Rental cars in Albuquerque, NM
Resting tranquilly along the Rio Grande beside the rosy Sandia Mountains, Albuquerque is the most populated city in New Mexico — though you’d never know it.
This relaxed sprawl of a city is a popular setting for TV shows and movie production, so these days, in addition to historic sites and national parks, you’ll find hip coffee shops, craft breweries, and farm-to-table cafes. Drive breathtaking scenic byways, explore peaks and petroglyphs, and fall under the spell of the land of enchantment.
Balloons, tramways, and ancient petroglyphs are just a few of the sights in our Albuquerque list of favorites.
Starting in Albuquerque, ride the three-mile tramway up into the Sandia Mountains for an astonishing lookout point over the Rio Grande Valley. Then hike around the peak or dine at a mountain-top restaurant to keep that view in sight.
This collection of petroglyphs west of the Rio Grande is between 300 and 25,000 years old. Preserved by lava flow, these drawings from ancient times are still visible, so you can imagine and interpret the lives of New Mexico’s earliest peoples.
If you’re visiting Albuquerque in early October, you can’t miss the world-famous Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. For nine days, the city transforms into an enchanted world of balloon competitions, rodeos, twilight glows, and fireworks under balloon-filled skies.
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Rent cars in Albuquerque, NM
While the International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is Albuquerque’s best-known attraction, there’s plenty to discover outside the city. Albuquerque is surrounded by the colorful natural beauty of New Mexico, and the region abounds with remnants of ancient history like pueblos and cliff dwellings. A haven for artists and archaeologists, it’s the ideal place for any curious person to launch an unforgettable day trip.
Rent the perfect carAbout 60 miles west of Albuquerque, Acoma Pueblo is the oldest continually-inhabited city in the U.S. Climb to the top of a 400-foot mesa to tour the cliff dwellings, village, and cultural center that preserve the art and history of the indigenous Acoma people.
Santa Fe, founded as a 1600s Spanish colony, is famous for its adobe buildings, Pueblo style architecture, and artistic community. Just an hour’s drive from Albuquerque, it makes for a charming day trip.
The serene village of Jemez Springs dates back to 2,500 BC. Today, it’s a place to unplug and unwind. Offering hot springs, hikes, and history, it also hosts art galleries, outdoor concerts, and ambient restaurants.
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If you’re planning a day trip to Santa Fe, this is the way to go. The curvy Highway 14, also known as Turquoise Trail, sweeps through majestic valleys, mining towns, and arts communities on its way to Santa Fe.
For exciting, remote forest driving, head toward Pinos Altos via the Trail of the Mountain Spirits. While you may not see any actual spirits, you will see the enchanting Gila Forest, the Continental Divide, and ancient cliff dwellings.
Trailing through the desert and forest of northern New Mexico, this drive is a fun adventure with plenty of opportunities to stop at sites like Red River, Taos Canyon, and Georgia O'Keeffe's Ghost Ranch.
To book a car on Turo, you must create a Turo account, be 18 years old or older with a valid driver’s license, and get approved to drive on Turo. When you’re booking your first trip, you’ll go through a quick approval process by entering your driver’s license and some other information. In most cases, you’ll get approved immediately, and you’ll be set for future road trips, business trips, and family vacations!
No, you don’t need personal insurance coverage to book a car on Turo. If you do have your own insurance policy, the liability insurance issued to Turo by Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company included in the protection plan you select will supplement your existing coverage.*
When booking a car on Turo, you’ll choose between three protection plans — Premier, Standard, or Minimum — to get the level of coverage that’s right for you or decline coverage in some cases. With each plan, you’re covered with liability insurance provided under a policy from Travelers — up to $750,000 for the Premier plan.*
On your Account page, make sure you’ve checked the box to receive email notifications, and enable push notifications from the Turo app in your phone settings — we’ll send you occasional promotions, discounts, and deals on car rental alternatives in Albuquerque!
Additionally, frequent travelers on Turo can get rewarded with the loyalty bonus — earn a promo code for one bonus day when you take trips totaling 10 days in a 90-day period!**
**Learn how the loyalty bonus worksYes, many Turo hosts offer a discounted price when you book trips lasting 3+, 7+, or 30+ days. Additionally, hosts can offer “early bird” discounts for Albuquerque trips booked a week or more in advance. So, get a great deal and find the lowest rates possible by booking longer trips, at least a week in advance.
Browse a wide selection of vehicles for all kinds of occasions and budgets on Turo, whatever your preferred type of vehicle. Find a full-size SUV for a family road trip, a pickup truck for some errands, or a sporty convertible for a special night out in Albuquerque. For the lowest prices, search by city and use the “budget-friendly” filter to browse economy vehicles.
Some hosts offer unlimited distance for a trip; others set a daily distance limit. On the vehicle pages, you’ll see the total miles or kilometres you’re allowed to drive under the heading “Distance included.” You can find cars offering unlimited mileage with every trip by using the “Unlimited distance” filter.
Turo accepts most credit cards issued by major financial institutions, including American Express and Discover cards, as well as debit cards with a Visa or Mastercard logo that are linked to a checking account.
Apple Pay and Google Pay on mobile devices are also accepted, but Turo does not accept cash or checks as valid payment methods.
You can cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours before your trip starts. If you book a trip with less than 24 hours’ notice, you have one hour after booking to cancel free of charge. If you cancel after the free cancellation period ends, you will be charged a small cancellation fee.
Under the enhanced cleaning policy, hosts are required to clean and disinfect their vehicles thoroughly before every trip, so you can feel safe and comfortable behind the wheel. Turo hosts have access to training materials on enhanced cleaning practices, using the latest recommendations compiled from the CDC, EPA, WHO, and vehicle detailing experts, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
No. Unlike rental car companies, Turo is a peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace where you can book directly from trusted local car owners in the US, Canada, and the UK. Turo does not own any vehicles — Turo hosts share their own personal cars and set their own prices, discounts, vehicle availability, and delivery options.
Yes, there are hundreds of cars available on Turo near the airport terminal building. After arriving at the Albuquerque International Sunport, skip the rental counter and have your car rental alternative delivered for pick-up and dropoff at your Albuquerque hotel or the address of your vacation rental to save time and hassle. You can also use shuttle services from the airport if you have time before your scheduled pick-up time.
There is no fee or additional charge for adding a driver to your trip on Turo. Only the guest who booked the trip (primary driver) can request to add drivers; Turo hosts cannot do it for you. We encourage you to request to add authorized drivers before your trip starts, though guests in the US and Canada can request to add a driver while a trip is in progress with no extra charges.
To speed up the process, have your additional driver create a Turo account and get approved to drive before you request to add them. All drivers must have a valid driver’s license and meet the age requirements for the car you’ve booked. You can request to add drivers via the “Trips” tab in the Turo app without additional driver charges or extra costs.
No, you cannot drive a car you booked in the United States across the border into Mexico. Driving a vehicle booked in the US into Mexico is a prohibited use on Turo and you may face a penalty fee, suspension, and/or removal from the platform. If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, search for your destination to rent a car with a Commercial Host at a convenient rental location in Mexico.
* Any personal insurance you may have that covers damage to the host’s vehicle would kick in before your protection plan, except in limited situations for trips booked in Maryland, but this protects your own wallet. Liability insurance is provided under a policy issued to Turo by Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company. Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. The policy does not provide coverage for damage to a host’s vehicle.
For questions or information about the third party liability insurance that is included in protection plans, consumers in Maryland and the licensed states listed here may contact Turo Insurance Agency at (415) 508-0283 or claims@turo.agency. For questions about how damage to a host’s vehicle is handled, visit the Turo Support site.
When a trip is booked in the state of Washington, physical damage to the host’s vehicle is covered by insurance purchased by Turo, but Turo’s insurance does not change the contractual responsibilities of hosts or guests with respect to physical damage to a host’s vehicle.