Auto Rental & Leasing

The 2,400 Auto rental and leasing companies in the US provide vehicles for short-term or long-term use. Rentals and leases typically involve passenger cars or trucks. Companies may also provide the use of vans, sport utility vehicles, luxury cars, limousines, or hearses. Some companies lease used vehicles. While large rental companies own thousands of individual locations worldwide, they also license brand names to independent operators.

Dependence on the Travel Industry

Air travel is a key driver for car rental volume.

Resale Risk

Companies bear the risk of decreases in residual value for vehicles reaching the end of their rental or lease life.

Jul 24, 2026 - Carsharing to See Solid Growth Through 2030

• Auto Rental News reports that, according to market research firm Berg Insight, the global public carsharing fleet is expected to grow from about 511,000 vehicles in 2025 to 768,000 by 2030, an 8.5% compound annual increase. Worldwide membership is projected to rise from 91 million to 141.1 million during the same period, while corporate carsharing fleets could expand from 154,000 to 250,000 vehicles. Asia-Pacific is expected to remain the largest market, followed by Europe, where free-floating services now lead in membership and fleet size. Connected vehicles, telematics, booking systems, billing platforms, and analytics support modern operations. Many providers are shifting from rapid expansion toward profitability and higher vehicle usage. The 30 largest operators account for about 63% of members and manage 56% of the global public fleet.
• The Wall Street Journal reports that airline credit cards have become central to carriers' profits, loyalty strategies, route planning, and airport investments. Airlines earn billions of dollars by selling miles to banks, often at margins far above those from flying passengers. Carriers are adding lounges, baggage benefits, upgrades, and discounted award travel to attract cardholders and encourage spending. Some airlines also use cardholder data when deciding where to add or cut routes. Strong loyalty programs may support air travel demand by helping customers offset ticket costs, which could increase airport activity and demand for rental cars. However, greater use of airline rewards could also concentrate travel among major hubs and destinations favored by high-spending cardholders, requiring auto rental companies to adjust fleets and airport capacity accordingly.
• Rental fleet sales increased by 12% in June 2026 compared to the same month in 2025, according to marketing and data firm Bobit. Auto sales to rental fleets were up 11.5% in June over the previous month, and 2% year-to-date. Bobit noted that fleet sales are robust amid solid rental demand and steady US economic growth.
• The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Travel Study 2026 shows rising customer satisfaction across the travel sector as conditions normalize, with car rentals improving 1% to a score of 76, matching gains in airlines, rideshare, and online travel agencies. Within auto rentals, results are mixed, highlighting uneven performance across brands. Alamo and Avis lead at 79, each up 7%, while National also improves, and Hertz edges up to 77. In contrast, Budget drops 5% to 73, and Dollar falls 3% to 71, with both facing higher complaint rates and weaker service perceptions. These disparities underscore ongoing challenges in customer service, digital experience, and complaint handling, underscoring the need for operational consistency and technology adoption to strengthen competitiveness in the auto rental industry.

Industry size & Structure

A typical auto rental company employs 50 workers and generates around $17-18 million annually, while a typical auto leasing company operates a single location and generates about $34 million annually.

• The auto rental and leasing industry consists of 2,400 companies that employ 129,500 workers and generate $55.1 billion annually.
• The auto rental and leasing industry is concentrated at the top, and fragmented at the bottom. The top eight car rental firms account for 92% of industry revenue and the top eight auto leasing firms account for 86% of industry revenue. Most small companies operate out of a single location.
• While large rental companies own thousands of individual locations worldwide, they also license brand names to independent operators.
• Large auto rental companies include Enterprise Holdings (Alamo, Enterprise, National), Hertz, and Avis. Major companies that provide auto leasing services include Element Fleet Management, and Holman (formerly ARI Global Fleet Management).