Brandwave

How popular isNational Car Rental?

In September 2026, people searched for National Car Rental by name about 1 million times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 8.1% of all global rental car company searches, placing National Car Rental seventh out of nine companies. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about rental car companies, National Car Rental appeared in four of the five answers and was the third most recommended of the nine.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

National Car Rental is the seventh most searched of 9 competitors and the third most recommended in AI answers.

  1. HertzShare of searches 18.2%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  2. AvisShare of searches 14.9%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  3. SixtShare of searches 14.9%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  4. BudgetShare of searches 12.2%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  5. National Car RentalShare of searches 8.1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd

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Top rental car companies in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, National Car Rental was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. National Car Rental is the third most recommended of the nine.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Enterprise Rent-A-Car1st
  2. Budget2nd
  3. National Car Rental3rd
  4. Hertz4th
  5. Avis5th
  6. Sixt6th
  7. Europcar–
  8. Turo–
  9. Thrifty–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Budget5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Enterprise Rent-A-Car4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • National Car Rental4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Hertz3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Avis3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sixt1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Europcar0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Turo0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Thrifty0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about rental car companies

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Which rental car companies compete with National Car Rental?

National Car Rental against rental car companies worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Budget, Europcar, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, Turo. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthHertzAvisSixtBudgetEuropcarEnterprise Rent-A-CarNational Car RentalTuroThrifty
Oct 202520.6%16.9%11.3%13.8%11.3%9.2%7.5%7.5%1.9%
Nov 202523.1%15.4%12.7%12.7%10.3%10.3%6.9%6.9%1.7%
Dec 202522.6%15.1%12.4%12.4%10.1%12.4%6.8%6.8%1.7%
Jan 202621.8%17.9%12%12%12%8%6.6%8%2%
Feb 202622.8%15.2%12.5%12.5%10.1%8.3%8.3%8.3%2%
Mar 202622.3%18.3%12.2%12.2%10%8.1%6.7%8.1%2%
Apr 202619.7%16.1%13.2%13.2%10.8%8.8%7.2%8.8%2.2%
May 202619.5%15.9%13%13%10.7%8.7%8.7%8.7%1.8%
Jun 202619.1%15.6%12.7%12.7%12.7%8.5%8.5%8.5%1.7%
Jul 202618.5%15.1%15.1%12.3%12.3%10.1%6.7%8.2%1.7%
Aug 202619%15.5%12.7%12.7%12.7%10.4%6.9%8.5%1.7%
Sep 202618.2%14.9%14.9%12.2%12.2%9.9%8.1%8.1%1.6%

  1. 1.Hertz

    18.2%

    Held 1st. 2.2M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.

  2. 2.Avis

    14.9%

    Held 2nd. 1.8M estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -0.7 points.

  3. 3.Sixt

    14.9%

    Moved from 5th to 3rd. 1.8M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +2.2 points.

  4. 4.Budget

    12.2%

    Moved from 3rd to 4th. 1.5M estimated branded searches, -18% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  5. 5.Europcar

    12.2%

    Moved from 4th to 5th. 1.5M estimated branded searches, -18% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  6. 6.Enterprise Rent-A-Car

    9.9%

    Held 6th. 1.2M estimated branded searches, -18.7% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  7. 7.National Car Rental

    8.1%

    Moved from 8th to 7th. 1M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.2 points.

  8. 8.Turo

    8.1%

    Moved from 7th to 8th. 1M estimated branded searches, -18% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  9. 9.Thrifty

    1.6%

    Held 9th. 201K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

Compare popularity between National Car Rental and its closest rivals

Every comparison with National Car Rental

8 comparisons

How has branded search demand for National Car Rental changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for National Car Rental worldwide held steady at 1M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, National Car Rental’s share of searches among rental car companies worldwide increased from 7.5% to 8.1%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, National Car Rental’s share of searches among rental car companies worldwide peaked at 8.7% in May 2026 and was lowest at 6.6% in January 2026.

How did search popularity change for rental car companies worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Sixt overtook Budget and Europcar to rank 3rd among rental car companies worldwide, with 14.9% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, National Car Rental overtook Turo to rank 7th among rental car companies worldwide, with 8.1% of the searches.

  3. In September 2026, Hertz lost share of searches among rental car companies worldwide, from 19% to 18.2%.

  4. In September 2026, Avis lost share of searches among rental car companies worldwide, from 15.5% to 14.9%.

  5. In September 2026, Budget lost share of searches among rental car companies worldwide, from 12.7% to 12.2%.

  6. In September 2026, Europcar lost share of searches among rental car companies worldwide, from 12.7% to 12.2%.

How are National Car Rental’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using National Car Rental’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • national car rental

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Who owns National Car Rental?

National Car Rental is owned by Enterprise Mobility. Brandwave does not track any other brands owned by Enterprise Mobility.

Do you work for National Car Rental? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

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