What are the driving conditions like in Ohio?

The Appalachian Mountains to Ohio’s east and the Rockies to its west create a funnel that allows cold air to blow down from the Arctic and sweep down over the plains of North America. That, coupled with its location next to the Great Lakes (specifically Lake Erie), means that Ohio experiences very cold winters. This may influence your car choice when you look into car rental in Ohio. A big four-wheel drive with specialised tyres may be more suitable and safer on icy roads, with a good heating system to keep passengers warm. As far as roads go, Ohio’s are on par with the rest of the United States in terms of road quality. The highest-order roads include interstate highways I-80 and I-90 in the north, I-75 north to south through Toledo, Dayton, Cincinnati and Toledo, and the I-76 which goes to Pennsylvania.

What laws should I be aware of when driving in Ohio?

When you settle on your car rental in Ohio, keep in mind that the state has very strict parking laws, so make sure you have adequate place to park. Laws include rules regarding parking near fire hydrants, crosswalks, safety zones, railways, and kerbside parking. U-turns are also strictly governed. In the absence of specific signage indicating prohibited areas where U-turns are not allowed, drivers may make U-turns provided that there is enough visibility down the road on either side. Passengers in front seats must all wear their seatbelts, while all passengers in the car must wear seatbelts with drivers who are under 18. Small children must be placed in a proper safety seat.

What documents do I need to hire a car in Ohio?

Cheap car hire in Ohio will require your driver’s licence, some other form of identification (your passport will suffice) and a credit card. If you are not the owner of the credit card, this person will need to be present for the transaction. You may run into difficulties by using someone else’s card, even if you have their written permission. Take the time to get an international driving permit or driver’s licence to take with you, just to be on the safe side.

Is it worthwhile to book a rental car in Ohio?

Ohio is positioned between the Northeast and the Midwest, which means that it is an important transport corridor with an excellent transport network that provides you with access to half of the population of North America and more than two thirds of its capacity in manufacturing. If you’re here on business, you’ll definitely need car rental in Ohio, but even if you’re here on holiday, cheap car rental is definitely something you should look at. Important cities in the state include Cleveland, Cincinnati, state capital Columbus, Dayton, Akron and Toledo. The Appalachian and Allegheny Plateaus provide unspoilt scenic beauty, as do the central Lowland and Till Plains and plains near Lake Huron and Lake Erie. Cleveland is a major music and cultural centre. Remember this is Amish country, with clean country living. Even though this state is part of the Rust Belt, there is plenty to see and do with your car hire in Ohio, and being mobile will help you get the most out of your trip.

Cheap Car Hire in Ohio from just £26

Are you looking for cheap car hire deals in Ohio? Search right here!

Columbus, OH, United States

2 May — 9 May

Driver's age:

26-65Other

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Best deals found for Ohio car hire

Find great deals below on a variety of popular hire cars in Ohio

Audi A1

or similar Compact

Up to 4 passengers

£26/day

10 May - 8 Jun

See offer

Vauxhall Astra

or similar Intermediate

Up to 5 passengers

£29/day

10 May - 8 Jun

See offer

Vauxhall Astra

or similar Intermediate

Up to 5 passengers

£29/day

10 May - 8 Jun

See offer

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

or similar Full-size

Up to 5 passengers

£32/day

7 May - 9 May

See offer

Vauxhall Crossland

or similar Compact SUV

Up to 4 passengers

5-door vehicles

£33/day

28 May - 9 Jun

See offer

Volkswagen Golf

or similar Compact

Up to 4 passengers

£34/day

10 May - 8 Jun

See offer

Citroen C3

or similar Compact

Up to 4 passengers

£35/day

28 May - 9 Jun

See offer

Audi A1

or similar Compact

Up to 4 passengers

£35/day

1 Jun - 8 Jun

See offer

Vauxhall Astra

or similar Intermediate

Up to 5 passengers

£36/day

1 Jun - 8 Jun

See offer

Car hire insight and trends in Ohio

Useful insights to help you book the perfect car hire in Ohio

What is the best car hire company in Ohio?

Consider hiring a car from Alamo, which is currently the best rental agency in Ohio, according to our users. Alamo has 2 locations in some of Ohio’s must-see cities, like Cleveland. With 103 reviews and an average rating of 8.6/10, Alamo is a favourite among travellers visiting Ohio.

What is the most popular type of car to hire in Ohio?

Although there are plenty of other car hire types to choose from, the most popular type for a trip to Ohio are SUV sized cars. 38% of our users chose this vehicle type and found prices for £63/day on average.

Ohio car hire directory

All major car hire suppliers in Ohio

Alamo

8.6

Very Good

234 reviews•2 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

10.0

Wonderful|Dec 2022

The counter agent was friendly, quick and a pleasure dealing with. The car choices were good and I didn’t feel like I got the “bait and switch” treatment I have received from others before.

10.0

Wonderful|Nov 2022

The customer service is outstanding

2.0

Poor|Oct 2022

Very unrealistic policies with respect to the use of credit cards. I got a new credit card which I had forgotten to call and activate the card. While at the Alamo counter in Columbus, the card after swipe did not go through. The bank immediately sent me a text and requested I call to activate the card. I showed the text to the Alamo staff and said I was calling to activate the card and will let her swipe the card once more. She bluntly refused, and I could not have the car. A complete mess of my entire plan. While we can understand the emphasis on the use of credit cards for car rentals, however, the company should be pragmatic to serve its clients better. Thank you

10.0

Wonderful|Jun 2022

The car was great that I ended up with! Comfortable and was a joy to drive.

6.0

Okay|Feb 2022

Wish there were a vehicle similar to what was described at time of rental. Wish car was cleaner on pickup.

10.0

Wonderful|Feb 2022

The guy in the office was a really nice person and a gentleman with the luggage in to car clean up the car from snow gave us a upgrade free off charge we should feel like we’re the best customer

1 out of 78

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8.1

Very Good

364 reviews•49 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

10.0

Wonderful|Sept 2023

Great!

10.0

Wonderful|Aug 2023

Everything was great. Will rent from them again thanks.

2.0

Poor|Aug 2023

They don’t accept debit card and charge me $300 deposit

10.0

Wonderful|Jul 2023

Employees went out of their way to make sure I was taken care of…..pickup and drop off.

10.0

Wonderful|Jul 2023

Easy pick up and drop off Shoutout to Rommy and Colton who took care of everything

10.0

Wonderful|Jun 2023

Excellent car, excellent customer service

1 out of 122

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Locations in Ohio

Dollar

7.0

Good

304 reviews•3 locations

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Overview

Recent reviews

2.0

Poor|Jul 2023

Staff rude and not helpful. Made no effort to resolve problem. Willing to leave hanging two eighty year olds out of town on a technicality

10.0

Wonderful|Jul 2023

Very easy

2.0

Poor|Jul 2023

I was charged 77 bucks for a more expensive vehicle when they ran out of the model I had already paid for. I then waited for 1.5 hours for them to provide me with the car.

2.0

Poor|Apr 2023

Car start with problems in the border with Canada. I called roadside assistance. Start a claim, call get disconnected. I've to go all the way back to USA the closest location for a rental exchange. They said nothing was on file. I tried to call roadside again. No luck. I've to cameback to my city. For my good luck nothing else happened

2.0

Poor|Feb 2023

I left a pair of sunglasses in the rental and after realizing it 15 minutes after drop off and returning to the Hertz drop off to retrieve my sunglasses, customer service was extremely terrible and that I had to wait 30 minutes only to be told that they could not retrieve my sunglasses as they were unable to locate them. Knowing with 100% certainty that they were in fact in the vehicle and given how the events unfolded after the fact, I will never book with hertz or dollar again. I am a frequent traveler, and I will not support these companies. I feel so bothered by this incident that I actually took the time to fill this out when generally, I never write anything as I’ve always had pleasant experiences with other rental agencies. This speaks volumes to me.

8.0

Very Good|Feb 2023

All was good.

1 out of 102

Hertz

6.9

Okay

584 reviews•29 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

8.0

Very Good|Sept 2023

Mostly good. When I rented the car on line, paid all but taxes and fees, 62. At checkin, taxes and fees were 122. That’s not fair…. Great car..

2.0

Poor|Jul 2023

Wouldn't do the rental through kayak. Didnt have the rental anymore. Tried to rent through them while there and they raised the price $400. Hours didn't match what website had listed

2.0

Poor|Jun 2023

I showed up to pick up the car rental. I waited 45 minutes and called yet no one showed up or answered. I was forced to not only miss my appointment that I flew in for but I had to pay more money to rent a car through Avis. Needless to say hertz has lost my business. Hertz is the only company I use to use and now they are the only company I will not use. Please advise? Sincerely one pissed off customer, Aaron Kent

6.0

Okay|Jun 2023

Car was dirty not ready and did not have gas

2.0

Poor|Jun 2023

They had no cars and left me stranded! Had to pay an extra $100 at Avis at the airport

10.0

Wonderful|Jun 2023

Staff was very friendly and efficient.

1 out of 195

Hertz Locations in Ohio

Thrifty

6.9

Okay

215 reviews•4 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

8.0

Very Good|Feb 2023

We were happy with the services except - 1. The car we were assigned to wasn't in its parking spot. Had to walk in & out of building several times. The car we eventually got was fine. 2. Thrifty apparently is owned by an Italian company. This fact WASN'T MENTIONED ANYWHERE UNTIL WE GOT CHARGED FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEES BY OUR CREDIT CARD ON OUR RENTAL!!!!

2.0

Poor|Nov 2022

Is verey expenceve

8.0

Very Good|Sept 2022

Went smoothly. Car was clean and ready at pickup.

8.0

Very Good|Jul 2022

Would be nice if they could give you a brief run down, other than here are the keys

10.0

Wonderful|Jul 2022

Nothing

8.0

Very Good|Nov 2021

The first car they gave me made a grinding sound when I pressed the brakes in the airport garage, but they changed it out for an upgraded car with no fuss.

1 out of 72

Avis

6.6

Okay

123 reviews•19 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

8.0

Very Good|Aug 2023

Convenient Picking up, paying for full gas tank , not having to worry about and returning at the airport that worked out well too!

2.0

Poor|Aug 2023

Would not allow rental because renter had no Drivers License but ID and credit card. Driver was to be added at rental time. Driver unable to use credit card nothing open avis charged $50 on original renters credit card. Went to Payless

2.0

Poor|Aug 2023

Poor Customer Service and walked 4 times to the parking lot to finally get a car

2.0

Poor|Aug 2023

I rented a premium car (Passat, Altima, etc) and got the counter to hear "sorry they never brought us your car". They tried to pawn some Kia's, etc but ended up giving me a RAM truck. Truck was nice & clean but after 2 miles down the road on freeway the check engine light came on and cutoff while going 55 on freeway. I started it back up and soon cutoff again once over 50MPH. Please mind you this is a 2-ton truck with very little control when engine dies (power brakes/steering). I called the local rental co and the suggested I take it to airport since I was so close and could take side roads under 50MPH. Airport Avis was very rude and said the company I rented from was a "franchise" and we are "corporate" and that I needed to drive it back to them for the exchange. I spoke to a manager and made it clear the engine died twice on I270 over 50MPH but they could care less. I took back roads back to the local Avis but they didn't have a clean ready car. They were kind and setup a Ford Edge for me to go back to airport to exchange. Car wasn't cleaned but she knew I needed a car to get back to the wide assortment of option at Avis Columbus Airport. Finally got my "premium" Chevy Malibu at Avis airport and went on my way. 2 days later I get an alert via phone of a $106 charge for the 1-day rental of the dirty Ford Edge. I called Avis and spent 2 hours telling them the story. They finally refunded me after I threated to call my CC company and dispute. I've rented 100's of cars in my life and never had such a poor experience such as this.

10.0

Wonderful|Aug 2023

Good

2.0

Poor|Aug 2023

I have been a loyal customer at this location and have rented vehicles for years here. However this is the last time I will rent from this location. The agent/manager/whatever was rude, condescending, and obnixous. He made it more than obvious he treats "certain" customers much better than others. I witnessed it first hand when I came to rent the vehicle. Then when I returned the vehicle he was literally fawning over the gentlemen in front of me and DID NOT treat me the same AT ALL when I was renting the car. Also the location was absolutely filthy. I will not return.

1 out of 41

Avis Locations in Ohio

Budget

6.3

Okay

434 reviews•20 locations

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

10.0

Wonderful|Sept 2023

The whole process was simple and easy, I even got a free upgrade for having to wait a short time! I will definitely use them in the future.

2.0

Poor|Sept 2023

I booked thru Kayak. That was my mistake. Despite the confirmation email and the app saying my pick up location was CLE airport location. Kayak scheduled it for Beechwood location and I had to pay $717 instead of $333 as promised in the app. I’ll never book thru Kayak again.

4.0

Mediocre|Sept 2023

When I went to pickup the car the lady in the counter was rude absolute no customer service. Not helpful. When I went to return it was a nother lady and she was helpful.

10.0

Wonderful|Aug 2023

All good.

2.0

Poor|Aug 2023

After booking they called changed the location for pickup then they called me the day of rental canceling and tire reservation saying they did not have a mid-sized car available. Will never go through budget again

2.0

Poor|Jul 2023

They refused my international DL because my name in English was written right to left. Yet other rental companies had accepted it without any issues

1 out of 145

Budget Locations in Ohio

Payless

6.0

Okay

36 reviews•1 location

Check prices

Overview

Recent reviews

2.0

Poor|Feb 2024

While Payless advertise a 100% smoke-free fleet rental car had definitely been smoked in. I tried to clear the air every time I got in it losing a can of febreze but could never overcome the smoking stench. Additionally, the car had numerous dings and the transmission made noise whenever it was in gear. The car definitely had mechanical, cosmetic, and smoking odor problems.

10.0

Wonderful|Sept 2023

One very small complaint...I stood in line for about 30 minutes at pickup.

2.0

Poor|Sept 2023

The rental car was absolutely filthy and the previous renter smoked in the car. I don’t believe Payless even looked at the car for cleanliness

10.0

Wonderful|Aug 2023

This was my first experience with Payless and it was outstanding. Easily the nicest and cleanest car I have ever rented. I will be definitely use them again.

2.0

Poor|Jun 2023

Your pickup was not at the airport. I had to pay $50 to Uber 25 miles to pickup the car and was not able to drop the car off at the airport which meant I had to drop my people off at the airport and then drive 25 miles back to the Avis location to return the car. Then I had to have a friend take me to the airport.

2.0

Poor|Jun 2023

The car was dirty and smelled like feet. There were also plenty of marks/scratches on the vehicle.

1 out of 12

Car hire in Ohio

Learn everything there is to know about hiring a car in Ohio so you can be properly prepared for your next trip

How long do people hire a car for when staying in Ohio?

Consider hiring a car in Ohio for 3 days, which is the most popular length of time people tend to spend in the region. The average daily hire cost for 3 days is £43. Weekend and 1-week-long hires will average a total of £275 and £81, respectively. For your more long-term car hire needs, a 1-month-long 3 car hire will cost £1,513 in total on average.

When did momondo last update prices for cars in Ohio?

Prices for cars in Ohio were last updated today.

How many operators does momondo search for cars in Ohio?

As of April 2024, there are 122 operators available to choose from for cars in Ohio.

How old do you have to be to hire a car in Ohio?

Among different countries, including Ohio, the minimum age for drivers varies. In numerous EU countries, drivers must be 18 years old. To hire a car overseas, you'll generally need to be at least 21, and if you're under 25, a young driver surcharge may be imposed. It's recommended that you review the policy of the rental company you're considering before booking.

What documentation or ID do you need to rent a car in Ohio?

To rent a car in Ohio, all drivers must present a valid full driving license. If the license is written in a language other than the language of the country of rental, an International Driving Permit may be required to avoid the risk of potential fines. If you're renting a car abroad, you may also need to provide evidence of your return travel and accommodation information during your stay. We always recommend that you verify with the specific rental company you're booking with.

Why use momondo?

Why should I use momondo to book a car hire in Ohio?

Choosing momondo to search for car hire in Ohio makes sense because it is quick and free of charge. We find all the rental car hire prices and policies, you simply choose what works best for you and your trip.

How does momondo help me find the best car hire deal in Ohio?

momondo helps you find the best car hire deal in Ohio by allowing you to filter results by price, capacity, car features, drop off, pick-up location and many more.