Budget vs Europcar:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Europcar had more branded searches than Budget among car hire companies in the United Kingdom. Europcar had about 74,000 branded searches, while Budget had 3,600. Europcar made up 17.2% of all car hire company searches we track, and Budget accounted for 0.84%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about car hire companies, Europcar appeared in two of the four answers and Budget in one. Europcar was mentioned before Budget in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Europcar, about 21 searches for every 1 for Budget
Who does AI mention more?
Europcar, mentioned in 2 of 4 answers, Budget in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Europcar, named ahead of Budget in 2 of 3 answers
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Top car hire companies in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Europcar was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Budget was mentioned in one out of four: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in the Google AI Overview. Europcar was listed before Budget in two out of three answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Arnold Clark1st
Enterprise Rent-A-Car2nd
Zest Car Rental3rd
Drivalia4th
Green Motion5th
Hertz6th
Avis7th
Sixt8th- Europcar9th
Budget10th- +1 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Arnold Clark4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Zest Car Rental3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Europcar2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Sixt2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Avis2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Hertz2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Drivalia1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Green Motion1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Budget1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about car hire companies
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best car hire company in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which car hire company should I use at a UK airport?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Who has the cheapest car hire in the UK?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“car hire”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 27, 2026.
Is Budget or Europcar more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Budget and Europcar by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 car hire companies we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for Europcar, Budget. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Enterprise Rent-A-Car | Europcar | Sixt | Avis | Hertz | Zest Car Rental | Drivalia | Green Motion | Thrifty | Arnold Clark | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 39% | 20.7% | 11.3% | 11.3% | 5.1% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 0.66% |
| Nov 2025 | 42.6% | 18.5% | 12.4% | 10.1% | 4.6% | 2.5% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 1.4% | 0.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 41.9% | 18.2% | 14.9% | 9.9% | 3.9% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2% | 2% | 1.6% | 0.88% |
| Jan 2026 | 35.6% | 18.9% | 15.4% | 12.6% | 5.2% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 1.4% | 0.92% |
| Feb 2026 | 36.4% | 20.7% | 13.8% | 11.3% | 4.8% | 4.1% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 0.82% |
| Mar 2026 | 33.1% | 17.6% | 14.4% | 17.6% | 5% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 1.6% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 0.86% |
| Apr 2026 | 32.8% | 19.7% | 16.1% | 13.2% | 5.3% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 0.63% |
| May 2026 | 32.8% | 21.9% | 14.8% | 12.1% | 5.3% | 4.4% | 2.4% | 2% | 2% | 1.6% | 0.72% |
| Jun 2026 | 31.7% | 21.2% | 17.4% | 11.7% | 5.6% | 4.3% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.3% | 0.69% |
| Jul 2026 | 33.5% | 20% | 16.5% | 11% | 6.1% | 4.9% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.66% |
| Aug 2026 | 35.9% | 19.7% | 16.2% | 10.8% | 6% | 4% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.64% |
| Sep 2026 | 38.2% | 17.2% | 14% | 11.5% | 6.5% | 4.2% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 0.84% |
How has the Budget and Europcar comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Europcar was ahead of Budget in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Budget’s share of searches among car hire companies in the United Kingdom moved from 0.66% to 0.84%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.9K to 3.6K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Europcar’s share of searches among car hire companies in the United Kingdom moved from 20.7% to 17.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 90.5K to 74K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom car hire companies in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Europcar lost share of searches among car hire companies in the United Kingdom, from 19.7% to 17.2%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Budget in the United Kingdom rose 24.1% over 12 measured months, from 2.9K to 3.6K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Budget’s and Europcar’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among car hire companies
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