KAYAK’s insights & trends for Wilmington car rentals
Check out the latest trends and booking tips to rent a car in Wilmington with confidence.
How far in advance should you book a rental car in Wilmington?
You should book your rental car in Wilmington around 27 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.
What is the best rental car company in Wilmington?
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in Wilmington are National (10.0), Enterprise Rent-A-Car (8.6, 10 reviews), and Avis (6.4, 5 reviews).
What is the most popular rental car in Wilmington?
Intermediate rentals (Hyundai Elantra or similar) are the most popular type of vehicle to rent in Wilmington. Intermediate rentals in Wilmington cost C$ 66/day on average, though some users have found deals as low as C$ 64/day.
What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Wilmington?
The cheapest month to rent a car in Wilmington is February at an average cost of C$ 49/day. June is the most expensive month to rent a car in Wilmington when prices are C$ 95/day on average, which tends to be 84% above the yearly average rental price for Wilmington.
What rental car company in Wilmington has the most locations?
Enterprise Rent-A-Car operates 5 locations in Wilmington, more than any other rental company.
When you visit the city of Wilmington either for business or vacation, you'll want to move around the city conveniently. From Philadelphia International airport, there are many attraction sites within 50 miles that you shouldn’t miss. There are public transportation options such as taxis and buses, yet, buses typically have designated routes, and taxis charge by mileage, so you'll probably end up paying more. This inconvenience and inflexibility signal that you might want to consider car rentals in Wilmington. With a rental car, you'll be able to visit the Philadelphia Museum of Arts or the Kimmel Center of Performing Arts, located only 9 miles (17min) away.
Philadelphia International Airport and Wilmington Airport are the two major airports in Wilmington, and both have several on-site car rental companies in designated places. These companies include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, Thrifty, and National. Most of these car rentals in Wilmington provide complimentary shuttle and pick-up services. After picking your luggage at Philadelphia International Airport, head over to Zone 9 from the exit terminal and get a shuttle to the offices of your chosen Wilmington car rental company.
Wilmington is a city with a high population rate and an even higher influx of vehicles. When driving on Wilmington roadways, be prepared for every form of traffic, human and motor vehicle. Most people in Wilmington love to cycle, and others prefer motorcycles to cars, meaning you’ll be sharing the highways with motorcyclists and bicyclists alike. Some pedestrians tend to jaywalk or text on their phones while walking. Exercise caution while on the road to avoid a catastrophic incident. Also, watch out for other drivers who may be negligent in observing traffic rules, as well as natural weather elements such as snow, mist, or rain that can make driving dangerous.
When it comes to traffic gridlocks, especially around rush hour, Wilmington is one of Delaware's most affected cities. Between 7am-9am and 4pm-6pm, most roadways experience traffic congestion. If you can't afford to be stuck in traffic for more than 30min, it’s advisable to use the roads when traffic is lowest, before and after rush hour. Similarly, avoid using Interstate 95 during critical hours and use GPS tracking while driving on unfamiliar roads.
Wilmington, DE, is well known as a banking and innovation center and is also considered to be the modern hub of its region. Opting for cheap car rentals in Wilmington will give you the flexibility of moving around easily and visiting the beautiful sceneries in and around Wilmington. Some of the places to visit and sites to see include Virginia Beach, located about 196 mi from Wilmington, or driving for a visit to Coastal Discovery Museum, located about 211 mi from the city center. You can also travel to The Oaks at Point South RV Resort located about 205 mi away or visit the Deep River Campground and RV Park located about 149 mi northwest of Wilmington.
Whether you are an experienced driver in Wilmington or not, observing safety while driving Wilmington car rentals is fundamental. Cases such as crowded intersections and roadways have greatly increased the chances of an accident occurring, which would lead to increased traffic snarl-ups and time wastage before the mess is cleared. Some of the roads you should be wary of include college road, which stretches about 4.3 mi between Wilshire Boulevard and Gordon Road. Other roads include the Randall Parkway and the South College Road intersections, Carolina Beach Road, Market and New Centre Drive, U.S. 17, and Highways 11 and 87.
There are several car rental locations in Wilmington, DE that will help you move around the city. You can get the Enterprise car rentals at Stonehaven, 100 Philadelphia Pike, and Colonial Heights. The Hertz car rentals are located next to Wawaset Park at 901 North Union Street, while Thrifty car rentals are based at 100 Mlk Junior Blvd. The National car rentals is located at 1000 S French St.
Intermediate rental cars in Wilmington are around 28% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Wilmington
What type of car is recommended for driving in Wilmington?
Given Wilmington's high influx of vehicles operating on major roadways, we recommend that an economy, a convertible, or any small car for smooth navigation around the city. Go for a minivan or an SUV if you travel as a group of more than five people.
What’s the speed limit in Wilmington?
Wilmington, like most Delaware cities, has a relatively low maximum speed limit. The state recommended speed limit is 65mph. Two-lane state roads have a speed limit of up to 50mph, and two-lane urban roads have a limit of 25mph.
Where are the best places to park in Wilmington?
There are several parking spots and garages in Downtown Wilmington where you can park your car any time of the day for as long as you wish. These parking services are provided by the Wilmington Parking Authority, Central Parking System, and Colonial Parking, which has spaces on different streets in Downtown Wilmington, approximately 15 miles from the airport. To use these parking services, you'll need to download the Park Mobile app, which customers use to pay for parking services. Parking costs around $1 per hour and around $12 per day.
Which car rental companies are at Philadelphia airport (PHL)?
Which car rental companies will pick you up at Philadelphia airport (PHL)?
Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Philadelphia airport to off-airport locations include Dollar, Payless, Thrifty and Hertz.
How much does a Compact car rental cost in Wilmington?
A Compact car rental in Wilmington costs C$ 75 per day, on average.
How much does an Intermediate car rental cost in Wilmington?
An Intermediate car rental in Wilmington costs C$ 75 per day, on average.
How much does a Mini car rental cost in Wilmington?
A Mini car rental in Wilmington costs C$ 73 per day, on average.
Do I need insurance when renting a car in Wilmington, DE?
If you are planning to get cheap car rentals in Wilmington, DE, you will first need to have a valid driver’s license from your state of origin or country of origin. If you only possess an instructional permit or a learner’s permit, you cannot rent a car in Wilmington.
How do I pay to use the toll roads in Wilmington, DE?
If you are renting a car in Wilmington, DE, you should be aware that the city has toll roads with e-tolls and/or cash. The different car rental companies in the city such as Hertz, offer e-toll services for increased convenience when using the roads. The e-toll service sends the toll charge to the rental car company which then bills your credit card. These charges are normally higher since they carry a service charge. You can however opt for cash payments.
I was scheduled to have a regular size sedan. However, received a mini van upon arrival. Was suggested that I could wait for a sedan if / when one was going to be returned that same day.
3.6 Poor
Anonymous, Sep 2020
Cons:
Car was dirty, smelled strongly of weed. As a fix they put 6 air fresheners about the car. The combination of the weed and air fresheners was horrible.
Horrible experience!! Avoid at all costs. Wanted to do a credit check in order to rent a vehicle and then also wanted to hold an additional $300!! Horrible facility as well that smelled of mold and the staff was extremely unprofessional.
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Apr 2024
Pick-up truck
I didn't know I couldn't pay with a debit card, no where stated that. Couldn't rent the truck and all plans for the day had to be canceled.
Agent was professional and thorough. Good mileage.
Cons:
The car was not clean. There were bits of food in the console and the inside of the windshield was smeared. There was cleaning spray residue everywhere. I had alcohol wipes and cleaned for 1000 mile trip. Pick up time was long because of 1 agent and line. I reserved a Mazda "or similar". Learned belatedly Mazdas are never available. Manual was missing so never figured out how to set cruise control.
2.0 Poor
Michele, Feb 2021
Pros:
Nothiny
Cons:
Poor customer service car was not ready when promised had to wait over an hour and the staff was rude. Tried to change drop off because it was so bad and they wanted me to pay an additional $300 to change
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