So you’ve decided to rent a car—awesome!
Whether you’re dreaming of cruising along the coast in a convertible or squeezing through narrow city streets in a compact ride, picking the right rental can make or break your travel experience.
Some travelers are easygoing and happy with whatever keys they’re handed. Others? Well, maybe you need something that fits the whole crew, your camping gear, or your Instagram aesthetic. No judgment—we’re here to help you figure it out.
Long-term car rental is always available if you have a rental agency close to you. Before you go there, though, you should take some time to think about what size car you need. This decision, presumably, is directly tied to what you intend to do with the vehicle.
But wait—there’s more to it than just picking a vehicle that looks cool. Fuel efficiency, luggage space, local driving conditions, and even parking availability can all impact your decision. Heading to the mountains? You might want something with four-wheel drive. Exploring tight European alleys? A smaller car could save you a lot of stress (and scratches).
Then there’s the fine print—insurance options, mileage limits, fuel policies, and surprise fees that can pop up if you’re not careful.
Let us discuss three different vehicles you might get from a rental agency based on their sizes. We will also talk a little about what you might do with each one of them.
A Sedan
Let us start with one of the smaller types of cars that you might get from a rental agency. If you visit just about any vehicle rental agency in the country, you should be able to find a sedan that is to your liking, if not several of them.
Sedans generally have four doors and a separate trunk space. They can usually sit either four or five adults comfortably.
If you plan to take a trip, and you are going to have a total of either four or five adults, plus a little bit of luggage or some supplies that you can put in the trunk, then this model should work fine. It’s also frequently easy to find sedans at a car rental agency simply because there are so many of them.
A Crossover
You can basically regard a crossover as a small SUV. You can always go with a full-size sport utility vehicle as well if you need something bigger. However, a crossover is a suitable option if you need something larger than a sedan or a hatchback, but smaller than a full-size SUV or a minivan.
Crossovers usually have the space to seat as many as six adults, or even seven sometimes. You should also still have plenty of space in the rear to load up any luggage or supplies you are taking with you.
Crossovers are also nice in the sense that they are a little more rugged than the standard sedan or hatchback. That means you can probably take one camping with no issues if that is your plan.
A Minivan
A minivan is a considerably larger vehicle than a sedan, and also a bit larger than a crossover. You can probably fit up to eight people in one and still have some room left for supplies or luggage.
If you plan to go on vacation, and you have a larger family or are going to bring a couple of friends along, then this is probably the best way to go. You’re not likely to get great gas mileage, but you will at least have the size you’re looking for. A full-size SUV is always a possibility as well.
Choosing What Fits Your Trip
At the end of the day, the best rental car for your adventure depends on your needs, your destination, and who’s coming along for the ride.
Sedans are perfect for quick getaways or business trips, crossovers give you that extra bit of space and versatility, and minivans are road trip royalty when it comes to group travel. Now that you’ve got the basics down, all that’s left to do is pack your bags, queue up your favorite road trip playlist, and hit the road.
