Chicago Cheap Car Rentals - CHI

If you’re flying into O’Hare, rental desks are usually near the baggage claim, except Terminal 5, where there’s a phone to call the agency of your choice. Agencies include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National. Some offer complimentary bus service to pick up and drop off areas. If you’re flying into midway, desks are in the arrivals area and pickup/drop off is on the second level of the parking garage. Expect to find the same agencies here that you would at O’Hare. Many of these agencies also have locations in the city, if perhaps you don’t want to pick up your car right away, or only need it for part of your stay. Not all agencies allow you to leave the car at a different location than you picked it up, and those that do may charge a fee, so be sure you understand the terms before renting.

Chicago is well served by public transportation, so only rent a car if you really need to, perhaps to reach outlying areas where the buses and trains don’t go. Traffic can be overwhelming, especially during rush hours, and delays are common. So if you do need to drive around in the city, plan ahead and check the latest traffic information from the Illinois Dept. of Transportation. If you’ll be using one of the surrounding highways, have plenty of small change to pay tolls since most booths are automatic.

Also be prepared for the complications involved in parking. Spaces are hard to find and meters are very expensive. So are garages, where a few hours may cost over $20. Street parking is often limited to certain hours so read signs very thoroughly to avoid getting towed. The heavy winter snow can make for some difficult driving and some areas are set aside as snow routes, meaning no parking. Keep an eye out for red light runners. Some lights have cameras to catch this, but it still happens a lot. The speed limit is generally 35mph in the city and 65 mph on the highways. Arm yourself with a good map and study your route before leaving because Chicago is full of one-way streets. No cell phones while driving in the city (unless you have an earpiece).