Milwaukee car rentals
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Cheap car rentals in Milwaukee
KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Milwaukee
- The city of Milwaukee, nestled on the edge of Lake Michigan, is the perfect place to rent a car, as it is easy to navigate with its wide roads and sparse traffic. Avoid the discomfort of public transportation by renting a car, which you can drive all over the city while visiting its famous sights, including the Miller Brewery, or Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers. A hire car is also a great option for those looking to explore other areas around Lake Michigan, or even cross the state border for a day trip to Chicago, which is only 90 miles south of Milwaukee.
- All the major car hire agencies can be found at General Mitchell International Airport (MKE), located just six miles south of downtown Milwaukee. The car hire counters are situated on the first floor of the main airport parking garage, right next to the baggage claim area. Most companies are open from early in the morning (6-7 a.m.) until late in the evening (11 p.m. to 12 a.m.).
- Driving in Milwaukee is fairly easy, as the city features wide, uncongested roads, and a good highway infrastructure system. Drivers should know numbered streets run from north to south, while named streets run from east to west. Turning right on a red signal is usually allowed unless a sign states otherwise. While it's best to drive around in the summer months, those wishing to avoid big crowds should know that the summer season sees plenty of lakeside festivals.
- Milwaukee traffic generally flows nicely throughout the day, with the city having one of the shortest commute times in the country, but congestion can still happen during rush hours. Avoid driving during peak times; traffic headed into the city gets worse between 7 and 8:30 a.m., and then again between 4 to 5:30 p.m. as people leave the downtown area. The main congestion points are the Marquette Interchange, the Stadium Interchange, and the Zoo Interchange.
- Book your rental car in Milwaukee at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Milwaukee car rental experiences: the best tips from KAYAK users
FAQs about renting a car in Milwaukee
What type of car is recommended for driving in Milwaukee?
Single travelers who don't require much space for passengers and luggage and are visiting in the summer should opt for a small convertible to enjoy the Lake Michigan views and the nice weather. Families embarking on a road trip across the area might prefer a small van or a sedan, which will give everyone plenty of space and comfort.
What’s the speed limit in Milwaukee?
The speed limit is usually 25 miles per hour in the city (with the exception of certain residential areas that demand a lower limit, in which case the speed limit signs will be posted), 35 mph in city limits or uncongested towns, 45 mph on rustic roads, and 65 mph on freeways or expressways.
Where are the best places to park in Milwaukee?
The closer you get to downtown, the more regulated street parking is. Metered spaces have different time limits depending on their locations, and prices range between $0.50 and $1.50 per hour. Saturdays are free in some areas downtown, and street parking is free on Sundays and public holidays everywhere. You can apply for Temporary Overnight Parking Permission, which will let you park your car for free overnight on any Milwaukee street.
How much is gas price in Milwaukee?
The average gas price in Milwaukee is 13.06 ﷼ per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between 157 ﷼ and 209 ﷼, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular rental car in Milwaukee?
Full-size (Toyota Camry or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Milwaukee.
How can I find car rentals near me in Milwaukee?
Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.
How much does a Full Size car rental cost in Milwaukee?
A Full Size car rental in Milwaukee costs 255 ﷼ per day, on average.
Milwaukee car rental reviews and directory All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car rental booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Alamo
8.8
Very good
Read 20 reviewsCleanliness
8.6
Comfort
8.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.0
Value for money
7.8
One location in Milwaukee
Locations in Milwaukee
5300 S Howell Ave
+1 833 571 5615
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Oct 2024
Standard
10.0 Wonderful
Katharine, May 2024
Intermediate SUV
10.0 Wonderful
Tarak, May 2024
Intermediate SUV
10.0 Wonderful
Paul, May 2021
Pros:
Staff was great and very helpful.Cons:
I can’t think of a thing that would have made my experience better.6.8 Okay
Alex, Jul 2020
Cons:
The quoted price was $29.95 plus taxes per day with 200 miles per day. Somehow, I wound up being charged $265 for a 4 day rental. That alone is enough to upset me because obviously the quoted price was hiding extra fees or other costs.8.0 Very good
Anonymous, Jul 2020
Pros:
Very Friendly staff and smooth pickup and dropoff experience.Dollar
6.7
Okay
Read 45 reviewsCleanliness
7.6
Comfort
7.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.1
Value for money
6.7
2 locations in Milwaukee
Locations in Milwaukee
5300 S Howell Ave
+1 866 434 2226
804 Vel R Phillips Avenue
+1 414 272 8787
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Reviews
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Apr 2024
Intermediate SUV
8.0 Very good
Karen, Dec 2023
Intermediate
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Oct 2023
Economy
6.0 Okay
Anonymous, May 2021
Cons:
on 2nd day dashboard said tire air pressure low. garage took a nail and some staples out of the right rear tire and said the tread was worn.8.0 Very good
Anonymous, Apr 2021
Pros:
I got the Nissan Pathfinder I wanted and it was a good driveCons:
When I dropped the car off, luckily I stayed around for the person to examine. She told me I had not filled up the gas - but actually, I did, to just above 1/2, as the the tank was right at 1/2 when I picked it up. She told me this wasn't correct, but after a few minutes of me telling her I definitely left the car with more gas than I started with, she said it was cool - but if I had just left it, I would have been charged extra for refueling.4.0 Mediocre
Anonymous, Apr 2021
Cons:
Our check engine light came on 3 days into our trip. We called dollar and they said to drop it off at the nearest rental location. No offer to come out to us to swap cars. We asked if a car would be ready when we arrived and they said yes. We arrived in Louisville and the attendant said they didn't have any cars for us. We ended up checking in at the hertz counter. Debby was very helpful and she did find us a car. But the experience overall was not good.Budget
6.6
Okay
Read 56 reviewsCleanliness
7.2
Comfort
7.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.5
Value for money
6.9
2 locations in Milwaukee
Locations in Milwaukee
5300 South Howell Avenue
+1 414 481 2411
603 N Vel R Phillips Ave
+1 414 276 1634
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Reviews
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Oct 2024
Intermediate SUV
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Oct 2024
Intermediate SUV
10.0 Wonderful
Anthony, Sep 2024
4.0 Mediocre
charles, Jun 2024
Intermediate SUV
4.0 Mediocre
Heather, Jun 2024
Compact
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Mar 2024
Intermediate SUV
Hertz
5.5
Fair
Read 64 reviewsCleanliness
6.0
Comfort
6.1
Pick-up/Drop-off
5.3
Value for money
5.6
6 locations in Milwaukee
Locations in Milwaukee
433 W. St. Paul Ave.
+1 414 272 8787
5150 South 27th Street
+1 800 654 3131
5300 S Howell Ave
+1 414 747 5200
804 N Vel R. Phillips Avenue
+1 414 272 8787
8041 North 76th Street
+1 414 365 1291
8301 N. 76th St
+1 414 365 1291
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Reviews
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Aug 2024
Intermediate SUV
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Apr 2024
Economy
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jan 2024
Intermediate
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Oct 2023
Supplier choice
10.0 Wonderful
Anita, Nov 2022
2.0 Poor
Christine, Oct 2022
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
8.8
Very good
Read 12 reviewsCleanliness
8.7
Comfort
8.8
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.9
Value for money
8.3
5 locations in Milwaukee
Locations in Milwaukee
310 W Wisconsin Ave Ste 170a
+1 414 223 3720
4377 S 27th St
+1 414 281 8811
5300 S Howell Ave
+1 844 934 1084
5932 N Green Bay Ave
+1 414 540 7100
8205 W Brown Deer Rd
+1 414 365 0800
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Greg, Oct 2024
Premium
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Apr 2024
Compact
2.0 Poor
Mike, Dec 2023
Minivan
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jun 2021
Pros:
Staff was very friendly and helpful. Drop-off was a breeze.Cons:
A staff person called me a few hours after picking up the car saying they needed to verify the mileage and it may need to come back and swapped for a different car due to a possible need for an oil change. Tried calling back, but they were closed, and didn’t open until 9:00am the next day. The main Enterprise toll free number we tried had hours that started at 7:00am, but we would have been already long gone. When I picked up the car, the staff said to “call us anytime if you need anything” but the branch’s restrictive hours and the toll free number’s lack of 24-hour service prevents this. In the end, the staff person said don’t worry about it, there’s typically a 1500 mile buffer built in. All turned out well, but we were stressed after getting that initial voicemail because there was no way we could go all the way back to swap out a car, nor divert our course to go to a different Enterprise to do it, as we were on strict time constraints.10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, May 2021
Pros:
The staff were all extremely friendly10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Aug 2020
Pros:
Car was in great shape. Staff was exemplary in their service.Sixt
8.0
Very good
Read 3 reviewsCleanliness
10.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.5
Value for money
7.5
One location in Milwaukee
Locations in Milwaukee
5300 S Howell Ave
+1 888 749 8227
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Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Oct 2024
Full-size
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Oct 2024
Premium
10.0 Wonderful
Tmac999, Jul 2024
Standard
One location in Milwaukee
Locations in Milwaukee
Lc Pending Close Dec 1st
+1 877 283 0898
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Reviews
9.6 Wonderful
Kathryn, Oct 2020
Cons:
Exterior needed a wash.4.8 Mediocre
Debbie, Oct 2020
Pros:
when I got to rental counter in Mke- Marie argueed with me re. me wanting to return the car with a full tank of gas- so I got taken- a 10 gallon tank at $2 a gallon - and was charged 27....Cons:
when I got to rental counter in Mke- Marie argueed with me re. me wanting to return the car with a full tank of gas- so I got taken- a 10 gallon tank at $2 a gallon - and was charged 27....explain it better and given me my options- car was too small .....2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Sep 2020
Pros:
NoneCons:
Our reservation for a speciality van was at noon. We arrived at the location at 12:07 and the location was closed. The sign on the door and the website both said the location was open until 2:00. Avis was very unhelpful, insisting that it was my fault for “missing my appointment.” I told them that there were several steps they could have taken to make the situation a more customer service friendly experience, when the rental office saw they had a specialized reservation at noon, and they closed early, they should have had the courtesy to call us to alert us that our reservation was at closing time. The evening before, I called Avis to confirm the reservation, at that point the agent should have mentioned that the location closes at the time of my reservation. Neither steps were taken. I ended up having to drive to an airport location, and pick up a much smaller car, they didn’t have my specialty van in stock. I now have to pay $400 in shipping to get the remaining items shipped that was intended to go into the van. Avis customer service has been unhelpful, and maintains this is “my fault.” Buyer beware.9.6 Wonderful
Fred, Jun 2020
Pros:
Good car that was clean and hadn't been smoked in before my trip.Cons:
I'm not a big fan of the Milwaukee Airport. The signage is awful. I got lost trying to get back to the concourse.4.0 Mediocre
Anonymous, Jan 2020
Pros:
Never again this was my worst rental experience ever. I would never use Kayak or Thrifty again.Cons:
Using any rental company never using Kayak9.2 Wonderful
Robert, Jan 2020
Pros:
AffordableCons:
Car was dirty inside and out. Customer service rep was rude at the counter. Very short tempered and rude.2 locations in Milwaukee
Locations in Milwaukee
5300 South Howell Avenue
+1 414 482 8345
603 N Vel R Phillips Ave
+1 414 276 4122
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Reviews
4.0 Mediocre
Andrew, Apr 2024
Pickup truck
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, May 2021
Pros:
NothingCons:
I reserved by vehicle for 12pm noon and arrived at 12:05pm to find the location closed. Kayak didn't give me any notification that I would have to arrive earlier than noon if I expected to get a car. It caused a huge logistical headache for my trip and I won't be booking cars through Kayak again.9.6 Wonderful
Chris, Dec 2019
Pros:
Staff was friendly and picking up and dropping off the car was quick!Cons:
Nothing really2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Aug 2023
Convertible
6.0 Okay
Kate, Aug 2023
Intermediate SUV
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Jul 2023
Supplier choice
One location in Milwaukee
Locations in Milwaukee
5300 S Howell Ave
+1 833 571 5614
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Milwaukee
Locations in Milwaukee
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Milwaukee
Locations in Milwaukee
Filters
No reviews available
2 locations in Milwaukee
Locations in Milwaukee
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Milwaukee
Locations in Milwaukee
6841 W Brown Deer Road
414.354.8600
Filters
No reviews available
Car rental locations in or near Milwaukee
Good to know
Most popular car type | Full-size |
|---|
When to book a rental car in Milwaukee
Everything you need to know for your car rental in Milwaukee
Milwaukee car rental information
| Pick-up location | Milwaukee |
|---|---|
| Car types | |
| Rental locations | 27 |
| Airport locations | 13 |