You probably have a lot of reasons to rent a car, either for a vacation, business travel, or a bit of both. For this reason, you’ll want to rent a car worth your money. This is where choosing the best and safe rental agency that offers a good deal on their services comes into the picture. So you do some research and find yourself choosing between Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental.
Which one should you choose?
Although both agencies are considered sister companies, since they are owned by Enterprise Holdings, they are still uniquely their own. They focus their marketing for each unit on a different chief audience (Alamo mainly for leisure travel while National for mainly business travel).
National’s main competitor is Alamo Rent-A-Car. They both offer a similar selection of rentals, but National Car Rental has slightly lower rates than Alamo. You can check rental24h.com to see the rental bookings.
In this article, we’ll explore finer details about these two rental service providers and compare which one is the best fit for you.
Alamo vs. National Car Rental
Alamo has several kinds of vehicles for rent, including commuter cars, economy cars, SUVs/crossovers, and luxury vehicles. One of their many perks is that they offer pickup services at the designated place nationwide, so you don’t have to drive to the airport just to pick up your vehicle.
National’s main competitor is Alamo Rent-A-Car. They both offer a similar selection of rentals, but National Car Rental has slightly lower rates than Alamo.
They both have their strengths and weaknesses, but it’s up to you to choose the best for you.
1. Alamo vs. National Car Rental: Vehicles
Their vehicle fleets are pretty similar. These include;
- Vans
- SUV/minivans
- Premium/luxury vehicles
- Utility vehicles
- High-performance vehicles
- Sedan
- 4WD
- Hybrid vehicles
- Compact cars
Both are the winners in this case and offer necessary economy cars ideal for solitary travelers who need to save money on the cost of a rental vehicle or who have very little luggage.
2. Alamo vs. National Car Rental: Location
Alamo has approximately 2000 locations in limited continents which include;
- United States
- Latin America
- Canada
- Europe
- Australia
- Caribbean
- Asia
- Middle East
- New Zealand.
Alamo owns over 1 million vehicles and different categories of fleets for renting services. National Car Rental is a private American rental car agency based in Clayton, Missouri, United States. It is operative in over 10,000 locations globally. The continents include;
- United States
- Latin America
- Canada
- Europe
- Australia
- Caribbean
- Asia Pacific
- Asia
- Middle East
- New Zealand.
In this scenario, the National wins.
3. Alamo vs. National Car Rental: Rental Requirements
When booking with either of these agencies, there are certain requirements, especially regarding age. The driver must be 21 or older and should have a valid driver’s license. National allows the driver’s license to be valid for at least 12 months. On top of that, the driver’s license must be written in English or accompanied by an International Driving Permit.
However, drivers below 21-24 would have to pay a young driver surcharge. For National, the surcharge is $15 daily.
For drivers using a probationary license, a $20 fee per day is incurred.
4. Alamo vs. National Car Rental: Payment options
Payments with National Car Rental are limited. If you’re booking with National, you can only pay via a credit card, master card, and visa debit card. It does not accept cash. With Alamo, you can pay in cash or use a credit card, master card, or visa debit card.
5. Alamo vs. National Car Rental: Online Customer Experience
Pertaining to the online experience and general customer service, Alamo in Las Vegas is the winner. Here’s why. Alamo has a more “customer friendly,” “happy to help,” and personalized attitude that has been proven genuine on multiple occasions. It’s sort of like their standard.
Also, you can reach out to them any time of the day or night, thanks to their 24/7 support through phone or live chat.
Alamo offers an online check-in system that speeds up the car renting process compared to the standard process.
6. Alamo vs. National Car Rental: Customer Service
Both Alamo and National have excellent customer service. In addition, both agencies facilitate a smooth rental experience by providing 24/7 roadside assistance.
7. Alamo vs. National Car Rental: Differences
As I mentioned earlier, both Alamo and National are owned by Enterprise Holdings, and just like its parent company, National Car Rental has a variety of vehicles for your every need.
National Car Rental has been in the game since 1957 and is a member of the American Car Rental Association (ACA); therefore, its top priority is upholding industry standards and customer service and safety.
Alamo is committed to providing a comfortable and safe journey with a rental car for each person. Alamo provides low-price and free hassle car rentals that allow you to enjoy a budget-friendly trip and a memorable experience every time you book with Alamo car rental Las Vegas.
The main difference here is that Alamo typically caters to budget-conscious and leisure travelers. At the same time, National is focused on business travelers with zero patience for over-the-counter services.
Alamo is roughly cheaper by 20% to 30% since they focus on target vacationers and have great weekend rates too.
But when it comes to excess, well, Alamo has $4,400 for the economy and standard vehicles and $5,500 for large and premium vehicles. National has $1,650 for the economy and standard vehicles and $2,750 for large and premium vehicles. National is the winner.
8. Alamo vs. National Car Rental: Similarities
Both companies are insured. Alamo has a standard cover with damage liability in its rentals. National includes Third party liability protection in all rentals.
Neither of the companies requires a deposit or needs you to wash the car. Also, they don’t match the price match. They also allow for cancellations/changes before or during the rental period, but fees may apply.
Conclusion
If you want to rent a car, you cannot go wrong with either of these companies. They both offer very good vehicle deals and provide excellent customer service. However, it is important to tailor the rental experience to best suit your needs before deciding.
For instance, making a reservation with Alamo is cheaper and easier if you are fine with spending some time at the counter before picking up your car. In addition, national targets impatient corporate travelers and allow them to leverage their corporate discounts and earn more bonuses.
However, it is hard to say which car rental company has better services. It all depends on what you are looking for. So try not to make a quick decision.
