Car rental prices at Newark International Airport

At Newark International Airport, an Intermediate car like a Volkswagen Jetta typically costs around $67 a day for October 2026 when you reserve about a month ahead. A Compact car such as a Nissan Versa costs $4 less a day at $63, while stepping up to a Fullsize Chevrolet Malibu costs $78 a day. Waiting until the last 2 weeks leaves the Intermediate rate unchanged at $67 a day and nudges the Compact to $65. Across the entire year, November 2026 is the cheapest month at $73 a day for an Economy car, compared to $138 a day for a luxury model in July 2027. Use the price checker if your quotes are running higher.

For October 2026 at Newark International Airport, when you book barely moves the price: an Intermediate is $67 a day booked a month before pickup and stays at $67 in the last 2 weeks. Booking 9 months ahead across the year averages $96 a day, so if you have not booked yet you have missed nothing. Across the 395 airports we track car hire prices for, 48% of our customers book within 2 weeks of travel. If you have flexibility, November 2026 is the cheapest month of the year at $73 a day for an Economy car, compared with $138 in July 2027 for an executive model.

Budget is the cheapest company at Newark International Airport for an Intermediate car, averaging $61 a day over the last 12 months from 1,245 prices. You give up debit card flexibility, as Budget requires a credit card for its $200 deposit, but its desk sits directly at the airport and scores 86/100 from 40 reviews. Avis is the next step up at $69 a day across 614 prices, also requiring a credit card with a $299 deposit. If you need to pay with a debit card, Thrifty averages $71 a day across 544 prices and accepts debit cards at the counter.

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.

National is the best-reviewed company at Newark International Airport, scoring 92 out of 100 from 279 reviews, with desk waits averaging 24 minutes. National is not cheap, averaging $97 a day for an Intermediate car from 4,086 prices over the last 12 months. Enterprise follows closely on reviews with 90 out of 100 from 786 reviews, averaging $105 a day across 929 prices. Budget is the cheapest supplier at $61 a day and scores 86 out of 100 from 40 reviews, with an average wait of 14 minutes.

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 Newark International Airport, deposits held on your card range from $200 with Budget or Sixt to $299 with Avis, and 4 of the 9 desks accept a debit card. Another 3 desks take a debit card for some cars only, while 2 require a credit card without exception. The deposit and card rule for each vehicle are shown beside it in the results, so filter for a debit card before comparing prices. Any optional extras charged at the desk are listed under each car with their exact price.

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

Desk waits at Newark International Airport stretch beyond half an hour and card rules catch people out who arrive with only a debit card. Sixt averages a 37-minute wait at the desk, which tests your patience after a long flight before you even reach the highway. While all 9 rental desks sit at the airport, 2 refuse debit cards entirely and 3 accept them only on select models. Bring a credit card in the lead driver's name to avoid being stranded at the counter.

Only 52% of prices at Newark International Airport are full tank out, full tank back, so read the fuel line under the car before you book.

For comfort on longer drives out of town, pick an Intermediate car like a Volkswagen Jetta at Newark International Airport, priced around $67 a day for October 2026. It seats 5 passengers and holds 4 bags, giving you motorway comfort without squeezing luggage. Stepping down to a Compact car like a Nissan Versa costs $63 a day but drops boot space to 3 bags, while an Economy Mitsubishi Mirage costs $57 for 2 bags. 100% of cars offered are automatic, and there are no electric or hybrid options in the fleet, so you will be driving a standard petrol vehicle.