Wilmington car rentals
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Cheap car rentals in Wilmington
KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Wilmington
- Wilmington, DE, is well known as a banking and innovation center and is also considered to be the modern hub of its region. Opting for cheap car rentals in Wilmington will give you the flexibility of moving around easily and visiting the beautiful sceneries in and around Wilmington. Some of the places to visit and sites to see include Virginia Beach, located about 196 mi from Wilmington, or driving for a visit to Coastal Discovery Museum, located about 211 mi from the city center. You can also travel to The Oaks at Point South RV Resort located about 205 mi away or visit the Deep River Campground and RV Park located about 149 mi northwest of Wilmington.
- Whether you are an experienced driver in Wilmington or not, observing safety while driving Wilmington car rentals is fundamental. Cases such as crowded intersections and roadways have greatly increased the chances of an accident occurring, which would lead to increased traffic snarl-ups and time wastage before the mess is cleared. Some of the roads you should be wary of include college road, which stretches about 4.3 mi between Wilshire Boulevard and Gordon Road. Other roads include the Randall Parkway and the South College Road intersections, Carolina Beach Road, Market and New Centre Drive, U.S. 17, and Highways 11 and 87.
- There are several car rental locations in Wilmington, DE that will help you move around the city. You can get the Enterprise car rentals at Stonehaven, 100 Philadelphia Pike, and Colonial Heights. The Hertz car rentals are located next to Wawaset Park at 901 North Union Street, while Thrifty car rentals are based at 100 Mlk Junior Blvd. The National car rentals is located at 1000 S French St.
- When you visit the city of Wilmington either for business or vacation, you'll want to move around the city conveniently. From Philadelphia International airport, there are many attraction sites within 50 miles that you shouldn’t miss. There are public transportation options such as taxis and buses, yet, buses typically have designated routes, and taxis charge by mileage, so you'll probably end up paying more. This inconvenience and inflexibility signal that you might want to consider car rentals in Wilmington. With a rental car, you'll be able to visit the Philadelphia Museum of Arts or the Kimmel Center of Performing Arts, located only 9 miles (17min) away.
- Philadelphia International Airport and Wilmington Airport are the two major airports in Wilmington, and both have several on-site car rental companies in designated places. These companies include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, Thrifty, and National. Most of these car rentals in Wilmington provide complimentary shuttle and pick-up services. After picking your luggage at Philadelphia International Airport, head over to Zone 9 from the exit terminal and get a shuttle to the offices of your chosen Wilmington car rental company.
- Wilmington is a city with a high population rate and an even higher influx of vehicles. When driving on Wilmington roadways, be prepared for every form of traffic, human and motor vehicle. Most people in Wilmington love to cycle, and others prefer motorcycles to cars, meaning you’ll be sharing the highways with motorcyclists and bicyclists alike. Some pedestrians tend to jaywalk or text on their phones while walking. Exercise caution while on the road to avoid a catastrophic incident. Also, watch out for other drivers who may be negligent in observing traffic rules, as well as natural weather elements such as snow, mist, or rain that can make driving dangerous.
- When it comes to traffic gridlocks, especially around rush hour, Wilmington is one of Delaware's most affected cities. Between 7am-9am and 4pm-6pm, most roadways experience traffic congestion. If you can't afford to be stuck in traffic for more than 30min, it’s advisable to use the roads when traffic is lowest, before and after rush hour. Similarly, avoid using Interstate 95 during critical hours and use GPS tracking while driving on unfamiliar roads.
- Book your rental car in Wilmington at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Compact rental cars in Wilmington are around 24% more expensive than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Wilmington
What type of car is recommended for driving in Wilmington?
Given Wilmington's high influx of vehicles operating on major roadways, we recommend that an economy, a convertible, or any small car for smooth navigation around the city. Go for a minivan or an SUV if you travel as a group of more than five people.
What’s the speed limit in Wilmington?
Wilmington, like most Delaware cities, has a relatively low maximum speed limit. The state recommended speed limit is 65mph. Two-lane state roads have a speed limit of up to 50mph, and two-lane urban roads have a limit of 25mph.
Where are the best places to park in Wilmington?
There are several parking spots and garages in Downtown Wilmington where you can park your car any time of the day for as long as you wish. These parking services are provided by the Wilmington Parking Authority, Central Parking System, and Colonial Parking, which has spaces on different streets in Downtown Wilmington, approximately 15 miles from the airport. To use these parking services, you'll need to download the Park Mobile app, which customers use to pay for parking services. Parking costs around $1 per hour and around $12 per day.
How much is gas price in Wilmington?
The average gas price in Wilmington is C$ 5.15 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between C$ 62 and C$ 82, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular rental car in Wilmington?
Compact (Mazda Mazda3 or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Wilmington.
How can I find car rentals near me in Wilmington?
Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.
How much does a Compact car rental cost in Wilmington?
A Compact car rental in Wilmington costs C$ 74 per day, on average.
How much does an Intermediate car rental cost in Wilmington?
An Intermediate car rental in Wilmington costs C$ 70 per day, on average.
How much does a Special car rental cost in Wilmington?
A Special car rental in Wilmington costs C$ 58 per day, on average.
Do I need insurance when renting a car in Wilmington, DE?
If you are planning to get cheap car rentals in Wilmington, DE, you will first need to have a valid driver’s license from your state of origin or country of origin. If you only possess an instructional permit or a learner’s permit, you cannot rent a car in Wilmington.
How do I pay to use the toll roads in Wilmington, DE?
If you are renting a car in Wilmington, DE, you should be aware that the city has toll roads with e-tolls and/or cash. The different car rental companies in the city such as Hertz, offer e-toll services for increased convenience when using the roads. The e-toll service sends the toll charge to the rental car company which then bills your credit card. These charges are normally higher since they carry a service charge. You can however opt for cash payments.
Wilmington 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.
National
10.0
Wonderful
Cleanliness
10.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.0
Value for money
10.0
One location in Wilmington
Locations in Wilmington
100 S French St
+1 302 425 4404
Filters
No reviews available
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
8.6
Very good
Read 11 reviewsCleanliness
9.0
Comfort
8.9
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.9
Value for money
8.8
5 locations in Wilmington
Locations in Wilmington
100 Philadelphia Pike
+1 302 761 4545
100 S French St
+1 302 425 4404
2415 Lancaster Ave
+1 302 575 1021
3915 Kirkwood Hwy
+1 302 892 3365
4727 Concord Pike
+1 302 479 7829
Filters
Show reviews that mention
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jun 2024
Passenger Van
4.0 Mediocre
Jordan, Nov 2020
Cons:
I was scheduled to have a regular size sedan. However, received a mini van upon arrival. Was suggested that I could wait for a sedan if / when one was going to be returned that same day.3.6 Poor
Anonymous, Sep 2020
Cons:
Car was dirty, smelled strongly of weed. As a fix they put 6 air fresheners about the car. The combination of the weed and air fresheners was horrible.6.8 Okay
JaQuanne, Aug 2020
Pros:
Car was clean.Cons:
They didn’t have the car that I reserved.10.0 Wonderful
Tom, May 2020
Pros:
Helpful staffCons:
If I could only afford such an awesome car!8.0 Very good
Anonymous, Mar 2023
Standard SUV
Avis
6.4
Okay
Read 5 reviewsCleanliness
6.8
Comfort
6.8
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.0
Value for money
6.4
2 locations in Wilmington
Locations in Wilmington
100 South French Street
+1 302 654 8044
702 Philadelphia Pike
+1 302 762 3825
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
William, Jul 2024
Full-size
8.0 Very good
Anonymous, May 2023
Compact
4.0 Mediocre
Anonymous, Jun 2022
8.0 Very good
April, Jul 2021
Pros:
,Cons:
,2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Jun 2021
Cons:
They should ban the practice of requiring a zero balanced electric bill and not accepting chime credit cards, keeps a lot of minorities from renting vehicles any longer, I was unable to rent a vehicle.Budget
5.2
Fair
Read 3 reviewsCleanliness
5.2
Comfort
5.2
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.0
Value for money
5.2
2 locations in Wilmington
Locations in Wilmington
100 South French Street
+1 302 652 0629
702 Philadelphia Pike
+1 302 762 4824
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
King, Jun 2024
Full-size
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Apr 2024
Pick-up truck
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Jan 2023
Intermediate SUV
Hertz
4.9
Mediocre
Read 17 reviewsCleanliness
4.8
Comfort
5.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
4.7
Value for money
5.1
2 locations in Wilmington
Locations in Wilmington
100 Martin Luther King Blvd
+1 302 428 0637
901 North Union Street
+1 302 203 6259
Filters
Show reviews that mention
Reviews
4.0 Mediocre
Anonymous, Jun 2024
Intermediate
8.0 Very good
Anonymous, Mar 2021
Pros:
Agent was professional and thorough. Good mileage.Cons:
The car was not clean. There were bits of food in the console and the inside of the windshield was smeared. There was cleaning spray residue everywhere. I had alcohol wipes and cleaned for 1000 mile trip. Pick up time was long because of 1 agent and line. I reserved a Mazda "or similar". Learned belatedly Mazdas are never available. Manual was missing so never figured out how to set cruise control.2.0 Poor
Michele, Feb 2021
Pros:
NothinyCons:
Poor customer service car was not ready when promised had to wait over an hour and the staff was rude. Tried to change drop off because it was so bad and they wanted me to pay an additional $300 to change2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Sep 2020
Cons:
They did not let me pick up my car10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Sep 2020
Pros:
Easy drop off2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Apr 2023
Minivan
Thrifty
5.5
Fair
One location in Wilmington
Locations in Wilmington
100 Mlk Junior Boulevard
+1 302 428 0637
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Wilmington
Locations in Wilmington
100 S French St Unit 115a
+1 302 425 4404
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Wilmington
Locations in Wilmington
100 S French St Unit 115A, Wilmington, , USA Delaware
+1 914 368 0091
Filters
No reviews available
Car rental locations in or near Wilmington
Good to know
Most popular car type | Compact |
|---|
When to book a rental car in Wilmington
Everything you need to know for your car rental in Wilmington
Car rental at airports serving Wilmington
Wilmington car rental information
| Pick-up location | Wilmington |
|---|---|
| Car types | |
| Rental locations | 15 |
| Airport locations | 0 |