This price is the cheapest per day rate found by a KAYAK user in the last 48 hours by searching for a car rental in Wilmington with a pick-up date of 18/5 and drop-off date of 23/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available at all agencies or on all dates of rental. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
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Cheap car rentals in Wilmington
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Wilmington is much like other towns, so choice of car depends mostly on renter's needs. Traffic is undemanding, parking isn't difficult to find and roads are pretty clear and straightforward.
Verified travelerFeb 2024
Signage could be better for turning, sites to see; and more.
Verified travelerOct 2023
Driving is fine, like any other city just follow the laws!
Verified travelerJun 2023
Thank you for a smooth check in in Wilmington and a great car. Drop off was a 10 out of 10. The fellow at RDU location was fast, friendly and professional. Many thanks!
AdamAug 2023
The line is always shortest for Enterprise/Alamo or National. It's a very quick walk from the terminal to the rental car lot, no shuttle.
Verified travelerJul 2023
On street parking (meters) is free after 6pm in some areas!
Verified travelerJun 2023
None - all well done. It's the DCA location that needs clear notice to renters.
KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Wilmington
Car rentals in Wilmington are a convenient way to visit the city and its neighborhoods, granting you flexibility and freedom to move around. Whether in Wilmington for business or holiday, choosing a Wilmington car rental company through KAYAK gives you the opportunity to visit different attractions and discover Wilmington neighborhoods at your convenience. For instance, you can travel places like Water Street Center, Harbor Oaks, Historic Downtown Wilmington, or even go to Carolina, Kure, or Wrightsville Beach, where you can unwind and enjoy local meals, such as cheesesteak egg rolls.
Different Wilmington car rental companies offer various vehicles depending on client needs. Picking a rental car from these companies is easy and will take you a few minutes since they are located within a short walking distance from the Wilmington International Airport. For instance, Alamo is a 10min walk from the airport. Other car rental companies that are within a walking distance from the airport include Enterprise, National, Dollar, Thrifty, Hertz, among many others.
Wilmington’s law enforcement officials are strategically located at different points to ensure drivers adhere to driving rules. The strategy has improved the road conditions and community impacts by reducing crime rates in the neighborhoods. While using your Wilmington rental car, ensure you stop at a stoplight, stick to the speed limits, observe traffic circle rules, and stick to the correct lanes to avoid problems with the highway patrol, as it might affect your experience.
If you plan to drive around Wilmington and its neighborhoods, we recommend you avoid rush hours, from around 7am to 8am and from about 6pm to 7:30pm. Wilmington traffic in various areas, such as the South College Road in Wilmington, may be challenging for a foreign driver as multiple cars line the middle lane during peak hours. If you have to drive during rush hour, avoid going through Market Street, Carolina Beach Road, and Oleander Drive, which can be quite congested.
Booking a rental car near the airport is the best choice, whether for business or personal reasons. Wilmington car rentals such as Budget, Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise are located near Wilmington International Airport. These companies are located near the only terminal in the airport, which has eight gates. Thus, picking up your rental car in the city is easy and convenient. The distance from the airport to the city center is 4.5 miles (7.2km) and takes about 8min using a rental vehicle. A bus takes 11min to cover the same distance. Again, you can choose affordable car rentals in Wilmington from those near the airport if you’re on a tight budget.
Choose a comfortable, spacious, and affordable rental car that meets your needs. It should have all the safety features, including seatbelt reminders, airbags, luggage space, a toll pass, and parking sensors. Ensure your car rental agency checks the functionality of these features before picking up your rental car. Some types of rental vehicles to choose from include standard SUV, intermediate SUV, Compact, economy, luxury, and supplier choice. Prices vary depending on the car rental company. Thus, choose cheap car rentals in Wilmington to avoid affecting your budget despite your reason for renting the car.
Be careful when driving your rental vehicle in Wilmington during winter. The icy, steep, and hilly roads are slippery, and you're prone to accidents and fatal injuries. That’s why most car rental companies offer different models of 4WD vehicles for renters to choose from. However, most companies give tips for driving on slippery roads, such as driving on matching tires, turning off traction control and driving slower on curvy snowy roads. Despite these weather conditions, these rental companies offer cheap car rentals in Wilmington that are affordable to most renters in the city.
Book your rental car in Wilmington at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Intermediate rental cars in Wilmington are around 27% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Wilmington
What type of car is recommended for driving in Wilmington?
There are scenic drives in and around Wilmington, and they require vehicles that can endure the terrain. If you decide to drive on the beach, we recommend a four-wheel drive to avoid getting stuck in the sand. Ensure to book a powerful vehicle to explore the mountains and get the best of both worlds of Wilmington.
What’s the speed limit in Wilmington?
Most neighborhoods in Wilmington operate at speed limits of 35mph for the local streets. In others, however, the speed limits have been changed over the years to enhance safety. The roads where traffic gets heavier, such as Market Street and College Road, are 35mph. Other roads, including Shipyard Boulevard and South College, and Carolina Beach Road, have speed limits of 45mph. Follow the right speeding rules on different routes to avoid colliding with the law.
Where are the best places to park in Wilmington?
Places to park car rentals in Wilmington are Downtown Parking, Empie Park, and Wilmington Long Leaf Park. There are several parking lots around the central business district governed by the city’s limited-time parking regulations. You can park downtown at street meters from 6:30pm to 9am on weekdays and all day Sundays (which is free), but you’ll have to pay $1.50 per hour at any other time. You can either use the mobile parking app, use coins, or a credit card when making payments for the meters. When parking your rental car, be careful not to break Wilmington’s parking regulations, such as blocking sidewalks, parking in a loading zone, blocking fire hydrants, or blocking the flow of traffic.
How much is gas price in Wilmington?
The average gas price in Wilmington is C$ 4.80 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between C$ 58 and C$ 77, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular rental car in Wilmington?
Compact (Nissan Kicks or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Wilmington.
How much does a Compact car rental cost in Wilmington?
A Compact car rental in Wilmington costs C$ 80 per day, on average.
How much does an Intermediate car rental cost in Wilmington?
An Intermediate car rental in Wilmington costs C$ 68 per day, on average.
How much does a Mini car rental cost in Wilmington?
A Mini car rental in Wilmington costs C$ 151 per day, on average.
What is the minimum amount of time to rent a car?
The minimum amount of time varies from one rental car company to another. Thus, check the requirements for returning a rental vehicle when booking to avoid penalties. Ask the customer care any questions to understand the needs of returning a car.
Do rental companies offer deals in Wilmington?
Most rental vehicle agencies offer deals to travelers who book in advance. However, deals differ in various companies depending on the time of the year you book a rental car. Therefore, search several sites and choose the company offering the best deal.
Wilmington did their job. But when called on to transfer the rental to the liable party's insurance (per that company's instructions), Enterprise corporation customer service was not helpful in the slightest.
10.0 Wonderful
Gabby, Jun 2024
Full-size
They were great. The car was a little small for how we are. But would rent again.
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Oct 2023
Economy
Great customer service! Wish the location that wasn't at the airport was a little closer to the airport with how hard it was to get a ride to get my car before the office closed. Very friendly customer service though! Pricing was super reasonable!
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Sep 2023
Minivan
Did not have cars when I showed up
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Sep 2023
Minivan
They schedule the vehicle and the time but when I showed up they did not have the vehicle and send me home empty handed with no vehicle for my family
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Apr 2021
Pros:
Check in and check out was super easy. Very friendly, and answered any questions we had. Car we rented accommodated everyone. I highly recommend Enterprise, Wilmington
I appreciated the speed and ease of renting from Hurts!
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Nov 2021
Drop off was quite a problem as they had no parking spots available as instructed to park the car in those spots and no one working at the time not couldn’t get any time of help on what to do over the phone either. That took a whole lot of extra minutes and we almost missed our flight. On top of that, I never got my receipt back after the opening hours so decided to call to make sure all was ok and they said the reservation number I had which was my hertz receipt number given by them wasn’t pulling up my information, was someone else. They couldn’t find my reservation with the number they provided me nor my drivers license nor my last name. Finally only by my credit card charge they found me but said it was a different reservation number than I had - which was my hertz receipt tho. And then they said it was still an open reservation as if I still had the car when I absolutely didn’t. So they still haven’t checked it out and finalized my rental. By 11pm I finally got the receipt email sent after calling them abs going through all that around 3pm and car was dropped off at 5am.
10.0 Wonderful
Alice, Jun 2021
iT WAS EASY AND AFFORABLE
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, May 2021
Pros:
Car was ready but had to get an upgrade as my choice was not available gave me the same rate as booked.
Avis stepped up after Dollar rental decided my clean drivers license couldn’t be scanned! Avis immediately provided a upgraded vehicle!
8.0 Very good
Anonymous, Sep 2023
Intermediate
Smooth transfer at 2nd site
8.0 Very good
Anonymous, May 2021
Cons:
They didn't know where the car was because it was absolutely brand new but someone put it in a field away from the other cars so it took us 25 minutes or so to find it find it.
2.0 Poor
Barry, Mar 2021
Cons:
They did not have a car at the time I needed one. They said it would be an hour and a half to get a car even though I made reservations 2 weeks before. I will never rent with Avis again.
Location in terminal and desk person excellent. Ease of pick up and drop off very good. Honda CRV—poor, difficult to find instrumentation. E.g., parking brake; plug for cell phone GPS; mirror adjustment control; gas cap. Drivers seat difficult to adjust for comfort and road visibility.
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Nov 2023
Compact
So easy to get to and very friendly staff.
4.0 Mediocre
Anonymous, Oct 2022
Car was dirty and I had to stop along the route day 2 and add engine oil
8.0 Very good
Anonymous, Oct 2022
Car was not very clean- I had to clean the inside and outside of the windshield. Other than that, it was a good experience.
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Sep 2022
We decided to get the car a few days earlier and changed the reservation with the help of customer service of budget itself. We also recieved a confirmation with the new data. As we tried to pick up our car we had to learn that the budget shop will not honor our reservation and that they have no car for us. Fur sure we had a lot of trouble to reorganize our whole trip.
I ordered an economy car, not a minivan. The minivan was ok but when I started it up, the screen said that the tire was low so I had to go back into the airport to tell them. They said it was fine so for four days, I drove around in a minivan that said “tire low”. Not good customer service.
2.0 Poor
Seth, Aug 2020
Cons:
I was able to book a rental car but when I went to pick it up they said they had no cars available. I ended up having to rent from another company and was very expensive.
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jul 2020
Pros:
Staff was friendly and accommodating. I would use them again.
Cons:
This is not a bad thing just wish I could have added a day to the front of the rental. Due to COVID we landed a day early.
I noticed my reservation was for noon but I didn't arrive until 7:45pm so I updated my reservation through Thrifty but they denied it was updated. When I arrived, they informed me they cancelled my reservation because it was 8 hours earlier. Then they informed me they had no cars and walked away. They didn't try to help, they didn't offer no apology. They didn't care. I will never use Thrifty again.
2.0 Poor
Helga, Sep 2024
Supplier choice
Nothing, no good, no car! Disappointing. They wanted to see my passport even though I hv valid NC drivers license. Poor service and Unfriendly
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Apr 2021
Pros:
It was all good.
Cons:
It was all good.
8.4 Very good
Kim, Jul 2020
Pros:
Staff was very friendly. They did not have record of my economy car reservation from Kayak. They were able to place me in a Ford F150 instead of an economy sized car that was ordered. The lady stated that 3rd party vendors information doesn't always come through with details.
Cons:
Have the car size as requested.
4.4 Mediocre
Anonymous, Jul 2020
Pros:
Not much.
Cons:
Once the staff showed up at the booth they were friendly and helpful. But I had to wait 25 minutes and call the person since they were "moving cars around". Then there were "computer problems", so the pick off took way much longer than it should have. I was told that the "manager's special" that I reserved was an F-150 pick up truck. There was nothing on my reservation that said that so I couldn't dispute it - so in order to get a smaller car, I was charged an additional $10 per day. Plus I was tired from traveling all day, it had already taken way to long to pick up a car, so I didn't argue. I think they plan things that way.
Easirent
3.9
Poor
One location in Wilmington
Locations in Wilmington
Wilmington International Airport
Opening times not available
Filters
No reviews available
Baker Automotive Rentals
No score available yet
One location in Wilmington
Locations in Wilmington
Wilmington International Airport (ILM)
+1 910 218 2070
Opening times not available
Filters
No reviews available
Sunnycars
No score available yet
One location in Wilmington
Locations in Wilmington
1740 Airport Blvd
Opening times not available
Filters
No reviews available
186 travellers who rented a car in Wilmington gave the car agency they used an average rating of 6.1
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