How popular isBudget?
In September 2026, people searched for Budget by name about 1.2 million times in United States, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 19.8% of all United States car rental companies in the U searches, placing Budget first out of eight brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about car rental companies in the US, Budget appeared in all answers and was the fourth most recommended of the eight.
Budget is the most searched of 8 competitors and the fourth most recommended in AI answers.
BudgetShare of searches 19.8%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
Enterprise Rent-A-CarShare of searches 16.2%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
HertzShare of searches 16.2%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
National Car RentalShare of searches 13.3%Mentioned in 2 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
TuroShare of searches 13.3%Mentioned in 0 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
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Top car rental companies in the US in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Budget appeared in all four answers. Budget is the fourth most recommended of the eight.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car1st
Alamo2nd- Hertz3rd
- Budget4th
- National Car Rental5th
Avis6th
Sixt7th- Turo–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Budget4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Alamo4 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
- Hertz3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- National Car Rental2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Avis2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Sixt1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Turo0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about car rental companies in the US
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which car rental company should I use in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best car rental companies in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the cheapest car rental company at US airports?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“car rental”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“rental cars”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.
Which car rental companies in the US compete with Budget?
Share of searches by month for Budget, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz, National Car Rental, Turo, Avis, Alamo, Sixt. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Budget | Enterprise Rent-A-Car | Hertz | National Car Rental | Turo | Avis | Alamo | Sixt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 19.1% | 15.6% | 19.1% | 12.9% | 10.5% | 12.9% | 6.8% | 3.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 19.6% | 16.1% | 19.6% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 13.2% | 6.6% | 3.2% |
| Dec 2025 | 18.7% | 18.7% | 18.7% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 12.6% | 6.7% | 3.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 20% | 13.5% | 20% | 11.1% | 11.1% | 13.5% | 6.7% | 4% |
| Feb 2026 | 20.5% | 11.3% | 20.5% | 11.3% | 11.3% | 13.9% | 6.9% | 4.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 19.8% | 13.2% | 19.8% | 10.9% | 13.2% | 13.2% | 6.6% | 3.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 17.9% | 14.7% | 17.9% | 12.1% | 14.7% | 12.1% | 6.9% | 3.6% |
| May 2026 | 21% | 14% | 17.1% | 11.5% | 14% | 11.5% | 7.5% | 3.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 20.3% | 13.6% | 16.5% | 13.6% | 13.6% | 11.2% | 7.2% | 4.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 20.9% | 17% | 17% | 11.5% | 11.5% | 11.5% | 6.5% | 4.2% |
| Aug 2026 | 21.1% | 17.1% | 17.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 6.5% | 3.5% |
| Sep 2026 | 19.8% | 16.2% | 16.2% | 13.3% | 13.3% | 10.9% | 6.2% | 4% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 19.8% | 1.2M | -18.7% | -1.3 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 16.2% | 1M | -18% | -0.9 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 16.2% | 1M | -18% | -0.9 points | |
| 4, moved from 5th to 4th | 13.3% | 823K | 0% | +1.8 pointsmoved from 5th to 4th | |
| 5, moved from 6th to 5th | 13.3% | 823K | 0% | +1.8 pointsmoved from 6th to 5th | |
| 6, moved from 4th to 6th | 10.9% | 673K | -18.2% | -0.6 pointsmoved from 4th to 6th | |
| 7, held 7th | 6.2% | 381K | -18.2% | -0.4 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 4% | 246K | 0% | +0.5 points |
1.
Budget19.8%
Held 1st. 1.2M estimated branded searches, -18.7% vs prior month. Share -1.3 points.
16.2%
Held 2nd. 1M estimated branded searches, -18% vs prior month. Share -0.9 points.
3.
Hertz16.2%
Held 3rd. 1M estimated branded searches, -18% vs prior month. Share -0.9 points.
13.3%
Moved from 5th to 4th. 823K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.8 points.
5.
Turo13.3%
Moved from 6th to 5th. 823K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.8 points.
6.
Avis10.9%
Moved from 4th to 6th. 673K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.6 points.
7.
Alamo6.2%
Held 7th. 381K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
8.
Sixt4%
Held 8th. 246K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.
Compare popularity between Budget and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Budget
7 comparisons
How has branded search demand for Budget changed in United States over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Budget in United States held steady at 1.2M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Budget’s share of searches among car rental companies in the US in United States increased from 19.1% to 19.8%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Budget’s share of searches among car rental companies in the US in United States peaked at 21.1% in August 2026 and was lowest at 17.9% in April 2026.
How did search popularity change for United States car rental companies in the US in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, National Car Rental overtook Avis to rank 4th among car rental companies in the US in United States, with 13.3% of the searches.
In September 2026, Turo overtook Avis to rank 5th among car rental companies in the US in United States, with 13.3% of the searches.
In September 2026, Sixt gained share of searches among car rental companies in the US in United States, from 3.5% to 4%.
In September 2026, Budget lost share of searches among car rental companies in the US in United States, from 21.1% to 19.8%.
In September 2026, Enterprise Rent-A-Car lost share of searches among car rental companies in the US in United States, from 17.1% to 16.2%.
In September 2026, Hertz lost share of searches among car rental companies in the US in United States, from 17.1% to 16.2%.
How are Budget’s branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Budget’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.
- budget car rental
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Is Budget your brand?
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