Car rental prices at Des Moines Airport

For November 2026 at Des Moines Airport, an Intermediate car, the Volkswagen Jetta size, averages $57 a day when you book around a month before, giving you a benchmark for your quote. An Economy car, such as a Mitsubishi Mirage, averages $50 a day, while a Compact car, such as a Nissan Versa, averages $53 at the same lead time. In the last 2 weeks, the Intermediate car averages $60 a day, $3 more a day. Use the price checker to compare your quote with prices for your exact dates.

For November 2026 at DSM, book around a month before: an Intermediate car averages $57 a day versus $60 in the last 2 weeks, while across-year prices at both lead times average $69. Across the year, an Intermediate car averages $95 a day around 9 months before your trip, so you have not missed a lower early-booking price. Across the 395 airports we track car hire prices for, 65% of our customers book within a month of pickup, so booking at that point is common.

Budget is the cheapest company at Des Moines Airport for an Intermediate car over the last 12 months, averaging $61 a day from 1,871 prices, but you need a credit card. Budget's desk is at the airport, scores 76/100 from 2,209 reviews and averages a 27-minute wait, so allow time at pickup. For an Intermediate car over the same 12 months, Avis averages $66 a day from 621 prices, $5 more a day, and scores 78/100 from 1,113 reviews. Compare Avis if its 22-minute average desk wait better fits your plans, but you still need a credit card.

The cheapest company can cost you a longer queue or a bigger deposit, so check the review score and desk wait beside each car in the results before you book.

If you value reviews and a short desk wait, National leads at Des Moines Airport with 99/100 from 268 reviews and an average wait of 4 minutes. For an Intermediate car over the last 12 months, National averages $89 a day from 4,345 prices, $28 more a day than Budget at $61 from 1,871 prices. Budget scores 76/100 from 2,209 reviews and averages a 27-minute wait, so compare that saving with the extra pickup time. Alamo offers another option at 97/100 from 1,439 reviews and a 10-minute average wait.

Review scores are CarTrawler customers' own, from the last five months; the score and the desk wait sit beside each car in the results.

At Des Moines Airport, allow $200 for Budget's typical deposit or $300 for Avis's, and bring a credit card because 5 of the 6 companies require one. Hertz accepts debit cards for some cars only; none of the 6 companies accepts them without that restriction, so filter for a debit card before comparing prices. Check the deposit and card rule beside your chosen car before booking. Extras charged at the desk are listed under each car with their price.

If you bring your own child seat, check your airline's rules first: most carry one free, some charge.

At Des Moines Airport, check card eligibility and allow time for pickup because 5 of the 6 companies require a credit card and Budget's desk wait averages 27 minutes. If you intend to use a debit card, Hertz accepts one for some cars only, so confirm eligibility before booking. If you have a timed appointment after landing, compare Budget's 27-minute average wait with National's 4 minutes or Alamo's 10 minutes. All 6 desks are at the airport, but that does not remove the need to allow for a queue.

Only 50% of prices at Des Moines Airport are full tank out, full tank back, so read the fuel line under the car before you book.

At Des Moines Airport, an Intermediate car such as a Volkswagen Jetta averages $57 a day around a month before your November 2026 trip and suits up to 4 people with 4 bags. An Intermediate car seats 5 but takes 4 bags, so a full party needs to pack fewer bags; stepping down to a Compact car such as a Nissan Versa costs $53 a day at the same lead time but reduces luggage capacity to 3 bags. A Nissan Maxima-sized car averages $78 a day at that lead time, compared with $57 a day for an Intermediate car, without increasing the 4-bag capacity. 100% of cars offered are automatic, so you do not need to budget for a manual-to-automatic upgrade. Electric and hybrid cars are not offered, so do not plan your rental around charging.