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Car Rental in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Jared Ristoff Jared Ristoff New York, United States Last Updated: October 2024 NAICS 53211

Revenue

$64.9bn

2024

$64.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

84,423

Businesses

2,480

Wages

$X.Xbn

Car Rental in the US industry analysis

The Car Rental Industry is steering toward high-tech roads, as evidenced by its recent focus on connected car technologies, telematics and data analytics. Companies broadened their car rental portfolios by adopting many diverse vehicle options, catering to modern travelers' rising demands and diversified expectations. Stay-at-home orders during the pandemic prevented traveling, which decimated the market for car rentals. As mass vaccinations spread, the restrictions began to lift, leading to an influx of traveling for leisure and business purposes. While car rental companies recovered quite well, inflationary concerns led some consumers to postpone traveling, constraining additional growth. Industry revenue has climbed at a CAGR of 3.0% to reach $64.9 billion through the end of 2024, including a swell of 3.2% in 2024 alone.

Trends and Insights

  • The mount of EVs in car rentals brings exciting opportunities, but it's not without hurdles. The scarcity of charging stations and the need for staff and customer education may slow the adoption of electric vehicles in rental fleets.
  • Leisure rentals are the lifeblood of car rental revenue, but growth's been slowing lately. Higher borrowing costs and tighter credit conditions are putting the brakes on domestic travel.
  • The Southeast is a prime spot for car rental companies, thanks to its tourist allure. Cities like Orlando and Miami attract many tourists who find renting a car more cost-effective than other options.
  • Complying with strict regulations is a big part of running a car rental business. From securing government licenses to managing waste materials from vehicle maintenance, it's not a job for those who can't handle rules and red tape.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $64.9bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Rental providers are dropping electric vehicles

  • Electric vehicle rentals have proven financially troublesome for rental companies, which have seen the resale values of these cars drop faster than anticipated. This issue has particularly affected Hertz, which had to abandon plans to purchase 100,000 Teslas. Hertz is estimated to sell 30,000 electric vehicles in 2024.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Car Rental in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

External competition will pose a threat

  • Ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft offer point-to-point convenience and potentially lower costs for short trips or urban travel, directly competing with car rentals.

Biggest companies in the Car Rental in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Enterprise Holdings Inc.
10,670.2
941.3
8.8
Avis Budget Group, Inc.
8,597.3
-156.5
-1.8
Hertz Global Holdings, inc.
7,561.2
-874.7
-11.6

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Car Rental in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Leisure car rental, Business car rental and Car leasing. Leisure car rental is the largest segment of the Car Rental in the US.

Trends and Insights

Leisure rentals are the backbone

  • Leisure rentals represent customers who rent a car for personal use and account for almost half of car rental revenue.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Operators rent or lease passenger cars to customers. Car rentals typically last a short time (30 days or fewer) while leasing agreements last longer (12 months or more). This industry excludes the rental or leasing of cars with drivers or trucks.

What's included in this industry?

Leisure car rentalBusiness car rentalCar leasingCar sharing

Companies

Enterprise Holdings Inc.Avis Budget Group, Inc.Hertz Global Holdings, inc.

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

AIRPORT MARKETCAR SHARINGCONCESSIONOFF-AIRPORT MARKETRESIDUAL VALUE

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 53211 - Car Rental in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The mount of EVs in car rentals brings exciting opportunities, but it's not without hurdles. The scarcity of charging stations and the need for staff and customer education m...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Leisure rentals are the lifeblood of car rental revenue, but growth's been slowing lately. Higher borrowing costs and tighter credit conditions are putting the brakes on dome...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The Southeast is a prime spot for car rental companies, thanks to its tourist allure. Cities like Orlando and Miami attract many tourists who find renting a car more cost-eff...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Complying with strict regulations is a big part of running a car rental business. From securing government licenses to managing waste materials from vehicle maintenance, it's...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Many rental companies invest in technology to provide seamless services and compete with ride-sharing companies. This includes offering app-based booking and unlocking servic...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Enterprise Holdings Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Avis Budget Group, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Hertz Global Holdings, inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Enterprise Holdings Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Avis Budget Group, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Hertz Global Holdings, inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Disposable income and corporate profits play a significant role in the health of car rentals. When people and businesses have more money to spare, they're more likely to hire...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Wages account for a large portion of car rental expenses, but they're actually decreasing thanks to automation. Self-serve kiosks and tech are reducing the need for human int...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Car Rental in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Car Rental in the US industry in United States is $64.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Car Rental in the US industry in 2024?

There are 2,480 businesses in the Car Rental in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Car Rental in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Car Rental in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 3.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Car Rental in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Car Rental in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Car Rental in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Car Rental market in United States are Enterprise Holdings Inc., Avis Budget Group, Inc. and Hertz Global Holdings, inc.

What does the Car Rental in the US in United States include?

Leisure car rental and Business car rental are part of the Car Rental in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Car Rental in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Enterprise Holdings Inc..

How competitive is the Car Rental in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Car Rental in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Auto Leasing, Loans & Sales Financing in the US
  • Taxi & Limousine Services in the US

Complementors

  • New Car Dealers in the US
  • International Airlines in the US
  • Domestic Airlines in the US
  • Travel Agencies in the US
  • Hotels & Motels in the US

International industries

  • Car Rental in Canada
  • Passenger Car Rental and Hiring in Australia
  • Passenger Car Rental and Hiring in New Zealand
  • Car Rental & Leasing in the UK
  • Car Rental & Leasing in Germany

View all industries in United States

Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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