About Alamo Car Rental
Alamo Rental Car was founded in 1974. They were one of the first companies in the industry to allow unlimited mileage as part of its rental program. In its North American locations, Alamo rents primarily GM, Toyota, Volvo, and other known auto brands. Alamo is the largest renter to international travelers and developed the first online car rental system in 2005. They have set many standards in the industry. In 2007, Enterprise Rent-a-Car purchased Alamo by an exchange of stock and other financial collateral. All three Alamo, National and Enterprise brands are all under the parent company, Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
Alamo Car Rental is a car rental agency with locations throughout the United States. Features include online check-in and discounts for Alamo Insiders members. With the Drive Happy app, customers can create and modify car rental reservations. The company also offers car seat rental, GPS navigation, Sirius XM and ski racks.
What is Alamo Rent a Car?
Alamo is a rental car provider with locations around the world. Drivers choose from a wide variety of cars, trucks, SUVs and vans, including everything from economy sedans to luxury sports cars.
You can book, modify and check in for your reservation online, which lets you skip the line and go directly to your rental upon arrival. Alamo also offers last-minute deals and other savings options.
Alamo’s relatively few locations and average pricing put it in the middle tier of the car rental companies we reviewed. Its reward program isn’t as strong as other companies, so if you rent cars regularly it’s not the best option for points.
To compare pricing, we looked at how much a one-day and one-week rental cost. We tested three different cities – Los Angeles, New York City and Houston – and three different car types: economy, compact and full-size. We found Alamo was in the middle range of rental car prices, lower than Hertz but more expensive than Thrifty.
Prices depend on when you book. We booked a few weeks out, but longer lead times can get you lower prices. Booking closer to the rental date tends to result in higher prices. If you want to add another driver, you’re charged a $12 per-day fee, which is about average.
Alamo’s rewards program, the Alamo Insiders club, provides a variety of benefits. It’s free to join and gives you the option to quickly check in and bypass the standard line. Unlike many of the other rewards programs, it doesn’t offer points or other ways to earn free rentals. All members are eligible for a 5 percent discount on all purchases, along with special rates and other offers.
With only around 250 locations in the U.S. and other locations across the world, Alamo is one of the smaller rentals companies we looked at. As a smaller company, most of the locations are at airports. Though they’re convenient, airport rentals tend to cost more since they include additional fees on top of whatever state and local taxes are applied to car rentals.
If you are renting from a non-airport Alamo location, Alamo has a pick-up service that comes to your home or another location and takes you to the office to complete the checkout process. Alamo offers a wide range of vehicles, including electric and hybrid cars. Though it’s a smaller rental company, we didn’t have any issues with sold-out vehicles like we did with rental companies of similar size.
How do you rent a car from Alamo?
When you select your rental car online or in the Alamo app, you have multiple options for body style and vehicle type. Alamo offers both automatic- and manual-transmission cars, SUVs, vans and trucks, including economy, fuel-efficient, luxury, sports and muscle cars.
Once you make a reservation, you can modify or cancel it using Alamo’s website or the app. On the day of your reservation, you have the option to check in online and go straight to your rental when you arrive.
Alamo prices
Alamo rentals typically cost from $90 to $160 per day and $300 to $800 weekly. Small economy cars usually fall at the lower end of the range; you’ll have to pay more for large premium vehicles. The company offers many deals and coupons, including for last-minute rentals, military personnel, one-way travels and upgrades. Be sure to factor in the costs of add-ons, insurance and the cost of gas. Alamo might also charge a fee for drivers aged 21 through 24.
Economy Price Range
Economy prices for Alamo range from low to average in the industry, this gives them a competitive advantage. Alamo’s quoted rates include all taxes, fees, and discounts. This eliminates being surprised with higher fees than anticipated when checking out.
Luxury Price Range
Alamo’s luxury car prices range from low to average in the industry. This lower price range allows more customers to rent luxury cars. The downside is that luxury cars are not available in all locations. In cities like New York, Alamo luxury cars are not offered. Many of their competitors offer luxury rentals across the board in every major city or state.
States Available
Alamo locations can be found in 50 states. Some competitors offer locations in some states, but not all. This is a significant advantage for frequent travelers because they can use the same company that they know and can collect membership points. This also makes renting a car available to residents in every state who need to rent a car locally.
Airports Locations
Alamo has airport locations in all 50 states (and in Puerto Rico) with rental counters at most major airports throughout North America. Anywhere you land, there is a convenient Alamo location.
Roadside Assistance
Alamo offers 24/7 roadside assistance to help you in case your vehicle has issues. Their roadside assistance costs $4.99 a day. This is average for most rental car companies and is moderately affordable.
Online Check-In
One of Alamo’s premier features is their online check-in. This allows renters to check in before arriving at the rental location, speeding up the rental process. In some Alamo locations, online check-ins allows customers to skip the rental counter entirely, going directly to the car attendant and receiving their keys. Travelers in a hurry or who have grown tired of waiting in long lines will greatly benefit from this option.
Alamo FAQs
How much is the rental deposit for Alamo?
Alamo doesn’t charge rental deposits for reservations. However, it does place a hold on your credit card for the anticipated total.
What discounts does Alamo offer?
Alamo offers military, last-minute and partner discounts. You can apply coupons and promotion codes during checkout. Sign up for the free Alamo Insiders membership for additional discounts.
Does Alamo charge a one-way fee?
Yes, Alamo charges a one-way fee, known as a “drop charge.” The amount of this fee varies by rental location and time of year.
Can you rent a car from Alamo with a debit card?
No. You must rent a car with a valid credit card in your name. This is required both online and in-store.
Is Alamo a good company?
Alamo is an established car rental company with competitive pricing and extensive vehicle options. Note that it requires a credit card for all rentals and usually charges a fee for drivers under 25. You can easily book and modify your reservation online or with Alamo’s mobile app.
The Bottom Line
Customers traveling on a budget are well-suited for Alamo. Alamo is located in every state and offers a wide variety of vehicles. Alamo’s online check-in service is compatible with renters who like to take care of everything online, which is an added convenience to customers. The only downsides are no prepaid toll passes, on-site fuel discounts, or instant returns. We recommend working with Alamo for your car rental needs.
