National Car Rental

Reviews

• CL

  Cat Larrea

  1 day ago
  5.0
  We picked up our car at LAX and returned it to the Tucson airport four days later. Service was great at both ends although a little bit distracting at the new LAX rental center as it had just opened and everyone is new to everything. I assume trams will run directly to the center soon, but for now its still a bus ride from the airport to the rental center for all companies
• LD

  lane dittoe

  2 days ago
  5.0
  Tony S saved the day for me! I had made a a reservation with thrifty overseas so when I landed would have a car, they did not honor it and wanted to charge me $800 for a basic 2 day rental. I went to some other rental companies because they are all located in the new building. None of them went out of their way to help. Except Tony from National. I had landed from a 14 hr flight from Australia. Tony helped me and was kind and went out of his way to help me. No other companies did that except National. I will be a lifetime renter only from National from now on. I wish companies would learn this is how you create loyalty. The customer service was horrible from Thrifty. Thank you Tony S!! Appreciate you! Lane D
• JD

  Joel D-S

  4 days ago
  3.0
  Checking out at the LAX was a breeze. Very helpful. Car itself fine. Checking the car in Palm Springs - less so. Didn't get a receipt either printed or emailed after I checked in the vehicle, it remained open. Couldn't change the card I had used. The line was enormous (under staffed). Called the customer service number all they did was 'put in a request' - no actual help. Don't think its any of the people who helped me that was the issue - National just has very bad systems. I'm amazed when I rent a zip car how easy the app is, and how cumbersome these car rental places make everything still.
• MR

  Mari Robles

  Mar 1, 2026
  5.0
  Kudos to the manager ensuring that all customers returning their vehicle were taken care of. When I arrived he asked how the vehicle was, if everything was good and how I was treated. He then said someone would check me out shortly. I waited but no one showed up. He then let me know that I could go ahead and go but then I asked if he was sure because no one had checked me out. You can tell that didn’t sit well with him because his team wasn’t meeting expectations. That’s when a young lady stepped in, confirmed no one had checked me out and went ahead and scanned the car. She provided a discount which was unnecessary but I appreciated it because it showed they were aiming for top notch service. Even though someone dropped the ball it still shows they care about their job and their customers.
• SA

  Steve AWH

  Feb 25, 2026
  3.0
  In general, I prefer National to other car rentals for many reasons, mainly choose any car on the Emerald Lot. I recently rented an SUV, as I was returning from a two week cruise and needed something that could accommodate four large luggage pieces in the truck or backseat. My airport was LAX. We arrived around 11PM, so there were very few choices in the Emerald lot in SUVs and of those choices, the ONLY SUV they had was a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. All other vehicles were trucks with an open bed, that we did not want to risk putting our suitcases in a truck for a 2+ hour drive home. So we went with the Outlander. Pros- it was brand new...so you could still smell that new car smell. Cons - there are a lot. I tried, and successfully paired my iPhone, but unfortunately, there was no apple car play operating on this Sport version, so I was stuck trying to use my directions while keeping the phone on my leg. The sound wouldn't come through the speaker system, nor would it come through the phone, and I took the mute button OFF. Controls on the car, not really user friendly and the black interior didn't help to try and find things. FM radio was worse than anything I had in my childhood home. Every station was static, static, static. What do you do when you return the car? Refill the gas. This should be easy, right? Nope, I could not find the open the tank release anywhere I looked. So I went on line and tried to see where it was. It appears, this model has changed the location, nearly every year, so I opened the big book in the glove box until I found it. It still took me a long time to find the release, as it blended into the black carpet on the floor, really bad location. Okay - so, don't pick the Outlander next time, right? That is all they had in SUVs and this is LAX, a major airport and no choices. Yes, they had an SUV for me. Yes, it was new and worked properly. Rant over. I still love National. Just make sure you have some choices for us, or let me pick the car I want before I get there, okay? Hated this rental. Cranky Loyal Customer

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