People rent cars for many different reasons, ranging from the practical to the downright celebratory. When it comes to exotic rentals, they could be hired to make a magnificent entrance to an event, to impress a visiting client, or just for the thrill of driving something totally unaffordable for one sublime day and night. Whatever your reasons, you should know your options.
Below we discuss our favorite cars to rent as well as where to find them.
Make 2021 A Year for Exotic Car Rental
Exotic car and supercar rental are a great way to make 2021 a year to remember, especially after the somewhat regrettable year that was 2020. Below are some of the absolute best supercar rental choices out there:
1. Audi R8
The top-of-the-line Audi would set you back $142,000 or more if you bought it brand-new in 2021. It’s a little out of reach for many, but makes an amazing treat for special-occasion exotic rentals. It’s powered by an incredible 5.2L V10 engine putting out up to 602 horsepower and up to 413lb-ft of torque depending on exactly which one you get. That’s coupled with a 7-speed automatic transmission.
On the inside, the two-seater delivers a luxury experience packed with Audi’s signature style. There’s a full digital instrument display with Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, upscale materials, infotainment and more. There’s not a great deal of cargo space in this car, but that’s not why you take on a supercar rental.
2. Ferrari F8 Tributo (Or Spider for a Convertible)
Sit in one of these and behind you is loaded up an impressive 3.9L V8 engine delivering some 710hp and 568lb-ft of torque. Both the Tributo and Spider are RWD vehicles and will get from 0 to 60 in just 2.8 seconds. The Tributo version is sold as the more premium of the two, and would set you back the somewhat princely sum of around $277,000 brand new.
Ferrari prepared the F8 with many possibly upgrades and extras like different upholstery choices, titanium exhaust pipes, carbon fiber exterior components, different brake calipers and more. So, depending on where you might get an F8 exotic rental from, you’d likely get one that’s quite unique from any others.
3. Lamborghini Huracan
For many who dream of driving a Lamborghini, it doesn’t get much better than the Huracan. It brings together that low profile, irresistible angular design, huge 20-inch wheels and unique interior and exterior looks that have made this brand so beloved. Just imagine pulling into a high-end event in a stunning green 2021 Lamborghini Huracan. It’s certainly one way to become the talk of the event.
The majority of us might only be able to manage renting one of these for a day, because a brand-new one from a dealership would set you back about $214,000. That’s not exactly loose change. It houses a mid-mounted naturally aspirated 5.2L V10 engine delivering some 602hp and up to 442lb-ft of torque, all of which helps it shoot from 0 to 60 in just 2.5 seconds. It comes in two varieties, the first being the Evo, which is a hardtop. The other is the Evo Spyder, which is a convertible.
4. McLaren 765LT
If you thought that the Huracan was too expensive to buy, then you haven’t seen the sticker price on a McLaren 765LT --- $375,000 or thereabouts. It’s only an estimate at this point, but it’s likely very close to reality. Better perhaps to rent it, then. This British brand has a reputation for speed, and this McLaren doesn’t disappoint. It’s powered by a 4.0L V8 twin-turbocharged engine with a lion-like roar that will ensure you are turning heads just about everywhere you go in it.
This car isn’t just a visual feast, either, it’s actually a wonderful car to drive with excellent visibility and terrific handling. That mighty V8 engine takes it from 0 to 60 in just 2.7 seconds, which is about 10 percent faster than the previous 720S.
On the inside, you get a sumptuous mix of soft-grain leather and Alcantara with a number of color combinations to suit many tastes. It’s something more of a no-frills interior compared to the Lamborghini because it is optimized for performance, which means cutting out some of the interior to save on weight. It’s a real driver’s dream, though.
5. Porsche 911 Turbo
No list about exotic car rental could be complete without mentioning the Porsche 911 at least one. If you were to lease a 2021 model, you’d get to experience some of the most precise automotive engineering ever to emerge from the German sports car giant. The 911 may be relatively commonplace among the world of exotics, but it’s still a top performer. The 2021 911 Turbo will hit 0 to 60 in just 2.4 seconds after a launch that’s likely to leave some organs behind as you go.
It does all this despite only have a 3.7L flat-six engine, which still delivers an impressive 572hp and 553lb-ft of torque. That’s paired up with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. It only manages about 20mpg, but then again if you’re going to rent one of these, that will hardly matter.
Probably the best thing about the 911, besides its comfortable interior and ever-impressive performance credentials, is the classic lines and recognizable shape. This car simply can’t be mistaken. Wherever you are, whoever your audience is, the car attracts admiration and awe.
6. Maserati Ghibli Trofeo
In 2021, Maserati is inviting you to enjoy their Ghibli model now with Trofeo-level status thanks to twin-turbocharged 3.8L V8 engine derived from Ferrari. That impressive engine outputs 580hp and 538lb-ft of torque.
It’s not actually the most impressive within its category, but the main difference is that unlike some of its competitors, this Maserati is only diverting power to two wheels, which means impressive power ratios and great acceleration. It’ll get to 60 from a standstill in just 4 seconds.
Perhaps more importantly for some, a Maserati like this delivers a bolder appearance than some of its German counterparts from the likes of Mercedes-AMG. The Trofeo level comes with some additional carbon-fiber components as well as some signature flourishes from Maserati which is a move you might expect. Inside, you’ll get a larger infotainment screen at 10.1 inches, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Renting is a good idea, too, since a brand-new one would set you back a cool $115,000 for the 2021 model year.
7. Bentley Flying Spur
To finish our list today, we’re throwing in the grand tourer to define all other grand tourers. Frankly, it’s the ultimate sedan that all other cars wish they could be. What better option could there really be for an exotic car rental?
As you might expect, your Bentley Flying Spur rental is powered by a 6.0L V12 engine, or a 4.0L V8 if you fancy the smaller version. It’s a good time to enjoy Bentleys with this kind of combustion engine, however, since the company has committed to ridding their range of new models of all but plug-in and electric models by as soon as 2026.
You might actually enjoy riding the V8 a bit more as a rental because the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission pairs a bit better with it for agility and smoothness of the overall ride. It still gets from 0 to 60 in just 3.9 seconds, too.
On top of that, you get all the same interior luxury and splendor: sumptuous leather, wood trims with real wood and real metal accenting, a 12.30-inch infotainment screen, and a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, to name but a few features.
Major Rental Companies
Now that we know what some of the best exotic car rental options are for this year, it would be good to know where to get them, right? The truth is that not every car company deals in exotic or supercar rental.
It’s not something people often just casually pick up at the airport when they’re in town on business, so even some of the bigger names you might have heard of don’t necessarily offer supercar rental.
Below we’ve sampled one of the bigger companies, a car-share alternative, and a more niche provider to show you the range of choices available.
1. Enterprise :
Enterprise has dozens of locations across the United States and a huge range of cars to choose from. Despite mostly targeting the mass market with more popular budget-price models, they do also offer supercar rental and exotic rentals, too.
Enterprise categories that would contain the models we have mentioned in our list cover 4 categories:
- Executive Luxury SUV --- typically $149.99 per day
- Executive Luxury --- typically $144.98 per day
- Large Executive Luxury --- typically $169.98 per day
- Luxury Performance --- typically $624.99
The final category includes Porsche 911 and similar models. Surprisingly, cars like the Maserati Ghibli start from just $144.98 per day, but it’s unclear if it would include the Trofeo in this case.
With the much larger companies, they are less specific on models often quoting an example model “or similar.”
Enterprise requires renters of exotic cars to be at least 25, have a valid driver’s license, a major credit card and transferable insurance.
On top of that, Enterprise usually don’t take down payments for advance reservations, even for exotics, and are quite flexible with cancellations. You will have to pay the full rental price in advance when you pickup.
2. Turo
Turo has a service offering various exotic and supercar rentals. One advantage with Turo is that it is more of a decentralized model, allowing car owners to list their vehicles and rent them out to willing users for a daily rate.
The selection includes exotics, and you can find models from different model years so you can get the car you want but perhaps at a lower cost because it’s a 2015 model instead of a 2021 model.
Here are some example rates on cars the same or similar to ones in our recommended list:
- Porsche 911 (2015) - $400 per day
- Lamborghini Gallardo (2008) - $300 per day
- Maserati Levante (2018) - $182 per day
- Bentley Flying Spur (2015) - $340 per day
- Audi R8 (2015) - $284 per day
- Lamborghini Huracan (2018) - $1,099 per day
- Ferrari 458 Italia (2014) - $1020 per day
- McLaren GT (2020) - $845 per day
Users can pay for Turo using the App and a linked credit or debit card, as well as Google or Apply Pay options. The renter has to pay the full cost of the trip when booking. If the host of the car accepts the arrangement, the money is transferred to them, and if not, it comes back to the renter.
If you’re renting in the exotic class, you’ll also have to pay an additional $750 security deposit at the time of booking. You’ll get this back (assuming no conflict) within 80 hours of your trip ending.
3. Centurion Lifestyle
This company offers a huge range of luxury sedan cars, as well as exotic rentals, SUV rentals, convertibles and others. It only operates in Los Angeles, but that’s a top destination to rent most of these models so you can fit in with the glitzy and glamorous Hollywood set.
Typical prices are as follows:
- Porsche 911 Carrera 4S – from $499 per day
- Ferrari 488 Spider Red – from $1699 per day
- Lamborghini Huracan – from $1399 per day
Centurion also offers models from Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Land Rover, Maserati, Mercedes and Rolls-Royce. The company also offers a car sourcing service where if you still have a specific model in mind that you want to drive, they will try to get one for you even if it’s not currently in their catalog.
This is a real luxury rental playground, in fact, with the company also offering rental of villas, yachts, jets and helicopters, as well as chauffeur services, too. They work by appointment only, so you have to make an inquiry on their website to get exact quotes and details.
Our Recommendation:
Above you can see the spectrum of providers that exist for exotic and supercar rental. For most people, renting from a larger-scale company like Enterprise (alternatively, Hertz, Sixt and many others), will always represent the best value.
Their considerable resources and huge-scale operations make their availability second to none, and their prices very reasonable. They also offer flexibility on cancellation where some other more niche providers may not.
If you want the most choice and range in price, however, a car-sharing platform like Turo is a better choice. It works like the Airbnb of car rental, allowing you to extensively shop around to find the most specific model that you want.
In this way it is more tailored to personal tastes than their competitors are. At Enterprise, for example, it’s hard to guarantee the specific car you want because of the ever-looming “and similar” feature.
Supercar Rental: An Unforgettable Indulgence
Renting an exotic car can seem an extravagance to some, but they forget that what it’s really about is the experience as much as anything. It’s not just about making the right impression, but also the chance for an unforgettable driving experience that stays with you forever.
Remember to explore your options and don’t always assume that the “big boy” companies will have the best deals. Even niche companies like Centurion will surprise you with a good deal if it means securing your business. The world of car rentals, even for exotic and supercar rentals, is extremely competitive and many vendors are vying for your business.
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