National Car Rental

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National Car Rental

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These tips are generated by AI, based on customer reviews from the past year

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National Car Rental Reviews Summary

Positive Highlights

  • Staff are consistently friendly, professional, and helpful across many locations.
  • The rental process is fast and convenient, especially with Emerald Club counter bypass.
  • Vehicles are often clean, well-maintained, and newer models with good selection.

Negative Highlights

  • Unexpected charges and billing disputes required correction.
  • A few vehicles had cleanliness issues, including dirty windows and unpleasant odors.
  • Occasional mechanical problems, such as vibrations or alignment issues, were reported.
This summary is generated by AI, based on customer reviews from the past year

Most commonly discussed topics

The most helpful reviews behind these summaries

May 20, 2026

Double charged due to hidden mileage charge and other items. $484.55 turned into over $800. Filed 2 claims for lost item immediately and have not received promised call.

Jan 23, 2026

Check in staff Kim at the Sacramento airport was incredibly professional and friendly. It helped with our overall experience. Unfortunately, our rental smelled like smoke.

Jan 21, 2026

Excellent experience. Very courteous staff and great selection of vehicles. Always able to modify reservation if needed due to unforeseen circumstances. They are the best!

Dec 7, 2025

Car was not clean. Windows, side mirrors, back window and camera lenses were all dirty. Also found an empty energy drink can under the front passenger seat. Inside was marginally clean. Dirt tracks in back cargo load floor from luggage wheels.

Jan 14, 2026

Love National over other rental agencies for several factors: availability of new and safe vehicles; quick check-in and check-out; friendly, dedicated staff who really seem to want to be the best! Based on prior rentals from other companies, National won my business and will remain my first choice in all travels!

Apr 27, 2026

National just makes it easy. I love being able to choose a car; I'm honestly amazed that National's competitors haven't elected to do the same. Also... National is consistently the same or better-priced than anyone else I cross-shop. On-site staff at LAX were excellent; respectful, helpful, and enthusiastic. My rental vehicle, a Honda Accord, was *superb*. It was comfortable, great to drive, looked sharp, and was all-around the best vehicle for my driving in Los Angeles. National has great service, wonderful cars, excellent pricing, and I just generally feel like I'm taken care of. I tell everyone who will listen that National is the best. Thank you!

Feb 7, 2026

Well I've been renting since August and am under orders but unfortunately that wasnt accounted for the of he current 7 months and got charged an inexcusable amount. Yes im at fault for not double checking, but also feel like its the integrity of the business to fix it knowing wrong application was done. Unfortunately thats not the case and will probably not rent again next time whenever I got tdy for schools etc.

Jan 27, 2026

Always top notch. National is usually a bit more expensive than the other car rental companies, but I've had universally great experiences with the cars and especially the staff at every location I've used. I feel it's worth it and I'm happy to be a customer.

Jul 17, 2026

Had to downgrade due to them being out of the class of vehicle that was reserved and accepted. Definitely make sure you are video recording and or taking pics of the vehicle interior and exterior before driving off. Some locations don't do a great job of assessing returns and then you may get blamed for a ding, even if you only drove it from work to the hotel. This should apply to all rentals but Definitely learned my lesson with National.

May 7, 2026

I've always chosen National Car Rental for as long as I can remember, and I continue to have outstanding experiences every time I rent from the location at Melbourne Orlando International Airport. I can't say enough about the friendly and courteous staff, from the team inside the office to the employees outside assisting with the vehicles. Everyone is consistently professional, helpful, and welcoming. Most recently, I accidentally left my toll transponder inside one of the vehicles after returning it. Once I called and spoke with Olga over the phone, she immediately stepped in to help locate the transponder. They handled the situation professionally and efficiently, and I had the item back in my possession within the hour. That level of customer service is rare and truly appreciated. As consumers, we always have choices, and I will continue to choose National Car Rental because they consistently provide a top-tier experience. Thank you again to the entire team for always going above and beyond.

Apr 5, 2026

Abbey at the Nashville airport is amazing, she went above and beyond, helped us pick a vehicle that had a specific feature that made our trip much easier.

Jul 8, 2026

Vehicle shortly after pick up became mechanically inoperable. Contacted customer service. Customer service does not understand American. Was left without a car stranded two days and still got charged full. Will never use again, and I suggest you don't either if you expect service.

Jun 27, 2026

My last couple car rentals with National have not been the best. The staff has been good, but the cars themselves have not. This most recent rental (GMC Truck) was a little dirty, had a smell to it and did not drive that great – meaning the car pulled to the left (probably need an alignment), steering wheel vibrated (probably needs tires balanced) and the car just seemed to not run great, but did get me to where I was going and back. I generally utilize National or Avis for my car rentals depending on availability and price. I will be renting again in Fargo in late July and I'm hoping you can provide me with a special discount of some sort for my next rental. Thanks in advance for my consideration.

Apr 3, 2026

My daughter, who was our co-driver, left her purse in the car. Less than 10 minutes later, upon discovering it was missing, she returned to the return station to ask about it. The purse was immediately given back to her, but $400 was missing. This incident suggests to me that the employees at the return station may not have been properly vetted. It appears they know that most customers are catching flights and cannot stay to file a police report. I believe all your employees should be trained to prevent this kind of behavior. Based on this experience, I'm not sure I have the confidence to rent from your company again. The previous time we rented with you in Atlanta, we found ants in the car. When we told the agent, he immediately apologized and deducted $150 from the rental fee as the company's apology. That was excellent customer service. Unfortunately, the staff in Hawaii seemed indifferent. I hope corrective action is taken and that the employee(s) involved are dealt with appropriately. Thank you for your time.

Aug 10, 2026

You cannot go wrong renting with National. Clean and well maintained vehicles. Each rental is notable for the experience from beginning to end. The team members are very welcoming and helpful when arriving and dropping off your rental.

Jul 14, 2026

If you're flying into ALB, National is definitely the car rental to use. Pre paid contract lets you go directly out to the garage and on your way. Pricing is comparable. Agents on both ends were friendly and efficient. National will be my first pick when I need another rental.

Feb 28, 2026

The young lady at the executive selection area was incredibly nice and extraordinarily helpful. The woman at the check out kiosk was very funny and made the whole experience easy. Returning the car was great as usual with the attendants taking the time during an obviously busy time of day to ensure everything went well and their customer service was exceptional. Even if I was not required by my company to use national I would use them again and highly recommend then to others.

May 21, 2026

National has the most helpful, kind, patient and professional staffing of all companies, no matter the time of day/night, the weather or the work load. Jos at Westchester airport exemplifies all of these positive characteristics and I look forward to seeing him at the desk on each trip to NY. Compared to other companies the reservation processing from kiosk to car is simple and swift The cars are always in great shape without issue during the rental.

Apr 14, 2026

I've been with you folks for a very long time and every time I rent it has been an outstanding experience, including leaving the car at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport national rental return center. The young lady that assisted us was absolutely outstanding with her direction and guidance, especially to lead us right on back to the terminal. Great car, great gas, mileage, super clean and user-friendly from the time I made the reservation to the time I returned it. In my world, there's only one car rental company and that's national… Love you guys.

May 18, 2026

Always helpful and friendly service at the Little Rock Airport location! The staff works hard to make sure that I am in the best vehicle possible. This location consistently has newer vehicles.

Mar 10, 2026

National is the best car rental agency! It is always my first choice - great cars, easy pick up and return, reasonable Price, and friendly, helpful staff!

Jul 23, 2026

It took us three representatives to get a trip extended and location change, and my husband is an Enterprise/National employee. The English as a 2nd language customer service call center is atrocious. We were grossly overcharged - with my husband's employee discount being dropped completely when we changed the reservation. Everything was a hassle - completely unacceptable.

Jun 7, 2026

Sign up for Emerald club before you go there and you'll get the fastest rental experience ever. Pick your car, jump in, and drive. Returns are even faster, they look the car over and you're done.

Feb 24, 2026

Jay Peters was amazing and we so grateful for him helping us find a car rental without having a reservation.Without his help we may not have been able to quickly rent a car and get on our way. Thanks Again!

Jan 2, 2026

Car rental was smooth. Car was great. We have used National for years and always had a wonderful experience, but upon returning the final bill was $300 more than when I booked it. Fortunately I had time to go to the counter before our flight and the agent there fixed it so it was the amount quoted. I will continue to use National, but just a heads up to all, double check your agreement after pickup and upon return to make sure it matches your original booking price.

Dec 4, 2025

The vehicle shook/shakes. A one way rental. From PA to NC. The vehicle reaches above 65, and continues to vibrate/shakes. It did this the entire time 9 hour trip. As for me, this will never happen again. I will turn around the vehicle and ask for a refund. And spend my money somewhere else. I promise, this is my last issue I will ever have with this company. My last 2 rentals, including this one. Not even close to a 3 star rating. Thank you for your time. -Derrick

Aug 17, 2025

Easy and convenient made the rental accessible. Vehicle was well maintained. Location to car from airport terminal was quick both at pick up and return.

Aug 9, 2026

Rafael made our rental car experience wonderful. We checked in with him and he treated us with ultimate respect & patience under stressful conditions. Our Glacier Park trip was off to a great start, all thanks to Rafael! If at all possible I will use National Car Rental in the future due to this experience.

Aug 18, 2025

Nationals service is amazing, especially at Tri-Cities Airport. They truly go above and beyond to help their customers. I've rented from many National locations and Tri-Cities is among the best.

Mar 25, 2026

I had the best experience using this company from reservation, picking up the car, and returning the car. Everyone's so accommodating, approachable and kind. They will take care of your needs on travelling: your comfort and safety are their top priority. Thank you and for sure will use this company again for our future travels. Highly recommended.

Feb 25, 2026

I waited for over three hours to receive my rental car. The staff commented that they did not have enough people because too many people called in sick to turn the vehicles around quick enough. I was not the only one there was approximately at least three plane loads that I know of that we're also waiting. The company lost many people to the other car agencies that were at the counters and rented cars within 15 minutes of them changing companies.

Jun 30, 2026

Aaron my bus driver to the rental facility was both informative and entertaining. Had his own beat rhythm while we we riding the bus made him unique. And I actually laid attention to the information that helped save me some time and money by recommending to use the FREE shuttle to my LA Airport hotel I was staying at that night. Rather than paying the valet fee and having to deal with the car return in the morning before my flight.

Jun 24, 2026

The entire experience was simple and easy. From the pick up to the drop off. The guy at the counter who checked me in was absolutely amazing with great customer service skills. I will definitely use them again!

Jun 3, 2026

Great service during pick-up and drop-off. Car was perfect, clean, and in great shape! Will definitely utilize National Emerald Club for my next rental.

Nov 25, 2025

Everyone is always super friendly, helpful and reliable. National makes renting a car for big families or simple romantic getaways easy, affordable and hassle free!

Apr 14, 2026

Vehicles are always in great condition and I occasionally get upgraded at no extra cost. I love earning free days for my loyalty, and skipping the counter. I switched to National from Avis "Preferred" about 2.5 years ago and I couldn't be happier! It will be nice when Boise Airport has their Emerald Aisle up and running~

Jan 18, 2026

Excellent service. Had the car in 2 minutes when we picked up and dropped off in less time. Car was spotless and performed well. Best price that I could find. Wish there weren't so many required charges on top of the $49.99 fee.

Jan 4, 2026

I reserved a particular vehicle one month in advance of our trip. Upon arrival, that vehicle was not available. There were three other people in the same situation. I needed a van to travel south. Thankfully, the lot attendant worked diligently to get me something, not the vehicle of choice, after a two hour wait at the airport. Lot attendant A+, National D-.

Nov 9, 2025

Always a great experience at the Ontario airport location. Friendly staff. Wide selection of clean, fully fueled cars. Love that I can just hop in a car and check out rather than waiting at the counter.

Sep 3, 2025

Staff is amazing and courteous both on the phone and in person. I know the cars have a fast turn around but there were fries under my seat. Happens but it stunk. Other than that excellent!

Nov 23, 2025

National is my favorite car rental company. They are always super friendly and helpful when you pick up and return. Also, the pickup process is extremely easy and convenient.

Aug 25, 2025

I want to take the time to recognize the outstanding service I experienced from Breanna Swinton during my recent rental at National. What could have been a frustrating and stressful billing situation turned into a positive experience thanks to her professionalism, patience, and dedication to doing the right thing. When I arrived, the facility was in the middle of the evening rush. It was busy, with customers lined up, phones ringing, and cars coming in and out. On top of that, Breanna was working the overnight shift, a time when energy usually runs low. Despite the chaos, she handled everything with calmness and grace. She immediately gave her full attention to the issue at hand, even though there were many distractions around her. The problem involved a complicated billing issue, the kind that could easily leave a customer feeling frustrated. Breanna Swinton did not let that happen. She carefully listened to every detail, asked the right questions, and reassured me that she would work through it until it was resolved. Her ability to stay composed under pressure was impressive. Even though things were hectic, she made me feel like the only customer in the room. What stood out most was her patience. She truly has the patience of a saint. She did not rush me through the process, and she never showed frustration, even though the problem took time to sort out. Instead, she was thorough, thoughtful, and determined to fix everything correctly. That kind of effort is rare and deserves to be recognized. Breanna's approach also showed how much she genuinely cares about customers. She explained each step of what she was doing, kept me updated throughout, and made sure I understood how the issue was being fixed. She did not just focus on the transaction, she focused on the experience. She made sure I left feeling taken care of, not just processed. This kind of service is exactly why I continue to rent from National. There are many rental companies to choose from, but not every company has someone like Breanna Swinton. She is the kind of employee who turns customers into loyal customers. Her ability to handle a stressful situation with professionalism, empathy, and positivity is what sets her apart. People like Breanna are what make me come back to rent from National every time. I also want to emphasize that this all happened during a very busy shift. Many employees might have felt overwhelmed or rushed, but Breanna was steady, focused, and kind the entire time. That shows real character and dedication. It shows that she takes pride in her work and understands the importance of treating people with respect. Breanna Swinton deserves recognition for her efforts. She went above and beyond to resolve the billing issue, and she did it with a smile and a level of patience that most people simply do not have. She represents National in the best way possible. If there were a way to give her more than five stars, I would. She made a lasting impression on me, and I am confident she does the same for many other customers. In short, Breanna is outstanding. She is professional, patient, kind, and determined to provide excellent service even in challenging circumstances. She turned a difficult situation into a positive one and reinforced my trust in National as a company. National should be proud to have someone like her on the team, because employees like Breanna are the reason customers choose to return.

Aug 12, 2026

Rental experience was efficient, professional and reliable. Originally booked rental two months out through a travel website. Rechecked rates on rental car website directly a month prior and saved nearly 40%. Additional driver policy for household members is a great benefit. No significant markup for returning rental at a different location. Car provided was as booked and ready upon arrival.

Aug 11, 2026

The Houston team was so knowledgeable and helped me pick just the right vehicle for my long trip. They were patient in answering questions and did well to provide excellent customer service. Dre at BWI was friendly and expeditious.

Sep 8, 2025

Be sure to double check your contract before you leave the counter. What the associate tells you is often not reflected. Also do not trust online reservations as it seems that what you reserve and is confirmed is not necessarily what you will get at the counter/location. If fact sometimes they don't have any availability at all. The local staff has very limited ability as to what they can help you with and you will have to deal with the national customer service team. Very stressful experience.

Jun 6, 2026

Rational dies a good job of providing clean and dependable vehicles. The Evansville location is different from most other locations where you choose from Emerald Isle. Here they assign a vehicle. Only issue is if it is raining you have to walk outside to the car at pickup and delivery. Agents are efficient and pleasant. I recommend over other providers.

Dec 17, 2025

The rental was great, but the local team member who processed my return in the garage was incredible! I can't recall his name, but I forgot my cell phone in the car and he ran up to catch me at security because he knew I was rushing to my flight. He was awesome! Friendly, helpful, thoughtful and went way above and beyond. I think his name was Bill or Billy. He's an excellent example of superior customer service.

Jun 11, 2026

I've been using National for years. Love the Emerald Isle and the ability to choose your vehicle. We had reserved a F150 but received a Ram Rebel instead. It was a fun alternative. Quebec City airport rental location is a 30 yard walk from the airport entrance. Easy to drive in and out of the airport rental area. Quick check in and check out. I would definitely rent from here again on our next visit.

Nov 23, 2025

I had a very positive experience renting from National at the Indianapolis International Airport. The pickup process was fast, and the staff was friendly and efficient. I would absolutely recommend National Car Rental to others and will definitely choose to rent from this company again in the future. Thank you for the excellent service.

Apr 26, 2026

I reserved a vehicle in advance. When I arrived my only option was a 15 passenger van. I have traveled to this same location many times over the past two years. Any more it is becoming common place to not have any vehicles. This is frustrating

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Oregon
1 review
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Had to pay twice the reservation price
February 27, 2025

Had to pay twice the reservation price. Was a nice car. Almost brand new.

Date of experience: February 27, 2025
California
1 review
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Amazing!
February 24, 2025

Amazing! After flying into a regional airport Ifor a funeral, was having trouble with my rental from another company and the Agent for National went above and beyond to make sure I could get the rental I needed. The professionalism and curtesy were just what I needed when I was feeling vulnerable. My new rental agency by choice.

Date of experience: February 24, 2025
Michigan
1 review
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Very satisfied from start to finish
February 24, 2025

Very satisfied from start to finish. Quick and easy process. Car and car seat in excellent condition. Pricing was more than readonable

Date of experience: February 24, 2025
Georgia
1 review
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The inability to select your own car at the Pensacola location is very dissatisfying. It lumps your company into the same pool as other rental companies instead of allowing you to remain a cut above the others due to uniqueness of how your company rents vehicles. Then to add insult to injury the car I received was dirty and not a top tier vehicle that I am used to receiving from national

Date of experience: February 23, 2025
California
1 review
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Excellent customer service!
February 22, 2025

Excellent customer service! The vehicle was perfect for our needs; was clean and well maintained. Chris with customer care was outstanding!

Date of experience: February 22, 2025
New York
1 review
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The car was excellent and the personnel were very helpful

Date of experience: February 22, 2025
Tennessee
1 review
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Easy in, easy out
February 21, 2025

Easy in, easy out. As usual. Good choice of vehicles in Emerald Club row.

Date of experience: February 21, 2025
Florida
1 review
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Car was late and not adequately cleaned on the interior.

Date of experience: February 18, 2025
Colorado
1 review
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Easiest Car rental experience out there
February 17, 2025

Easiest Car rental experience out there. I walked out of the airport, selected a car and headed to my destination. Return was also easy and fast. We have had the same Greta experience both out of the country and within the US. We will always use National for our rental car needs!

Date of experience: February 17, 2025
South Carolina
1 review
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Excellent, fast, and friendly service!
February 17, 2025

Excellent, fast, and friendly service! It was difficult to find the rental counter as a first time Portland visitor, but that was a function of the airport and not the rental car company.

Date of experience: February 17, 2025
California
1 review
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Exceptional experience renting a car at the McAllen airport. The staff are friendly, customer-focused and professional. The service was quick and efficient to pick up and return my rental car. And, my car was clean and smelled fresh. Way to go!

Date of experience: February 15, 2025
TW
1 review
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Car was ready and clean
February 14, 2025

Car was ready and clean. Attendant was helpful and polite.

Date of experience: February 13, 2025
California
1 review
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Great team at the airport
February 11, 2025

Great team at the airport. Took care of me right when we had issues with the car rented. Well done.

Date of experience: February 11, 2025
Minnesota
1 review
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Why go anywhere else….seriously I'm on year 10 of my relationship with National and have only ever had one bad customer experience….which was promptly fixed.

Date of experience: February 11, 2025
Massachusetts
1 review
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The staff was unprofessional, unhelpful, and seemed uninterested in assisting me. I felt like I was inconveniencing them by being there. The lack of courtesy and poor customer service was shocking. This kind of behavior is unacceptable, especially when you're paying for a service. I will definitely think twice before returning to this location or recommending it to others.

Date of experience: February 2, 2025
Colorado
1 review
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The staff were professional and efficient!
February 2, 2025

The staff were professional and efficient! I would certainly recommend!

Date of experience: February 1, 2025
California
1 review
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National is great
February 1, 2025

National is great. Even at a smaller airport a great experience.

Date of experience: February 1, 2025
Virginia
1 review
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The agents at the counter were very nice and it was easy to pick up and return. I also had a choice of 3 different cars.

Date of experience: January 30, 2025
Washington
1 review
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Great Customer Service!
January 28, 2025

Great Customer Service! Easy and fast transaction. Definitely using National again!

Date of experience: January 28, 2025
Nebraska
1 review
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Great agents,very helpful
January 27, 2025

Great agents,very helpful. From rental to return.I felt like the truly valued my business.

Date of experience: January 27, 2025

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