Car Rental in Albuquerque

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Albuquerque, USA - New Mexico
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Driver's country of residence is United States of America (USA) and age is 30-65
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700+ Trusted Suppliers:

Cheapest Car Rental Rates

Albuquerque Airport
Compact
Ford Focus or similar
Ford Focus
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Thrifty
$48.42 per day
Albuquerque Academy Acres North
Standard
Volkswagen Jetta or similar
Volkswagen Jetta
  • 5
  • 2
  • 2
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Budget
$55.94 per day
Albuquerque Airport
Full-size
Chevrolet Malibu or similar
Chevrolet Malibu
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Dollar
$70.09 per day
Albuquerque Airport
Intermediate
Toyota Corolla or similar
Toyota Corolla
  • 5
  • 2
  • 2
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Alamo
$77.28 per day

Most Popular Car Rental Deals

Albuquerque Airport
Economy
Mitsubishi Mirage or similar
Mitsubishi Mirage
  • 4
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Enterprise
$83.21 per day
Albuquerque Airport
Premium
Premium (BMW 2 Series) or similar
Premium (BMW 2 Series)
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
SIXT
$99.15 per day
Albuquerque Airport
Mini Van
Chrysler Pacifica or similar
Chrysler Pacifica
  • 7
  • 4
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
National
$103.51 per day
Albuquerque Academy Acres North
Luxury
Chrysler 300 or similar
Chrysler 300
  • 5
  • 2
  • 2
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Budget
$81.74 per day
The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 12:45 AM on 10/15/24. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.

Travel Information

Languages
English, Spanish
Currency
USD
Drive on
Right-hand side
Country code
+1
Average car rental price
$77 per day
Average car rental length
6 days
Speed limit within town
48 km/h or 30 mph
Speed limit out of town
88 - 120 km/h or 55 - 75 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.08%
Rating
10.0 / 10
Average gas price
$0.88 per liter or $3.33 per gallon
Lowest gas price
$0.76 per liter or $2.88 per gallon
Highest gas price
$1.05 per liter or $3.97 per gallon

Why rent a car in Albuquerque?

Albuquerque is by far the largest city in New Mexico and has the state's only major airport. It may not be the biggest draw for tourists (that definitely goes to Santa Fe), but it is certainly worth a visit. 

Albuquerque can serve as a hub from which to travel to other parts of the state or the start and end of a longer trip through the west. 

One-Way Car Rentals in Albuquerque

The most popular one-way rental options for pick up in Albuquerque and drop off in another city include:

  • From Albuquerque to Los Angeles - 16 offers from $74.32 per day
  • From Albuquerque to Long Beach - 11 offers from $94.54 per day
  • From Albuquerque to Las Vegas - 16 offers from $74.32 per day
  • From Albuquerque to San Francisco - 16 offers from $94.54 per day
  • From Albuquerque to Denver - 16 offers from $64.54 per day

Top ways to enter Albuquerque

Albuquerque International Sunport - The largest airport in the state of New Mexico is its main entryway for visitors. T 

Train - Amtrak's Southwest Cheif stops in Albuquerque on its way from Chicago to Los Angeles. The station is located downtown, so you can pick up a rental car at a downtown office rather than at the airport. 

By car - If you've rented a car in a neighboring state and wish to include New Mexico in your road trip, that's easy to do. Albuquerque itself is at the intersection of I25 and I-40, so it's easy to reach no matter where you are coming from. 

Top sights and activities

  • Albuquerque Biological Park - This complex includes the city's zoo, aquarium, and botanical garden. There is also a pond where you can fish or ride a paddle boat (called Tingley Beach). A small train runs between them all. A great way to spend a day with your family. 
  • Old Town - Albuquerque has an impressive Old Town that dates back to 1706. There are serval museums you can visit. Of course, just strolling along the narrow streets is a great adventure in and of itself. 
  • Sandia Peak Tramway - If you want a great view of the city but don't like hiking, then take the tramway up to Sandia Peak. It takes about 15 minutes to get to the top. Definitely consider going around sunset for a view you won't soon forget. 

 

Traffic and parking

While traffic isn't as bad as in other cities in the western US (like Phoenix), it still can be hectic during rush hour in certain places — mainly on the bridges and interstates. 

As elsewhere, you have to pay to park on the streets in the very center of downtown. There are streets further away where you can park for free. There are also some lots on the edge of downtown where you can park for free. City-owned lots around downtown are likely your best bet. There are also privately owned lots, but those tend to be more expensive. 

Toll roads

There are no toll roads in New Mexico, so there's no need to worry about transponders with your rental car. If you plan to travel further to Colorado, Utah, or Texas, you may encounter toll roads and need a transponder (see the articles for those states for more info). 

Ideas for day trips

Albuquerque is just about in the very center of the state. This means it's a great place to base yourself from to make some day trips. New Mexico is big, though. So some destinations may be a bit too far for a comfortable day trip. 

  • Sante Fe - The tourist crown jewel of New Mexico and the capital of the state is Santa Fe. It is about an hour northeast of Albuquerque. Instead of the Interstate, consider taking NM 14 for a much more scenic route. 
  • Taos - Further to the north of Santa Fe in the mountains, you'll find the small art hun of Taos. It has a large New Age community in addition to being a place where you can ski in the winter.
  • Jemez Mountains - About an hour or so drive to the north of Albuquerque, these mountains are a great place to get outdoors and enjoy nature. Many hiking trails crisis cross them. 
  • Truth or Consequences - This uniquely named town is famous for its hot springs. It used to be called Hot Springs but changed its name to win a radio contest of the show Truth or Consequences — the show was broadcast from the first town to rename itself after the radio show in the 1950s. 

Further destinations

Alburquerque can be a great place to start a longer road trip. You could travel to New Mexico's neighboring states. Be careful, as some suppliers (particular ACE) only allow traveling the states immediately bordering New Mexico.

Also, many suppliers will allow you to travel to Mexico, but you'll be required to purchase extra insurance (your car rental insurance usually does not cover you in Mexico). You should certainly check with the supplier before planning any trip to Mexico.

There are many destinations in New Mexico worth visiting:

  • White Sands National Park- Protecting a large part of the great white dunes of New Mexico, this national park is definitely worth the drive to get to. And once there you can drive through the gypsum dunes along Dunes Drive. You can also sled down the dunes until you get tired of walking back up to the top. 
  • Roswell - Infamous as the supposed place of alien landings, Roswell is a great tongue-in-cheek place to go through. The International UFO Museum and Research Center is a great place for a good "tour" through the local claims — you can have yourself a sort of real-life version of MST3K while going through it. There is also a serious museum about the local area if you prefer to learn something. 
  • Carlsbad Caverns National Park - While this national park has backcountry and hiking trails, the main attraction is the large network of caverns. You can go down in the caverns on your own, but as of May 2022, you need to make a reservation ahead of time. If you are traveling in the summer (Memorial day to October) try to catch the Bat Flight Program in the evenings (no reservation needed). You'll learn about the bats from a park ranger before watching them leave the cavern en masse (there is an amphitheater at the exit from where you can watch). 
  • The Very Large Array - One of the largest astronomical radio observatories in the world is located in New Mexico. Usually, you could watch an informative video about it and take a tour of the 27 satellite dishes, but it is currently (as of May 2022) closed to the public completely. It is still worth seeing from afar if you happen to be driving in the area.  
  • Four Corners Monument - See where Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico all meet. It is on Navajo land and is therefore administered by the Navajo Nation (National Park passes are not accepted). You also need to drive through either Arizona or Colorado to reach it. 

Of course, many chose a longer road trip through the west. A trip through the desert and mountains of New Mexico and its neighboring states is a trip of a lifetime to be sure. 

  • Colorado - The place to go to experience the heights of the Rocky Mountains. The state has 58 14ers (peaks 14,000 ft. or higher) and is a mecca for all things outdoors (hiking, skiing, fishing, rafting, canyoning, rock climbing, and so forth). A road trip through the West is not complete without venturing to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
  • Arizona - Just two and a half hours separate Albuquerque from the border of Arizona. On the way to Phoenix or the Grand Canyon, you'll pass Petrified Forest National Park, which makes for a great stop-off. And while we're at it, what road trip in the southwestern US would be complete without going to the Grand Canyon?
  • Texas - Head south on I-25 to hit I-10 and get to Texas. Of course, the more adventurous route in the eastern part of New Mexico will take you right across the border to Guadeloupe Mountains National Park. 
  • Route 66 - Perhaps the most famous road in 487 miles of the original US, Route 66 went through New Mexico, including going through Albuquerque. Driving parts of the route that still exist (or trying to follow the whole route) is extremely popular for the retro vibes. 

Car rental prices in Albuquerque

  • Convertibles - from $107 per day
  • Large cars - from $56 per day
  • Medium cars - from $48 per day
  • Vans - from $99 per day
  • Premium cars - from $67 per day
  • Small cars - from $61 per day
  • SUVs - from $65 per day
This information was written, fact-checked, and/or translated by our content creators.

Learn more about our Editorial Policy.

Top 2 cities near Albuquerque

  1. 98.1 km / 61 miles away
  2. 408.3 km / 253.7 miles away

Top 2 locations near Albuquerque

Map of Car Rental Locations

What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Albuquerque?

Car rental prices in Albuquerque vary by time of year. This graph shows the average prices per month to help you find the best time of year to rent.
Average rental costs per day in Albuquerque
$32.95
January
$38.25
February
$47.93
March
$41.78
April
$46.56
May
$42.17
June
$51.44
July
$33.54
August
$45.99
September
$51.12
October
$40.14
November
$38.09
December
The cheapest month to rent a car in Albuquerque is January (when prices average $32.95 per day). This is 22% cheaper than the yearly average and 36% cheaper than renting in July (when prices average $51.44).

This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.

What’s the usual rental length in Albuquerque?

How long travelers keep their rental cars for varies from month to month: in July, the average renter keeps their car for 12 days, and in January, they keep their car for 5 days.
Average number of rental days in Albuquerque
5
January
6
February
7
March
5
April
5
May
6
June
12
July
8
August
6
September
5
October
5
November
5
December

What's the most popular month to rent a car in Albuquerque?

Based on the number of searches by our customers, the most popular month for renting a car in Albuquerque is December, and the least popular is March.
Monthly searches in Albuquerque by pick-up date relative to the average
162%
January
148%
February
38%
March
88%
April
110%
May
60%
June
45%
July
93%
August
74%
September
148%
October
69%
November
165%
December

Car rental information

Car rental locations 5
Airport locations 1
Popular suppliers Ace Rent a car, Dollar, Thrifty, SIXT, Budget
Popular car categories SUVs, Large cars, Medium cars, Small cars
Lowest price $48 per day
Cheapest supplier Thrifty

Most popular car models of rental suppliers

Rental Supplier Model Doors Luggage Type
Ace Rent a car Hyundai Kona 4 3 SUVs
Ace Rent a car Toyota Rav4 4 2 SUVs
Ace Rent a car Hyundai Accent 4 1 Medium cars
Ace Rent a car Toyota Corolla 4 3 Large cars
Ace Rent a car Toyota Camry 4 2 Large cars
Ace Rent a car Volkswagen Jetta 4 2 Large cars
Thrifty Nissan Rogue 5 3 SUVs
Ace Rent a car Kia Rio 4 1 Small cars
Dollar Honda CR-V 5 3 SUVs
Thrifty Mazda 3 5 3 Large cars

Our customers' reviews

Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have the option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic.

United States of America (USA)
Chevrolet Spark
8/15/23
Great trip to Sedona and back!

Car Rental Statistics

Highest-rated company
Dollar
8 / 10
)
Lowest-rated company
Thrifty
7.3 / 10
)
Total number of reviews
1
Total rental companies
11
Average daily price
$77.42
Lowest daily price
$48.42
Total cars available
425

Top 11 suppliers in Albuquerque in 2024

Ace Rent a car
Ace Rent a car
Very good 8 / 80 reviews
1 location
$174 - $380
Dollar
Dollar
Very good 8 / 7 reviews
1 location
$49 - $149
Enterprise
Enterprise
Good 7.8
1 location
$81 - $193
Alamo
Alamo
Good 7.7 / 1 review
1 location
$77 - $168
Budget
Budget
Good 7.7
5 locations
$56 - $271
Hertz
Hertz
Good 7.7
3 locations
SIXT
SIXT
Good 7.7
1 location
$80 - $141
National
National
Good 7.6
1 location
$81 - $195
Advantage
Advantage
Good 7.5
1 location
Payless
Payless
Good 7.5
1 location
Thrifty
Thrifty
Good 7.3 / 9 reviews
2 locations
$48 - $143
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