Table of Contents show

Traveling can be hectic…and traveling with little children can be really hectic. At BabyQuip we know that the goal is to pack light and travel happy, but what to do about those oh-so-necessary car seats? While some parents opt to bring along their own familiar seats for the trip, many of us would love to avoid lugging extra gear around the airport along with the zillions of other things we’ll inevitably have to manage. 

Car rental companies know that many of their customers are going to need child seats in order to stay in compliance with the strict car seat laws that exist all over the world, so most offer car seat rentals. You also have the option to rent from a baby gear rental company like BabyQuip, who now has providers in over 600 locations in the US, Canada, and beyond. 

So what’s the best choice? We took a look at two of the leading rental car companies, Avis and Hertz, and compared their rental car car seat prices and policies with those of BabyQuip. Read on for our findings about Avis car seat rental and Hertz car seat rental, as well as BabyQuip car seat rental!

Avis car seat rentals:

Avis Rental Car Company Sign

The Avis rental car company has been around since 1946 and has over 5,500 locations worldwide.

Price: $13 per day with a $65 maximum charge per car seat rental (applies to US only). 

What you’ll get: 

  • Infant car seat, convertible car seat, and booster seat options.
  • Models and types “vary by location,” but they always meet safety requirements.

Pros:

  • You can easily add car seat(s) to your reservation when booking the car rental online or over the phone.
  • Avis managers are trained to install their Evenflo car seats using the LATCH system. This is HUGE! Most car rental agency employees aren’t allowed to go near installation for liability reasons, leaving parents to try and figure out a foreign seat while wrangling little ones who have just been on an airplane for multiple hours.

Cons:

  • You can’t be sure that the seat has been cleaned or sanitized, or has been well cared for in general.
  • If you’re traveling out of the country, you’ll likely have to call the Avis desk in that location to confirm availability and reserve a seat. Many counters aren’t regularly staffed, so trying to get through to someone can be frustrating, and there may be a language barrier on top of that.
  • There is no guarantee. Even if you’ve reserved a car seat in advance, they are still “subject to availability” and there is always the possibility that the counter will have just given out their last one.

Related articles:

Hertz car seat rentals:

Hertz Rental Car Company Sign

Hertz car rental agency has over 12,000 locations in 160 different countries. Fun fact: they’ve been around since the year 1918 when they were renting Model T Fords out of Chicago!

Price: $13.99 per day with a $98 maximum charge per car seat rental (applies to US only).

What you’ll get: 

  • Infant car seat, convertible car seat, and booster seat options.
  • Like Avis, models will vary by location but always meet safety requirements.

Pros:

  • Like with Avis car seat rentals, you can easily add this option to your reservation.
  • AAA members get one free car seat per rental car reservation!

Cons:

  • Hertz employees cannot help with installation, although instructions are promised.
  • You won’t know what model you’re getting until you arrive, so you won’t be able to research the quality of the seat or installation instructions.
  • As with any car rental agency, you can’t be sure that the seat has been cleaned/sanitized/properly cared for.
  • If there is any damage to the seat you will be charged a full replacement fee.

BabyQuip car seat rentals

Baby Car Seat

BabyQuip, the #1 baby gear rental company, started in 2016 with the notion that family travel could be made easier and more fun if parents didn’t have to lug all of their gear around! Local providers work with families to get them the gear they need in the locations they visit. You may even find that BabyQuip exists in markets where Avis car seat rental and Hertz car seat rental options aren’t available!

Price: Varies by provider, seat, and model, but usually rent for between $6-$12 per day.

What you’ll get: 

  • Infant car seat, convertible car seat, harness booster, and booster seat options are available from most Quality Providers.  
  • Specific models vary by provider, but you will know ahead of time what you’re getting and you may even be able to request the exact seat you’re looking for.
  • Expertise comes with this reservation. Your provider will be able to get you the right seat and confidently answer any questions you have.

Pros:

  • Child safety is the number one priority of BabyQuip.
  • The provider will be able to select the right seat based on your child’s height and weight and answer any questions you might have. This ensures you’ll always have a seat that fits your child’s needs.
  • Because providers must buy seats new, they are guaranteed to be high quality and safe (and NOT expired!).
  • BabyQuip guarantees that seats are clean and sanitized. Providers always use the proper, manufacturer-specific cleaning methods to ensure the seat is safely cleaned between rentals. This means no harsh chemicals on straps, or other such practices that could render the seat unsafe.
  • You can easily reserve other baby gear along with your car seat rental. Consider adding a stroller to get yourself a full travel system, or perhaps a tub of toys to keep the little ones entertained during downtime throughout your trip.
  • Get to know your provider! You can read reviews that previous customers have posted on their websites to get a sense of how reliable and trustworthy they’ve proven themselves to be.
  • With over 600 providers in the US, it’s very likely there is someone who services the airport you’re traveling to! You can work with him/her to arrange a drop off and pick up time and location right at the airport.

Cons:

  • Most BabyQuip providers have delivery fees associated with rentals, so pay attention to that added cost at checkout.
  • Providers cannot help with installation for liability reasons, however, since your provider will be able to tell you the make and model of your car seat in advance, you’ll have plenty of time to research installation methods. Oftentimes you can find manufacturer videos that demonstrate proper procedures, and you can watch these beforehand. This will help you avoid the nightmare of being in the airport parking lot furiously combing through a manual while searching the seat for all of the latches and buttons that need adjusting! 

So where should you rent car seats from next time you’re traveling with the fam? Or should you just bring your own car seat along from home? There are pros and cons to all of the options we looked at—Avis car seat rental and Hertz car seat rental, as well as BabyQuip car seat rental—but we hope this info sheds a light on how valuable it can be to have baby gear experts (like BabyQuip’s own Quality Providers!) waiting to help at the other end of your trip!