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Chicago car rentals: Windy City savings

Booking a Chicago car rental is the only way to see as much of the city and its surrounding communities as possible during your visit. RentalCars.net can help you find budget-friendly rates from leading rental car companies like Thrifty Car Rental, Hertz and Alamo Rent-A-Car. With a car rental, Chicago becomes more manageable, so you can explore the nooks and crannies that make the City of Broad Shoulders a truly special place.

Find the Chicago rental car that's right for you

Chicago may be very large, but it is a densely populated city with lots of cars, so on-street parking can be hard to find. If you're going to be doing a lot of driving around town, it's a good idea to find a rental car that's small enough to fit into tight parking spaces. A compact or economy rental car gets better gas mileage, too, so you'll also save money that way. On the other hand, a four-wheel drive SUV may be preferable in the wintertime, when strong winds come off the lake. Any time of year, a more spacious, luxurious rental car will be more comfortable for long road trips outside of Chicago, especially if you're traveling with children.

Don't forget to fill up the gas tank before you return your rental car. When car rental companies have to fill up the tank, they usually charge more per gallon than what you would pay at a gas station.

See the sights in your Chicago car rental

With your rental car ready to go, it's time to explore Chicago. The major car rental companies have branches at both O'Hare and Midway airports, with free shuttle service between the car lots and airport terminals. If you're picking up your rental car in downtown Chicago, you'll find many of the rental car companies have offices in and around the Loop, the city's commerce and financial district.

In just minutes, you'll be speeding along the interstates toward Lake Shore Drive, one of the most dazzling urban roadways in America. Cruise the Magnificent Mile, the stretch of North Michigan Avenue full of exciting shops and elegant boutiques. Look up at the famous, historic structures throughout Chicago, including the skyscraping Sears Tower, the massive Merchandise Mart, the historic Water Tower, and beloved Wrigley Field with its flags flapping in the breeze. (Blue flags signify a Cubs home victory; white flags indicate a home loss.)

With your Chicago car rental, you can explore some of the city's outlying neighborhoods and upscale suburbs as well, including Oak Park, the birthplace of Ernest Hemingway and the former home of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Travel north along the shoreline of Lake Michigan to reach the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, or keep going into Wisconsin for beer and brats. Detroit, St. Louis and Milwaukee can all be reached in a matter of hours.

It's Chicago drive time

RentalCars.net puts you in the driver's seat when it comes to selection and price for Chicago car rentals. Let big savings bring a big smile to your face, as you cruise around the Chicago's sights in your rental car.