Yes, you can take a dog or cat in a rental car from most major US rental companies, and none of the big brands we checked charges a standard pet fee. The catch is cleaning: Enterprise, National, Alamo, Avis, Budget and Sixt all say the car must come back free of pet hair, dirt and odor, or you can be billed for cleaning or detailing. Avis puts a number on it, a cleaning fee of up to $450. Turo, the peer-to-peer service, is different again: pets are allowed only in cars the owner has marked pet friendly or with the owner's written approval.
Below is what each company's own US policy page says, followed by a practical routine for returning a car with no extra charges. Policies can vary by branch and change over time, so always confirm with the location where you pick up. If you are renting a car to move a pet to a new state, our guide to moving to another state with a dog covers the rest of the plan.
The quick comparison
Here is how the major rental companies handle pets in the US, based on their published policy pages as of October 2026. "Fee risk" means the charge you can face if the car comes back with hair, stains or smells.
| Company | Pets allowed in US rentals? | Stated conditions | Fee risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | Yes | Keep pets crated; return the car clean and free of pet hair | Cleaning or detailing fee if not |
| National | Yes | Same as Enterprise (same parent company) | Cleaning or detailing fee if not |
| Alamo | Yes | Same as Enterprise (same parent company) | Cleaning or detailing fee if not |
| Avis | Yes, at most locations | Return clean and free of pet hair and smells; call the location to confirm | Cleaning fee of up to $450 |
| Budget | Yes, housebroken pets | No pet fee; renter pays for damage or special cleaning | Damage and cleaning costs |
| Hertz | Unclear in current US terms | No current US pet FAQ we could verify; ask the branch | Expect a cleaning charge for hair or soiling |
| Sixt | Yes | Pet must be secured by crate, harness or boot divider | Cleaning fee for heavy soiling |
| Turo | Only in pet-friendly listings or with host approval | Pet must be in a crate or carrier | Cleaning policy violation fee for significant hair |
Service animals are treated differently from pets at every company we checked. They can ride without a carrier, and several companies say they waive or limit cleaning fees for normal service animal hair.
Enterprise, National and Alamo
These three brands belong to the same company and publish the same rule. Enterprise's FAQ, Can pets ride in my rental car?, says pets are allowed in rental vehicles from US locations, that customers should keep pets crated, and that the car should be returned clean and free of pet hair and dander to avoid cleaning and detailing fees. Alamo's pet-friendly car rental page and National's pet policy FAQ use the same wording.
Two details matter in practice. The word "crated" is in the policy, so a dog loose on the back seat is technically outside it, even if nobody checks at the counter. And there is no published fee amount, so a detailing charge is set by the location. If you are worried, take photos of the clean interior when you return the car and ask the agent to note that it came back clean.
Avis
Avis is the most specific. Its US pet policy FAQ says most locations allow pets, recommends calling your pickup location to confirm, and warns that a car returned with pet hair or smells can draw a cleaning fee of up to $450. Avis suggests keeping your pet in one area, such as the back seat or the cargo area of an SUV, using a leash to keep it there if needed, and using a carrier for muddy days.
That $450 ceiling is the strongest reason to treat cleaning as part of the trip budget. Twenty minutes with a lint roller and a portable vacuum costs far less.
Budget
Budget, which shares a parent company with Avis, takes a friendly tone. Its car rental FAQ invites housebroken pets to travel in the rental, says there is no extra charge for pets, and makes the renter responsible for any damage caused by animals or special cleaning needed because of shedding or accidents. For service animals, Budget says it generally waives cleaning fees when the excess dirt is mainly animal hair, but a location manager can still charge if the car comes back with more than a tolerable amount.
Hertz
We could not find a current US pet policy page on hertz.com that spells out the rules, and Hertz's published terms for some other countries require advance permission for animals. Third-party summaries report that Hertz US allows pets with a cleaning charge for excessive hair or soiling, but we could not confirm that from Hertz directly. If you are renting from Hertz, call the specific pickup branch, ask whether pets are allowed in the car class you booked, and ask what the cleaning charge would be. Get the answer in your reservation notes if you can.
Sixt
Sixt's help center article, Can I bring pets in my SIXT rental car?, allows pets as long as they are secured, for example in a transport crate, with a harness or behind a boot divider, to prevent distraction and injury. Sixt recommends seat covers or blankets and asks renters to remove pet hair and coarse dirt before return, since heavy soiling can trigger cleaning fees. Sixt says the special cleaning fee is waived for service animals.
Turo and peer-to-peer rentals
Turo works differently because each car belongs to an individual host. Turo's service animal and pet policy for guests says you should filter for cars marked pet friendly, or ask the host for written permission through Turo messaging before the trip. Pets must ride in a crate or carrier. Bringing a non-service pet into a car that is not pet friendly without approval, or returning it with a significant amount of animal hair, is a cleaning policy violation that the host can charge for. Some hosts add their own stricter rules to their listing, so read it before you book.
Service animals are allowed in any Turo car, but Turo is clear that animals whose only role is emotional support count as pets under its policy.
Do you need to tell the rental company?
None of the big brands requires you to declare a pet at booking, but telling the counter staff costs nothing and can help. Some locations, especially at airports and in city centers, have their own rules, and some vehicle classes such as luxury or premium cars may be off limits. Mentioning the dog when you pick up the car also gives you a chance to ask about the cleaning standard they will use at return. For Avis, the policy itself suggests calling ahead, and for Turo you must ask the host before the trip.
How to return a rental car without a cleaning fee
Every policy above comes down to the same test: does the car look and smell like no animal was ever in it? A simple routine gets you there.
- Protect the seats before the pet gets in. A waterproof hammock-style seat cover catches most hair and mud. Our guide to the best dog car seat covers lists options that fit most rental cars.
- Use a crate or harness. It is what several policies ask for, it keeps hair in one place, and it is safer. Our guide on how to transport a dog in a car compares restraints.
- Brush the dog before the trip. A thorough brushing the night before removes a surprising amount of loose coat.
- Pack a cleanup kit. Lint roller, rubber pet-hair brush, enzyme cleaner, paper towels and trash bags.
- Clean before you return. Most gas stations have a vacuum. Spend 15 to 20 minutes on seats, floor mats, the cargo area and door panels.
- Air it out. Leave the windows down for a few minutes. Avoid heavy air fresheners, which can read as covering up a smell.
- Photograph the interior at return. Date-stamped photos are your best evidence if a charge appears later.
Choosing the right car class for a pet
The car you book matters almost as much as the company. For a medium or large dog in a crate, an SUV or minivan with a flat cargo area is far easier than a sedan, because the crate can sit on the floor against the rear seats with tie-down points nearby. For a small dog or a cat, a sedan's back seat works well with a carrier belted in place. If you are moving several pets, a minivan with fold-flat seats gives room for multiple crates plus water and supplies. Avoid booking a convertible, sports car or premium class if you are traveling with a pet: some locations restrict animals in those cars, and fabric or light leather interiors show hair and scratches more.
When you pick up the car, check the cargo area before you load anything. Make sure the crate fits with the hatch closed, that air from the vents reaches the back, and that the cargo cover can be removed so the space does not trap heat.
Damage beyond hair: scratches, chewing and accidents
Cleaning fees are the common charge, but damage is the expensive one. A dog that scratches at a door panel, chews a seatbelt or tears a headliner can lead to a repair bill on top of cleaning. Budget's policy states plainly that the renter pays for damage caused by animals, and the other companies apply their normal damage terms. Before you rely on a damage waiver or the rental coverage on your credit card, read the terms or ask: interior damage and cleaning are often handled differently from collision damage, and some coverage excludes them. A crate removes most of this risk, because a crated dog cannot reach the doors or seatbelts.
If a cleaning charge shows up anyway
If you get a cleaning or damage charge you think is unfair, ask the location for the photos taken at return and an itemized cost. Compare them with your own date-stamped photos. Many disputes end at this stage when the evidence shows the car was clean. If not, escalate through the company's customer service channel, and as a last resort through your card issuer's dispute process.
Pet safety in an unfamiliar car
A rental adds a few safety issues that your own car does not. You may not know where the tie-down points are in the cargo area, so check before loading a crate. Child locks and window locks may be set differently, and a dog can step on a power window switch. Many rentals have side airbags along the rear seats, so keep a crate or harness clipped toward the center. And never leave a pet in a parked rental on a warm day: the inside of a car heats up within minutes whether you own it or not.
Rental cars for a long-distance move with pets
One-way rentals are popular for interstate moves because you can drive pets yourself while movers carry the furniture. Expect one-way drop fees and limited availability of larger SUVs and minivans in busy moving months, so book early. If your plan was to put pets in a rented moving truck instead, read our guide on whether you can transport a pet in a moving truck first, because the cargo box is never safe. For overnight stops, our list of hotels with no pet fee can save money on a multi-day drive.
If the drive is too long for you, or you have several pets, a professional ground transporter can carry them while you fly or drive separately. Many owners find the combined cost of a one-way rental, fuel, hotels and cleaning fees comes close to a transporter quote, especially for coast-to-coast moves.
Cats and small pets in rental cars
The same policies apply to cats, rabbits and other small pets, but the hair risk is lower and the escape risk is higher. Keep a cat in a secure carrier the whole time, set up any litter box inside the closed car, and line the carrier with absorbent pads. Our guide to a road trip with a cat covers the routine for multi-day drives.
Service animals and emotional support animals
Every company above welcomes service animals, usually without a carrier, and several say they limit cleaning charges for normal service animal hair. Emotional support animals are generally treated as pets, so the pet rules apply, including crating and cleaning standards. If a cleaning charge appears for a genuine service animal, ask the location for photos of the condition of the car and the itemized cost before you pay.