"It matters more than with most suppliers. Outside the US and Caribbean, Nu's franchise locations are among the better-reviewed budget options available. Inside them, preparation is what separates a good experience from a bad one."
Nu's prices are genuinely hard to argue with — at many US airports they're among the lowest available, sometimes by a meaningful margin. The model behind that price is simple: Nu operates as a franchise network rather than owning its locations directly, which keeps costs lean and rates competitive. What the booking page shows is the base rate. At pickup there's a decision about insurance, a deposit hold on your card, and sometimes a toll pass and fuel option on top. These are standard rental mechanics — they're worth knowing about before you arrive rather than figuring out at the desk.
The more useful thing to know about Nu is that it isn't one consistent experience. The complaint record — heavy on billing disputes and counter add-ons — comes almost entirely from US and Caribbean locations. Its European and Middle Eastern locations score as well as anyone in the market. Brno, Belgrade, Amman, Prague — strong scores across meaningful review counts. What you know before you arrive matters as much as where you're picking up — and this review covers both.
What fees does Nu charge?
Most of what gets added at Nu's counter is something you can say no to. The deposit hold is the one exception — every traveller pays it. Everything else is a choice, and the counter is a faster, more pressured place to make those choices than your kitchen table was.
| Fee | Typical charge | Risk | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) | Varies by location and vehicle class | High | You can decline this. At US locations the choice lands alongside the deposit — knowing your card coverage before you arrive means the answer is ready before the question is asked. |
| Security deposit hold | $300–$3,000 per Nu's published T&Cs | High | Can't avoid this one. The range is $300–$3,000 per Nu's published conditions, varying by vehicle class and rental duration — it lands at the counter alongside the insurance decision. |
| Toll pass (SunPass / PlatePass) | $11.99/day per Nu's published rental conditions (Denver) | Medium | You can decline this. A small number of Nu reviewers report being charged after declining verbally — ask the agent to note it on the contract before you leave the desk. |
| Fuel — full-to-empty policy | Full tank charged at pickup | Medium | Depends on your location. Ask before you drive off — full-to-empty means you pay for a full tank upfront and return it empty. Unused fuel isn't refunded. |
| Under-25 surcharge | Varies by location — $15.00/day at some US locations (Nu published rental conditions) | Medium | Can't avoid this if you're under 25. Set by the local franchise operator — confirm the daily amount in your booking terms before you arrive. |
| Off-airport shuttle | No charge — time cost only | Medium | Not a fee. Nu operates off-airport at some US locations — check your pickup details before you travel. |
LDW amount reported by US travellers via Trustpilot. Deposit range per Nu Car Rentals published rental conditions (Denver). Accessed May 2026.
Most complaints about Nu come from travellers who faced these decisions for the first time at the counter. Someone who's already sorted their insurance, knows about the deposit hold, and has their booking confirmation ready has a fundamentally different experience — at the same airport, the same company.
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The insurance decision
The Loss Damage Waiver is always optional. If you decline it, you're carrying the risk yourself — either personally or through your credit card if it includes rental collision damage coverage. Most major travel cards do, when you pay with the card and decline the counter insurance. Worth checking before you travel so the conversation at the desk is a confirmation, not a decision.
What's specific to Nu at US locations: the waiver is presented alongside the deposit choice, and the amounts involved are high enough that it can feel like an urgent call. It isn't — if you've checked your card coverage at home, you arrive knowing the answer. One traveller reported $237 added for insurance on a booking that had looked straightforward online — that's the gap preparation closes. If you booked Nu's Inclusive Rate Package, LDW is already in your rate — check your confirmation email if you're not sure which rate you booked.
The deposit hold
A deposit hold is standard across every rental company. Per Nu's published rental conditions, the amount runs between $300 and $3,000 depending on the vehicle and rental duration. It's frozen on your card from pickup until after return — and release isn't always the same day. If you need that credit available quickly after you're back, ask about the timeline at pickup.
Photographing the car
Two minutes at pickup that change how any post-return question plays out. Walk the full exterior before you drive off — front, back, both sides, wheels — and photograph the interior too. Your phone timestamps it automatically. Nu's complaint record includes post-return damage claims, and a photo set from pickup is what gives you something concrete to work with if one arrives.
Toll pass and fuel
At Florida locations and other toll-heavy US markets, Nu offers a daily transponder — SunPass or PlatePass depending on the state. You can skip it if you have your own or plan to pay at tolls directly. If you're declining, ask the agent to note it on the contract before you leave the desk — a small number of travellers report being charged after declining verbally.
The fuel policy varies by location — some run full-to-full, others full-to-empty. Ask which applies before you drive off. Full-to-empty means you pay for a full tank upfront and return it empty; unused fuel isn't refunded, which matters on a shorter trip than planned.
Off-airport shuttle
Nu operates off-airport at some US locations — Charlotte and Miami in particular. It's not a fee, but shuttle waits of 30–60 minutes each way show up in the complaint data. Check your specific pickup instructions before you travel so it's not a surprise on the day. For the full logistics at Salt Lake City, the Nu SLC location review covers the shuttle process, operating hours, and what the checkout looks like.
How do Nu's locations compare?
Nu's European and Middle Eastern locations are operating at a level that would be respectable for any supplier in those markets. Prague is the largest sample in the network and it holds up well. Brno, Belgrade, and Amman are smaller samples but consistently strong. The US and Caribbean locations tell a different story. Miami and Cancun aren't marginal underperformers; they're consistently low across review counts large enough to take seriously. Sofia and Bucharest pull the European average down — Nu's franchise model means quality varies more by local operator than it would at a company-owned network. Orlando, Cagliari, and Denver sit in the middle — acceptable, not a concern if you've done the prep.
| Airport | State / Region | DiscoverCars score | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancun (CUN) | Mexico | 4.4 | 82 | Below average |
| Keflavik (KEF) | Iceland | 4.8 | 130 | Below average |
| Sofia (SOF) | Bulgaria | 5.2 | 39 | Below average |
| Bucharest (OTP) | Romania | 5.5 | 60 | Below average |
| Miami (MIA) | Florida | 5.9 | 201 | Below average |
| Orlando (MCO) | Florida | 6.5 | 147 | Acceptable |
| Cagliari (CAG) | Sardinia | 6.6 | 129 | Acceptable |
| Denver (DEN) | Colorado | 6.8 | 46 | Acceptable |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | Nevada | 7.1 | 63 | Average |
| Santiago (SCL) | Chile | 7.1 | 51 | Average |
| Prague (PRG) | Czech Rep. | 8.0 | 904 | Good |
| Belgrade (BEG) | Serbia | 8.5 | 30 | Good |
| Amman (AMM) | Jordan | 8.8 | 13 | Good |
| Brno (BRQ) | Czech Rep. | 9.0 | 49 | Very good |
Nu Car Rental locations by DiscoverCars rating, lowest to highest. Locations with fewer than 15 reviews excluded. Source: DiscoverCars, accessed May 2026.
The location score tells you what the average unprepared traveller experienced there. Someone who's sorted their insurance, knows the deposit amount, and has their booking confirmation and photo record ready is starting from a different position — at the same counter, the same company. The score narrows the field. The preparation changes the outcome.
Is Nu worth booking?
Heading to Europe or the Middle East? Generally yes — but check the specific location. Prague, Brno, Belgrade, and Amman score as well as any supplier in those markets. Sardinia and parts of Eastern Europe (Romania, Bulgaria) score lower — Nu's franchise model means the local operator matters more than the brand name. Look up your specific airport before committing.
Las Vegas or Denver? Fine with the right preparation. Both sit in the 6.8–7.1 range — average. Know your insurance situation before you arrive and the saving tends to hold.
Orlando? Borderline. It scores 6.5 across 147 reviews — enough data to take seriously. If the price gap is meaningful and you've done the prep, workable. If the gap is small, check alternatives.
Miami or Cancun? Worth checking alternatives first. Both score well below the network average across review counts large enough to reflect a consistent pattern, not isolated incidents. If nothing else fits your dates and budget, the prep in this article is what makes it manageable — but go in with your eyes open.
Iceland? Keflavik is Nu's weakest airport in the data. There are better options there and it's worth looking before you book.
Already booked? The preparation in the verdict below is all you need. Location score doesn't change what happens at the counter — preparation does.
The verdict
If you haven't booked yet: Nu's prices are real, and at the right location with the right prep the saving holds up. The strongest European locations — Prague, Brno, Belgrade, Amman — are easy calls. US airports vary more than the brand name suggests: Las Vegas and Denver are fine, Orlando is borderline, Miami and Cancun are where the saving most often doesn't survive the counter. Wherever you're going, look up the specific airport score before you commit — it tells you more than the brand name does.
If you're already booked: Before pickup, find out what coverage you're arriving with — your credit card may include rental collision protection, or it may not. At US locations the insurance choice lands alongside the deposit, so knowing your position on both before you arrive removes the two biggest variables from a conversation that already has several. Screenshot your booking confirmation. Check your pickup instructions if you're at an off-airport location. At pickup, photograph the car before you drive off and ask for a line-by-line breakdown before you sign anything.
If you've already returned the car and something's wrong: If you booked through a platform like Expedia or Kayak, raise it there first — they carry more weight with the supplier than a direct complaint does. Then contact Nu in writing with your contract and return photos. Give it one week. If that doesn't land, a credit card chargeback with your documentation is the next move.
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- The LDW and deposit are presented together at the counter. Know what your card covers before you arrive — the decision is easier when it's not being made on the spot.
- Nu operates off-airport at some US locations. Check your specific pickup instructions before you travel.
- Ask which fuel policy applies at your location before you drive off — full-to-full and full-to-empty work very differently.
- Toll pass: if you're declining, ask the agent to note it on the contract.
- The deposit is a hold, not a charge — but release isn't always instant. Ask about the timeline at pickup if you need the credit available quickly.
- Photograph the car before you drive off — exterior and interior. Post-return damage claims are easier to contest with a timestamped photo set.
- Fee amounts are reported by travellers at US locations and vary by car class, rental duration, and market.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nu Car Rental a legitimate company?
Yes. Nu Car Rentals is a licensed franchise network with locations across the US, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. The complaints on record relate to fee disclosure and counter experience, not the legitimacy of the business. The experience varies by location and by how prepared you arrive — European locations score well above the company average, and a prepared traveller at a lower-scoring US location starts from a better position than the review data alone suggests.
I already booked Nu Car Rental — what should I do before pickup?
Find out what coverage you're arriving with before pickup — your credit card may include rental collision protection, or it may not. At US locations the insurance decision arrives alongside the deposit, so knowing both before you get there means neither is a surprise. For a longer trip or unfamiliar territory, having some form of coverage is worth the cost whatever the source. Screenshot your booking confirmation. At the counter, ask for a line-by-line breakdown before you sign anything. If you're at an off-airport location, check your pickup instructions in advance.
Nu Car Rental charged me after I returned the car — what are my options?
If you booked through a third-party platform, start there — they have direct leverage with the supplier. Then contact Nu in writing with your signed contract and return photos. Give them one week to respond. If that doesn't resolve it, a credit card chargeback with your documentation is the next step.
Is Nu Car Rental worth it if the price is significantly lower?
If the price works for your budget and Nu comes out meaningfully cheaper — book it. Budget rental brands exist for a reason, and the rate is genuine. What changes the experience isn't the supplier tier but how prepared you arrive. Know your card's rental coverage before you get to the counter, screenshot your confirmation, and read every line before you sign. A traveller who walks in knowing which add-ons they can decline has a fundamentally different counter experience than one who doesn't — at the same airport, the same company. The location scores in this review reflect what unprepared travellers experienced on average. Your experience starts from a different position.
How much is the deposit at Nu Car Rental?
Nu's published rental conditions state a deposit of $300 to $3,000 depending on vehicle type and rental duration. It's a hold on your credit card, not a charge — you get it back after return, though release timing varies.
Does Nu Car Rental charge a fee for drivers under 25?
Yes. Nu operates as a franchise network and the under-25 surcharge is set by the local operator — it varies by location. Some US locations charge $15.00/day, others more. Check the terms and conditions shown during booking for your specific airport. The fee applies on top of the base rate and can't be waived at the counter.
How do I avoid unexpected charges at Nu Car Rental?
Confirm your credit card's rental coverage before you go — that's the most useful single thing you can do. At the counter, read every line before initialling. Photograph the car at pickup. Ask which fuel policy applies before you drive off.
Which Nu Car Rental locations have the best reviews?
Brno in the Czech Republic rates 9.0 out of 10, Amman 8.8, and Belgrade 8.5 on DiscoverCars. Prague scores 8.0 across over 900 reviews — the largest single sample in Nu's network. Miami, Cancun, and Keflavik are the weakest in the data.
