59
Saturday09:00 - 23:59
Sunday09:00 - 23:59

Filters

Reviews

2,0 Poor

Brandon, Aug 2024

Intermediate

KAYAK
Front driver side of bumper was detached, several damage spots around car. Water bottle/trash left from previous renter

1 out of 2

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

7,1

Good

Read 9 reviews

Cleanliness

7.3

Comfort

7.4

Pick-up/Drop-off

7.4

Value for money

6.9

3 locations in Charlottesville

Show locations

Locations in Charlottesville

100 Bowen Loop

+1 844 934 1096

Monday08:00 - 23:59
Tuesday08:00 - 23:59
Wednesday08:00 - 23:59
Thursday08:00 - 23:59
Friday08:00 - 23:59
Saturday08:00 - 23:59
Sunday08:00 - 23:59

1650 Seminole Trl

+1 434 974 7488

Monday08:00 - 23:59
Tuesday08:00 - 23:59
Wednesday08:00 - 23:59
Thursday08:00 - 23:59
Friday08:00 - 23:59
Saturday09:00 - 23:59
Sunday10:00 - 13:00

392 Pantops Center

+1 434 979 5566

Monday08:00 - 23:59
Tuesday08:00 - 23:59
Wednesday08:00 - 23:59
Thursday08:00 - 23:59
Friday08:00 - 23:59
Saturday00:00 - 00:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

Filters

Reviews

4,0 Mediocre

Anonymous, Sept 2024

Full-size SUV

KAYAK
The suv was rather old and needed to be detailed. It showed over 50,000 miles of wear.

10,0 Wonderful

William, Sept 2024

Compact

KAYAK
Awesome all the way around. Great car, great service

2,0 Poor

Anonymous, Dec 2023

Pick-up truck

KAYAK
The rental car (pickup truck) that was requested was not available. No other suitable options were available either.

1 out of 3

National

6,4

Okay

Read 3 reviews

Cleanliness

6.9

Comfort

7.4

Pick-up/Drop-off

6.4

Value for money

4.9

One location in Charlottesville

Show locations

Locations in Charlottesville

100 Bowen Loop

+1 844 934 1095

Monday08:00 - 23:59
Tuesday08:00 - 23:59
Wednesday08:00 - 23:59
Thursday08:00 - 23:59
Friday08:00 - 23:59
Saturday08:00 - 23:59
Sunday08:00 - 23:59

Filters

No reviews available

Dollar

2,0

Poor

Read 2 reviews

Cleanliness

2.0

Comfort

2.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

2.0

Value for money

2.0

2 locations in Charlottesville

Locations in Charlottesville

100 Bowen Loop

+1 866 434 2226

Monday08:00 - 23:59
Tuesday08:00 - 23:59
Wednesday08:00 - 23:59
Thursday08:00 - 23:59
Friday08:00 - 23:59
Saturday08:00 - 23:59
Sunday08:00 - 23:59

104 Meade Ave

+1 434 978 4433

Monday08:00 - 23:59
Tuesday08:00 - 23:59
Wednesday08:00 - 23:59
Thursday08:00 - 23:59
Friday08:00 - 23:59

Filters

Reviews

2,0 Poor

Anonymous, Nov 2025

Intermediate

KAYAK
Bad, impossible to cancel.

2,0 Poor

Anonymous, Nov 2024

Full-size

KAYAK
They would not recognize the reservation and said they had no cars

Thrifty

5,6

Fair

2 locations in Charlottesville

Locations in Charlottesville

100 Bowen Loop

+1 866 434 2226

Monday08:00 - 23:59
Tuesday08:00 - 23:59
Wednesday08:00 - 23:59
Thursday08:00 - 23:59
Friday08:00 - 23:59
Saturday08:00 - 23:59
Sunday08:00 - 23:59

104 Meade Ave

+1 434 978 4433

Monday08:00 - 23:59
Tuesday08:00 - 23:59
Wednesday08:00 - 23:59
Thursday08:00 - 23:59
Friday08:00 - 23:59

Filters

No reviews available

Easirent

4,5

Mediocre

Cleanliness

5.2

Comfort

5.3

Pick-up/Drop-off

4.5

Value for money

5.1

One location in Charlottesville

Locations in Charlottesville

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Sunnycars

No score available yet

One location in Charlottesville

Locations in Charlottesville

100 Bowen Loop

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

85 travellers who hired a car in Charlottesville gave the car agency they used an average rating of 4,7

Car hire locations in or near Charlottesville

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Car rental insurance in Charlottesville

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) & Theft Protection Waiver

Some Charlottesville car providers already include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Protection Waiver into the hire price but not all of them. We recommend always be aware of your coverage when hiring a car in Charlottesville.

See Collision Damage Waiver offersSee Theft Protection Waiver offers

Deductible

Keep in mind that car rental insurances often have a deductible clause, which is the amount you’ll have to pay if something happens during the time of your rental. If you want to avoid unwanted surprises, you should consider adding a no-deductible option to your Charlottesville car rental.

See Deductable offers

Everything you need to know for your car rental in Charlottesville

Charlottesville car hire information

Pick-up locationCharlottesville
Car types
Hire locations17
Airport locations10