Ames car hire

Driver's age: 26-65

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Useful Info
Recommended by KAYAK

Cheap car hire in Ames

Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
Economy car
Economy
M
Compact car
Compact
M
Intermediate car
Intermediate
M
Standard car
Standard
M
Full-size car
Full-size
M
Luxury car
Luxury
M
People carrier car
People carrier
M
Passenger van car
Passenger van
M
Commercial car
Commercial
M
Pick-up truck car
Pick-up truck
M
Useful Info

Good to know

Most popular car type

Intermediate

When to book a car hire in Ames

Average daily price per month
Car hire prices as pick-up date approaches

KAYAK’s top tips for hiring a car in Ames

  • Renting a car from a car rental in Ames is a wise idea if you want to explore the city actively. This is because, with a rental car, you can travel from one attraction to another without relying on the city's slow bus travel. Within Ames, some of the attractions you can easily get to include Reiman Gardens, a botanical garden, and a butterfly pavilion; Brunnier Art Museum, a decorative art museum at a campus auditorium; Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake, a well-maintained park suitable for fishing; and Veenker Memorial Golf Course, a top-notch golf course. On the other hand, outside Ames, you can enjoy short road trips to Sakatah Lake State Park, Whitewater State Park, Backbone State Park, and Nelson Dewey State Park.
  • Des Moines Airport (DSM) is the main airport that serves Ames. If you'd like to rent a car once you land at this airport, you're in luck, as it features counters for Ames car rentals such as Budget, Enterprise, and Hertz. These car rental agencies are located in the baggage claim area of the airport's mid-size terminal. Thus, you can simply walk to the counter of your preferred car rental.
  • Ames boasts wide roads with proper road signs and demarcated paths for cyclists and pedestrians. However, when driving your car rental in Ames, it's in your best interest to always keep an eye on your surroundings, maintain a low speed, cut out distractions, and stay in line behind a slower car instead of abruptly changing lanes. Adopting the noted defensive driving techniques is quite advisable, given that not all Ames motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians keenly follow the traffic rules.
  • When driving your car rental in Ames, you'll likely not encounter major traffic, as traffic snarl-ups are not common in this city. However, from 7 am to 9 am and 4 pm to 6 pm, the roads heading to and from this city's center usually have slight traffic. Given that the traffic on these roads is slow-moving, if you intend to drive to the city center during these periods, you need not worry about getting stuck in traffic for too long. However, leaving a bit earlier than necessary will accord you adequate time to get to your destination in time. Other than slight traffic, Ames experiences significant snowfall from November to March. If you plan to drive in Ames this season, you should have your rental car equipped with winter tires. As all car rentals in Ames offer winter tires, you won't have to walk from office to office.
  • Book your car hire in Ames at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Full-size hire cars in Ames are around 27% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about hiring a car in Ames

  • How much is the price of fuel in Ames?

    The average price of fuel in Ames is €2.99 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between €36 and €48, depending on the car size.

  • What is the most popular car hire in Ames?

    Intermediate (Hyundai Kona or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Ames.

  • How can I find car hires near me in Ames?

    Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

  • How much does an Intermediate car hire cost in Ames?

    An Intermediate car hire in Ames costs €63 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Standard car hire cost in Ames?

    A Standard car hire in Ames costs €64 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Mini car hire cost in Ames?

    A Mini car hire in Ames costs €63 per day, on average.

  • What type of car is recommended for driving in Ames?

    In Ames, there are several types of car rentals you can hire. They include economy rentals, luxury rentals, SUVs of various sizes, intermediate rentals, and compact rentals. The car rental in Ames you settle on should be determined by the number of individuals you plan on traveling with. If you intend to travel by yourself or with other companion, you should consider renting an economy rental. On the other hand, if you plan on traveling with four other individuals, you should rent a minivan.

  • What is the speed limit in Ames?

    Different roads in Ames feature different speed limits. If you're on a road in a school zone, a construction zone, or a residential area, you're expected to maintain a speed of 25 mph. On the other hand, if you're on one of the highways leading into and out of the city, you can maintain a speed of up to 65 mph.

  • Where are the best places to park in Ames?

    Finding a spot to park your car rental in Ames is quite easy, given that this city boasts several parking spots. The said parking lots are available at 500 Kellog Avenue, 340 Main Street, 615 5th Street, 526 Main Street, and 617 Douglas Avenue.

Ames car rental reviews and directory

 
All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car hire booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

9.6

Cleanliness

8.0

Comfort

10.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

10.0

Value for money

10.0

3 locations in Ames

Show locations

Locations in Ames

1817 E Lincoln Way

+1 515 233 5200

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

5460 Merle Hay Rd Ste D

+1 515 331 1000

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

734 S Ankeny Blvd

+1 515 963 9300

Monday07:30 - 17:00
Tuesday07:30 - 17:00
Wednesday07:30 - 17:00
Thursday07:30 - 17:00
Friday07:30 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

Filters

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Kim, Mar 2021

KAYAK

Pros:

They allowed me to switch cars after they had completed all the paper work.

Cons:

The car could have been cleaner, I found a used mask tucked into the visor.

1 out of 1

Thrifty

8.0

Very Good

One location in Ames

Show locations

Locations in Ames

121 Southeast Shurfine Drive

+1 515 964 9650

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00

Filters

No reviews available

Dollar

7.9

Good

One location in Ames

Show locations

Locations in Ames

121 Southeast Shurfine Drive

+1 515 964 9650

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00

Filters

No reviews available

Budget

No score available yet

2 locations in Ames

Show locations

Locations in Ames

5500 Nw Johnston Dr, Ste C

+1 515 393 5455

Monday07:00 - 18:00
Tuesday07:00 - 18:00
Wednesday07:00 - 18:00
Thursday07:00 - 18:00
Friday07:00 - 18:00
Saturday08:00 - 17:00
Sunday10:00 - 14:00

637 S Ankeny Blvd

+1 515 207 6050

Monday07:00 - 18:00
Tuesday07:00 - 18:00
Wednesday07:00 - 18:00
Thursday07:00 - 18:00
Friday07:00 - 18:00
Saturday08:00 - 17:00
Sunday10:00 - 14:00

Filters

Reviews

2.0 Poor

Anonymous, Jun 2024

Economy

KAYAK
Egregious.

1 out of 1

Hertz

No score available yet

2 locations in Ames

Show locations

Locations in Ames

121 Southeast Shurfine Drive

+1 515 964 9650

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00

711 E Lincoln Way

Opening times not available

Filters

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Feb 2024

Compact

KAYAK
My experience was fantastic & I will be renting from hertz only the next time I need a rental but the real credit goes to Jon & the other young man who made this decision the best ever this world needs more workers who generally care about the customer & not just making a quick buck !

1 out of 1

Avis

No score available yet

One location in Ames

Show locations

Locations in Ames

637 S Ankeny Blvd

+1 515 207 5404

Monday07:00 - 18:00
Tuesday07:00 - 18:00
Wednesday07:00 - 18:00
Thursday07:00 - 18:00
Friday07:00 - 18:00
Saturday08:00 - 17:00
Sunday10:00 - 14:00

Filters

Reviews

2.0 Poor

Anonymous, Jun 2024

Pick-up truck

KAYAK
They did not have the rental type that reserved online. Said they hadn’t had one in years.

1 out of 2

3 travellers who hired a car in Ames gave the car agency they used an average rating of 8.2

Car hire locations in or near Ames

Car hire insurance in Ames

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) & Theft Protection Waiver

Some Ames car providers already include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Protection Waiver into the hire price but not all of them. We recommend always be aware of your coverage when hiring a car in Ames.

Deductible

Keep in mind that car hire insurances often have a deductible clause, which is the amount you’ll have to pay if something happens during the time of your hire. If you want to avoid unwanted surprises, you should consider adding a no-deductible option to your Ames car hire.

Ames car hire information

Pick-up locationAmes
Car types
Hire locations2
Airport locations0

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