If you’re planning a trip to Gainesville and would like to hire a car during your stay, there are several car rental agencies dotted across the city,
A street view in Gainesville (Photo: Owen Allen via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)
A bustling university city in northern Florida, Gainesville’s student population are at the heart of the high-energy vibe that helps make it one of the region’s most popular places to live. There are a large number of things to see and do here, ranging from culturally rich museums to more outdoorsy pursuits that invite you to explore the natural attractions that can be found nearby. All the better for having access to your own transport, some might say. And on that note, we’ve picked out the best agencies for hiring a car or RV across the city.
Downtown Gainesville: Enterprise
For collection in downtown Gainesville, we recommend Enterprise. From their office based at Northwest 39th Avenue, they offer everything from a cheap car rental like a Mitsubishi Mirage to bigger more expensive models such as a Cadillac. For the former, you can expect rates of around $289 per week and the latter about $355 or higher. If you’re seeking something a little more upscale, Enterprise also include luxury rental cars such as convertibles, SUVs and 15-seater passenger vans among their fleet. Damage waivers, roadside protection, and personal accident insurance are all available, along with other indemnities.
Gainesville Airport: Avis
There are a total of seven rental car companies at Gainesville Airport and our favourite is Avis. They combine an impressive selection of budget to mid-range options with excellent customer reviews and a generous cancellation policy. Among the standout deals we found were a Kia Rio which would cost $282 for a week’s rental, and for something bigger a Toyota Camry would only cost you a few dollars more. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick-up is included in the price, as well as policy amendments, theft protection and collision damage waivers.
RV Rental: Outdoorsy
A renowned peer-to-peer rental marketplace for RVs, Outdoorsy are the go-to guys for couples and families who want the option to sleep in their own transport. A major perk is that booking through a peer-to-peer website can often provide big savings on standard agencies. Outdoorsy have a large number of RVs for hire in and around Gainesville, including a Winnebago Adventurer for $665 per week that sleeps five and can be picked up from the downtown district, a trailer for $476 that sleeps two and is available in neighbouring city of Newberry, and a Keystone Laredo trailer for $875 that sleeps ten. Booking is simple too, and you can add on various protections to your insurance policy to cover accidents, enforced cancellations, damage, etc.