KAYAK’s insights & trends for Outer Banks car rentals
Check out the latest trends and booking tips to rent a car in Outer Banks with confidence.
How far in advance should you book a rental car in Outer Banks?
You should book your rental car in Outer Banks around 87 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.
What is the most popular rental car in Outer Banks?
Rentals in the Medium category (Hyundai Elantra or similar) are the most popular option in Outer Banks, costing C$ 96/day on average. Some users have found deals as low as C$ 54/day.
What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Outer Banks?
The cheapest month to rent a car in Outer Banks is December at an average cost of C$ 96/day. January is the most expensive month to rent a car in Outer Banks when prices are C$ 167/day on average, which tends to be 72% above the yearly average rental price for Outer Banks.
Outer Banks car rental price comparison by vehicle type
Find the right rental car in Outer Banks by comparing prices across vehicle types.
Small
Medium
Large
SUV
Van
Pickup Truck
Luxury
Convertible
Small cars
C$ 43 - C$ 87
All Car Types
C$ 80 - C$ 145
How much does it cost to rent a small car in Outer Banks?
How much does it cost to rent a medium car in Outer Banks?
How much does it cost to rent a large car in Outer Banks?
How much does it cost to rent an SUV in Outer Banks?
How much does it cost to rent a van in Outer Banks?
How much does it cost to rent a pickup truck in Outer Banks?
How much does it cost to rent a luxury car in Outer Banks?
How much does it cost to rent a convertible in Outer Banks?
Small car rentals in Outer Banks typically cost around C$ 66 per day. The best time to book is February, when prices average C$ 43 per day, which is about 35% less than the yearly average. Small cars are usually 39% cheaper than the average rental in Outer Banks, making them ideal for budget-conscious travellers.
Medium car rentals in Outer Banks typically cost around C$ 96 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average C$ 71 per day, which is about 27% less than the yearly average. Medium cars are usually 11% cheaper than the average rental in Outer Banks, offering a good balance of space and value.
Large car rentals in Outer Banks typically cost around C$ 104 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average C$ 75 per day, which is about 28% less than the yearly average. Large cars can be 3% cheaper than the average rental in Outer Banks, offering more comfort for longer trips at a reasonable price.
SUV rentals in Outer Banks typically cost around C$ 103 per day. The best time to book is November, when prices average C$ 79 per day, which is about 24% less than the yearly average. SUVs can be 4% cheaper than the average rental in Outer Banks, providing extra space and capability for groups or road trips at a reasonable price.
Van rentals in Outer Banks typically cost around C$ 175 per day. The best time to book is February, when prices average C$ 104 per day, which is about 41% less than the yearly average. Vans are typically 39% more expensive than the average rental in Outer Banks but are the best choice for families or groups needing maximum passenger capacity.
Pickup truck rentals in Outer Banks typically cost around C$ 96 per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average C$ 79 per day, which is about 18% less than the yearly average. Pickup trucks are 11% cheaper than the average rental in Outer Banks, making them a practical choice for hauling gear or outdoor adventures.
Luxury car rentals in Outer Banks typically cost around C$ 130 per day. The best time to book is February, when prices average C$ 100 per day, which is about 24% less than the yearly average. Luxury cars are typically 18% more expensive than the average rental in Outer Banks but deliver premium comfort and style for special occasions.
Convertible rentals in Outer Banks typically cost around C$ 148 per day. The best time to book is March, when prices average C$ 94 per day, which is about 37% less than the yearly average. Convertibles are typically 28% more expensive than the average rental in Outer Banks but perfect for scenic drives and warm-weather destinations.
Good to know
Most popular car type
Medium
Top tips for renting a car in Outer Banks
When visiting a popular vacation destination like the Outer Banks in North Carolina, the car you choose to rent depends mostly on what you plan on doing while you are there. Because there are plenty of outdoor activities and water sports in this part of the world, having a truck, an SUV, or a van may be a good choice to get all of your passengers and their stuff to some of these outdoor adventures. If instead you just need to cruise around some of the amazing places you will find here, a nice sedan would be a perfect choice, but make sure that it has air conditioning for the sometimes hot and humid months of summer.
There are some unique laws to consider when driving with children in your rental car in North Carolina. At a minimum, children under five years old or weighing less than 40 pounds must ride in the backseat of a vehicle. The state also recommends that children ride in the backseat until they are age twelve or thirteen but this is not an absolute requirement. You cannot install a rear-facing car seat in front of an active airbag. Even if a child is riding in the front seat, you should use a booster seat when it is appropriate to make sure that the seatbelt shoulder harness is sitting properly over the child.
One thing to remember about renting a car on the Outer Banks is that because of a lack of large cities, your choice for car rentals may be somewhat limited. A better option may be to rent a car in a larger city, such as Virginia Beach, and then make the drive to the Outer Banks so that you can have a wider selection of cars to choose from that may suit your needs better.
Medium rental cars in Outer Banks are around 35% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Outer Banks
Should I rent a car in Outer Banks?
If you are going to be traveling to the Outer Banks, you almost certainly need to rent a car to make the trip here. While there are some limited public transportation options and options such as taxes and rideshare vehicles, traveling without a rental car can be inconvenient especially if you are traveling in a large group that has a lot of stuff. That is why renting a vehicle that suits your needs for your trip is an ideal solution when you travel to the Outer Banks.
What is driving like in Outer Banks?
Driving on the Outer Banks in North Carolina is not much different than any other state in the United States but there are some exceptions. In North Carolina, drivers will drive on the right side of the road and all of the distances and speeds you see will be in miles and miles per hour, respectively. Because the Outer Banks contain a lot of small two-lane highways, it is important to remember that you cannot park on any of these highways at any time. You must use your headlights from sunset to sunrise or if visibility is 400 feet or less. You can turn right at a red light after you have come to a complete stop unless there are signs posted saying otherwise.
How old do you have to be to rent a car in Outer Banks?
Most rental car companies will expect you to be at least twenty one years old to rent a car. There may be a limitation on the type of car you can rent, such as being unable to rent a luxury vehicle if you’re under twenty five. If you plan on using a debit card to rent a car, you'll probably also need to be twenty five years old to rent the car. Some rental car companies will let someone as young as eighteen years old rent a car, but in these cases, there are most likely going to be substantial limits on the type of car you can rent.
How can I find car rentals near me in Outer Banks?
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