3 Rental Car Alternatives for Your Next Trip
The Evolution of Rental Car Options
If you’re planning a trip to Denver or the breathtaking Foothills region, finding affordable transportation can be challenging when traditional rental car companies like Avis and Hertz charge premium prices. Fortunately, several innovative rental car alternatives have emerged in recent years, potentially offering better value and unique experiences for travelers.
These nontraditional options aren’t just about saving money—though that’s certainly a welcome benefit for many travelers. Some provide delivery services, specialty vehicles, or convenient pickup locations that traditional rental agencies simply can’t match. Let’s explore some compelling alternatives that might make your next Colorado adventure more affordable and enjoyable.
Before diving into specific companies, remember that regardless of which option you choose, booking with a credit card that offers complimentary rental car insurance can significantly reduce your overall costs and provide valuable protection.
1. Turo: The Peer-to-Peer Car Rental Marketplace
Turo operates as essentially the “Airbnb for cars,” connecting travelers with local vehicle owners willing to rent out their personal automobiles. The process is straightforward—you browse available cars through Turo’s website or mobile app and arrange pickup at a mutually convenient location, which could be the owner’s residence or a public meeting spot.
Many Turo hosts offer vehicle delivery service for an additional fee, making it particularly convenient if you want the car brought directly to your airport or hotel. This can be especially valuable in places like Denver, where airport car rental facilities often involve shuttle rides and long waits.
A particularly handy feature called Turo Go allows you to unlock certain vehicles using just the app, eliminating the need to meet the host in person. And for car enthusiasts, Turo’s limitless search feature (launched in June 2024) lets you find specific makes and models anywhere in the world.
The minimum age requirement is typically 21, though some vehicles are available to drivers as young as 18 with an additional young-driver fee.
What Makes Turo Appealing
The delivery option can be both convenient and cost-effective. On a recent trip to Hawaii’s Big Island, we had our Turo host meet us at our luxury resort after spending a couple of car-free days there. This strategy helped us avoid paying the resort’s expensive parking fees while still having a vehicle when we needed it for island exploration. At the end of our trip, we simply left the car at the airport, making drop-off hassle-free.
Turo’s cancellation policy is also quite flexible—you can cancel for free up to 24 hours before your scheduled pickup time.
Potential Drawbacks
Since you’re renting directly from individual car owners rather than a company with standardized fleet maintenance, vehicle quality and cleanliness can vary significantly. While traditional rental companies typically provide nearly-new, freshly cleaned vehicles, Turo cars are maintained according to their owners’ personal standards, which introduces an element of unpredictability.
2. Zipcar: Flexible Hourly or Daily Rentals
Zipcar, which shares the same parent company as both Avis and Budget, offers a different approach to car rentals. Rather than traditional rental periods, Zipcar allows you to book vehicles by the hour or day. The cars are stationed in small lots or designated parking spaces throughout urban areas, and can be unlocked via the Zipcar mobile app.
When you’ve finished using the vehicle, you simply return it to the same location where you picked it up. This makes Zipcar particularly useful for city dwellers who need occasional access to a vehicle without the hassles of car ownership.
The minimum age requirement is 21, though students as young as 18 may qualify in certain locations.
What Makes Zipcar Appealing
Zipcar provides an excellent balance between convenience and quality. You can access vehicles throughout your city for short periods—perfect for day trips or errands—without worrying about overnight parking fees. Since the vehicles are managed by Zipcar rather than individual owners, you can generally expect consistent quality and maintenance standards, unlike peer-to-peer services where experiences may vary widely.
Their cancellation policy is quite reasonable too. For trips lasting eight hours or longer, you can cancel for free up to 24 hours before your reservation. For shorter trips, you still have the flexibility to cancel up to three hours in advance without penalty.
Potential Drawbacks
Zipcar requires membership before you can rent vehicles, which means paying a one-time $25 application fee plus ongoing membership dues. These additional costs are layered on top of the actual rental charges, potentially making it less economical for one-time or infrequent users.
3. Kyte: Car Delivery Service
Kyte differentiates itself with its innovative delivery model. Instead of requiring you to travel to a rental location, a Kyte employee brings the car directly to your location and picks it up when you’re finished—effectively eliminating one of the most inconvenient aspects of traditional car rentals.
Unlike peer-to-peer services such as Turo, Kyte offers a standardized fleet similar to what you’d expect from traditional rental companies. They maintain a selection of SUVs, sedans, and all-wheel-drive vehicles, typically keeping them in service for just 18-24 months. This ensures that rentals are relatively new and well-maintained—a welcome contrast to peer-to-peer options that sometimes arrive showing significant wear and tear.
Credit Cards with Car Rental Insurance Benefits
Renting a vehicle typically requires a credit card, so it makes financial sense to use one that includes rental car coverage. Some cards also offer bonus rewards when booking car rentals, providing additional value.
Several notable cards offering rental car protection include:
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
This card provides primary rental car coverage with reimbursement up to the cash value of most rental vehicles. When booking through Chase’s travel portal, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar spent on car rentals. The annual fee is $95.
The New United Club Card
With this card, you receive primary rental car coverage that reimburses up to $60,000 for most rental vehicles. Cardholders also enjoy up to $100 in United TravelBank credit when booking Avis or Budget rentals through United ($50 per reservation). Additional travel benefits include two free checked bags and United Club lounge access. The annual fee is $695.
The Platinum Card from American Express
This premium card offers complimentary elite status with Avis, Hertz, and National, entitling members to upgrades and discounts. It provides secondary rental car coverage and numerous other travel benefits including extensive airport lounge access and hundreds of dollars in travel credits. The annual fee is $695.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
This travel-focused card provides primary rental car coverage with reimbursement up to $75,000 and awards 8 points per dollar when booking car rentals through Chase’s travel portal. Cardholders also receive special benefits from Avis, National, and Silvercar. The annual fee is $795.
Rental Car Alternatives That Have Disappeared
The rental car alternative market has faced significant challenges. Getaround, which maintains a substantial presence in Europe, struggled to gain traction in the U.S. market and ultimately shut down its American operations in February 2025.
Even established companies have failed in this space. Ride-sharing giant Lyft attempted to enter the market with Lyft Rentals in 2019, but closed the service by 2022. Similarly, luxury automaker Audi offered its own rental service called Audi on Demand, allowing customers to rent Audi sedans and SUVs from select dealerships, but discontinued the program in September 2024.
Expanding Your Transportation Options
The days when traditional rental car companies were your only option for road trip transportation are firmly behind us. While some alternative services have come and gone, travelers still have plenty of innovative options beyond the typical rental counter experience.
From peer-to-peer services like Turo where you rent an individual’s personal vehicle, to convenient delivery services like Kyte that bring the car directly to you, these alternatives can transform your travel experience—potentially saving money while offering greater flexibility.
If you’re planning a trip and discover that traditional rental cars are either fully booked or prohibitively expensive, don’t panic. One of these rental alternatives might be the perfect solution for your transportation needs. And remember to use a credit card that offers rental car insurance to maximize your benefits and protection, regardless of which option you choose.