Many people do not need to travel frequently enough to make buying a car worthwhile. People who work close to home, have few dependants, or who simply travel very little will rent a car instead of buying one. The process is simple and allows a person to only pay for car expenses when they really need to.

Car rental is also very popular among holidaymakers. When taking a plane to another country you will not be able to take your car, but may find that you want to be mobile and explore the countryside. For this reason car rentals have become very popular in holiday destinations. A variety of cars can be hired; a small car for a family making a cay trip, an off road vehicle for exploration, or a luxury car for a special event. With major rental companies you can order a vehicle online for by phone and it will be waiting for you when you arrive at your destination.

Rentals are also very useful if you have a car but will be unable to use it, perhaps if a partner needs to use the car on the same day, or if your car is out of commission due to an accident and you are awaiting repairs or compensation.

Car rental agencies can be very strict about the treatment of their cars. For many companies, the vehicles must be returned undamaged and without having been picked up for any law violations, or there will be a severe charge. Some companies do not allow the renter to take the car beyond a distance limit or for more than a certain time. It is worth knowing the local bylaws governing road travel if you are renting a car abroad. Speed limits and other things can vary a lot, and it is worth studying a map, as a rented car is no use without a fuel station.

Businesses sometimes get a discount on rental especially if they use the same rental company repeatedly. They may be rented a whole fleet of vehicles, perhaps to take VIPs from the airport to their business.