South Bend car hire information
| Pick-up location | South Bend |
|---|---|
| Car types | |
| Hire locations | 13 |
| Airport locations | 10 |
Cheap car rentals in South Bend
| Mini |
| Economy |
| Compact |
| Intermediate |
| Standard |
| Full-size |
| Luxury |
| Minivan |
| Passenger van |
| SUV |
| Commercial |
| Pick-up truck |
Top tips for hiring a car in South Bend
- Discover hidden gems and historical attractions in South Bend by renting a car. Getting a rental car in South Bend allows you to explore the many fantastic destinations within the city and on its outskirts conveniently. Take a day trip to the serene Indiana Dunes State Park, which is about an hour away from the city. Adrenalin Junkies can even go as far as Rum Village Park, which will only take you around 10min by car. Car rentals in South Bend will get you to these and more destinations that are not accessible via public transport.
- The South Bend Airport has multiple car rental agencies, including Alamo, Avis, Dollar, Enterprise, and Budget, which you can book through KAYAK. There are several customer service desks located in the baggage claim section. From there, it’ll take you a few minutes to walk to the car pick-up area near the terminal.
- South Bend city traffic is slow-moving, especially during rush hour. To avoid getting stuck in traffic during weekdays, be sure to leave for your destination before 7am. It can take you around half an hour to drive from most South Bend suburbs to the city center in good traffic, but during rush hour, between 7am-8am, and between 5pm-7pm, it will take at least an hour or more to arrive at your destination. Be extra cautious when passing through the Adams and Dylan intersection, as many drivers fail to adhere to all the traffic rules.
- You may end up being stuck in traffic for at least an hour or more if you use heavily trafficked roads, like W Lasalle Avenue and W Colfax Avenue during rush hour. In case you intend to travel to the airport on the west side of the city, be sure to leave early before the morning rush hour. If you're in South Bend during winter, keep in mind that the harsh South Bend winters create icy roads, which can bring about serious accidents, so be sure to drive slowly and carefully.
- Book your rental car in South Bend at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Standard rental cars in South Bend are around -9% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in South Bend
South Bend car rental reviews and directory
Hertz
7.6
Good
43 reviewsCleanliness
8.1
Comfort
7.8
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.3
Value for money
7.2
One location in South Bend
Filters
Reviews
6.0 Okay
Jul 2019
Cons:
We tried to get the van a day earlier... we started that task 4 days before our original pick up date...what a nightmare. So much so that we will never use Hertz again. Unbelievable that no one could get their business together to be able to figure out how we could rent the vehicle a day earlier.9.2 Wonderful
Jul 2019
Pros:
Great staff, good value, so easy to get in and out fast.Cons:
People were obviously vaping in the car. Didn’t do a great job at getting smell out. For a car with only 8,000 miles it smelled.8.0 Very Good
May 2019
Pros:
Everything10.0 Wonderful
Mar 2019
Pros:
Pick Up Staff was helpful and friendly. Pick up and Drop off EasyCons:
Being an elderly person, I wish there was a brief review of car options. I had to go on you tube to figure out how to open trunk and 3rd car door.8.4 Very Good
Oct 2018
Pros:
The car was clean, no smells. It served me well.Cons:
The parking lot where the cars are parked was disappointing, but this was a small airport.2.0 Poor
Oct 2018
Cons:
Extremely disappointed as our agreement and payment was to/with Kayak NOT CarRentals.com. When we showed to pick up the rental, we turned away because of not having enough available credit on our major credit card. We were stuck with the $216 fee and NO car!!! At this point we're prepared to spread the word about Kayak car rentals....STAY AWAY and buyer beware. Please, we need our refund!Budget
5.7
Fair
57 reviewsBest rated
Cleanliness
5.2
Comfort
5.8
Pick-up/Drop-off
5.6
Value for money
5.7
2 locations in South Bend
Filters
Show reviews that mention
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Oct 2022
2.0 Poor
Sep 2022
2.0 Poor
Sep 2022
8.0 Very Good
May 2021
Pros:
YesCons:
Getting the car Shown on line not another.8.0 Very Good
Apr 2021
Cons:
Wish it had washer fluid. It might have helped during the blizzard we drove through. The back seats were dirty with dog hair and dried slobber.2.0 Poor
Feb 2021
Pros:
Reserved a convertible weeks in advance that showed on the website was available. It wasn’t!Cons:
If it isn’t available, the Corp website shouldn’t allow you to reserve one! I wasn’t notified it wouldn’t be available. Not at booking, not a week before booking, not the day before booking. a specialty vehicle order should be a flag that budget should validate and confirm availability when booking or within a day or two. It totally messed up my plans, cuz I called one day in advance just to confirm and assure, and to my surprise, they said No, none on the lot and none will be on the lot. Budget, you have a corporate issue here, that you need to address! You simply can’t say it’s available when the local office tells me no way it’s gonna be there. How can Corp office say one is available to rent? False advertising. I would have been livid had I traveled there only to find the promised reservation not possible to be filled, with budget knowing this well in advance but doing NOTHING about it.Avis
7.7
Good
15 reviewsCleanliness
7.9
Comfort
8.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.3
Value for money
6.9
One location in South Bend
Filters
Reviews
5.6 Fair
Sep 2019
Pros:
YesCons:
Your website is misleading on the vehicle size. I wanted a chevy impala sized vehicle - emailed confirmation stated "chevy impala" . But at desk to pick up car i would have had to pay more for that class.. Clearly a bait and switch tactic. Wont use kayak again.10.0 Wonderful
Jul 2019
Pros:
Staff was great, very smooth rental processCons:
car had a slight fragrance smell from cleaning products3.6 Poor
Aug 2017
Pros:
Pick up and drop off was very simple and easy.Cons:
Didn't receive the type of car that I reserved. The vehicle had recently been smoked in and smelled nasty!!!!6.0 Okay
Nov 2021
2.0 Poor
Nov 2021
10.0 Wonderful
Aug 2021
Enterprise
7.6
Good
23 reviewsCleanliness
7.9
Comfort
8.8
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.7
Value for money
8.2
3 locations in South Bend
Filters
Show reviews that mention
Reviews
4.0 Mediocre
May 2021
Pros:
Yes, staff was friendly.Cons:
It was the customer service when trying to call South Bend I was always routed to corporate. No one was at the Enterprise desk in South Bend so no one walked around the car with me. A supervisor on the phone used a phone and/or had a soft spoken voice. I could not hear him.10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2020
Pros:
Staff was friendly and efficient. I was in and out quickly. Great experience.Cons:
Only odd thing about renting in South Bend is there are no assigned spots. You everyone is walking around the lot hitting their car lock fob listening for the noise. It was actually kind of comical. But if the weather was bad or you were in a big hurry I could see how it would be irritating.9.2 Wonderful
Sep 2020
Pros:
Drop off in Downtown Falmouth MA. was great, Attendant was helpful and friendly. Pick up in South Bend IN. Airport went well even though I forgot who was supplying the car and the Kayak email confirm was on my PC , not my phone, they found me, I got the car.Cons:
The Ford Fusion hybrid has a weird feature where the engine turns off when you stop at a light or drive-through. This feature can be turned off by a button on the dashboard.2.0 Poor
Sep 2020
Cons:
Enterprise called me a day before and told me they had to canceled my car as they had high demand for the Holiday and they did not had the car that I reserved many days ago. They told me they couldn’t do anything that put me on a waiting list to see what day they could have a car available.!10.0 Wonderful
Mar 2020
Pros:
Staff was excellent. Fast, efficient, friendly. The dropoff was super fast and easy.Cons:
Nothing. Everything was perfect.6.8 Okay
Feb 2020
Pros:
Everything was easy and drop off was easy too. Car smelled like cigarettes. It was 3° and I had to drive with the window open.Cons:
No cigarette smell.Dollar
7.5
Good
29 reviewsCleanliness
7.8
Comfort
7.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.2
Value for money
7.6
One location in South Bend
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
May 2020
Pros:
Nothing Very unprofessional10.0 Wonderful
Jan 2020
Pros:
Staff was great friendly, helpful, I really liked the minivan, It was my first time driving that make and model car and I decided that I may just go bye me one.Cons:
The instructions of use for the plate pass could of been explained, it's a metal box that is stuck on the windshield. I did.have to travel on the Indiana -Illinois toll way and did not know that the box contained a ez pass. So electronically the box was being picked up and I was pulling over to pay cash Lol. 3 days later I figured out what the metal thing on the windshield was. The staff did compensate me for my trouble with the platepass, and I was very pleased with the way they handled it.9.6 Wonderful
Jul 2018
Pros:
Great vehicle for family vacation.Cons:
Air conditioning does not work well when car switched to alternative power. Works great when driving, but not when stopped.6.4 Okay
Jul 2018
Pros:
The SUV.Cons:
One poor employee was asked to staff all of Dollar and Hertz. I waited more than 20 minutes in line. He was a terrific employee who was asked to do far too much. Not fair to him or to the customers.10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2018
Pros:
Car was brand new with only 400 miles!Cons:
I had a hard time finding the car in the lot. The numbering was difficult to use.10.0 Wonderful
May 2018
Pros:
Car gets great gas mileage.Cons:
Restrictions when paying with Debit card.Alamo
6.0
Okay
23 reviewsCleanliness
8.0
Comfort
7.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.0
Value for money
6.0
One location in South Bend
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
May 2017
Pros:
Desk agent very prompt and friendlyCons:
Gave us free upgrade2.0 Poor
Apr 2017
Pros:
Nothing.Cons:
After arranging for the rental several days in advance and prepaying, I arrived to pick up my rental only to find that they did not have a car available for me. Instead I was offered my pick of dirty vehicles that had not been cleaned or refilled. Ended up going to Hertz and spending more money to rent a car spur of the moment but at least they had cars.10.0 Wonderful
Mar 2017
Pros:
Upgrade for freeCons:
Nothing9.2 Wonderful
Mar 2017
Pros:
Price. Bringing the car to the front. Quality of car.8.8 Very Good
Feb 2017
Pros:
Friendly customer service agents.Cons:
Too many hidden fees. Just use bottom line pricing when quoting costs.7.6 Good
Feb 2017
Pros:
The woman at the counter in South Bend was great! Loved that she offered me a bottle of water for the road - great touch!Cons:
The car didn't have a CD player - really wish there was a way for that to be indicated in advance. Also the car itself was pretty uncomfortable, hard to maneuver the seats but for the price and short drive it got the job done. The address listed for the Alamo pickup was wrong, it should be more specific in the rental info. Had to ask at another place before finding out about going into the airport. And then still had to get from rental counter to where the car was located. Please put that info in rental stuff up front so people can know that in advance!Easirent
No score available yet
One location in South Bend
National
No score available yet
One location in South Bend
Sunnycars
No score available yet
One location in South Bend
VIPCars Recommendation
No score available yet
One location in South Bend
190 travellers who rented a car in South Bend gave the car agency they used an average rating of 6.8
Car hire locations in or near South Bend
Good to know
Most popular car type | Standard |
|---|
When to book a car hire in South Bend
Average daily price per month
Car hire prices as pick-up date approaches