One of the most common questions we get at Riverside Auto Rental — the independent, family-owned car rental in Black River Falls since 1983 — is: "Should I rent by the day or by the week?" The answer depends on how long you need the vehicle and how far you're driving. Here's the full breakdown.

Understanding our daily rate options

For daily rentals, we offer two mileage tiers for cars:

  • Local Rate (100 miles/day limit) — Our most affordable daily option. Best if you're staying in the Black River Falls area, running errands, commuting to work, or making short trips around Jackson County.
  • Unlimited Miles Rate — No mileage cap. Best if you're road-tripping, driving to Eau Claire, La Crosse, the Twin Cities, or anywhere beyond the local area.

Daily rates at a glance

Vehicle Class Daily – Local
(100 mi/day)
Daily – Unlimited
(no cap)
Intermediate Car$55/day$75/day
Full-Size Car$65/day$85/day

Vans are priced differently — daily van rentals include a per-mile charge:

VehicleDaily Rate
7 Passenger Minivan$78/day + $0.10/mi
15 Passenger Van$135/day + $0.10/mi

Weekly rates — where the real savings kick in

If you need a vehicle for 7 days or more, the weekly rate is almost always the better deal. You pay for 6 days and get the 7th free. Cars come in Local (100 mi/day limit) and Unlimited mileage tiers, just like daily. Vans are flat-rate with unlimited mileage included.

Vehicle Class Weekly – Local
(100 mi/day)
Weekly – Unlimited
(no cap)
Intermediate Car$330/week$450/week
Full-Size Car$390/week$510/week
Vehicle Class Weekly Rate
(unlimited miles)
7 Passenger Minivan$450/week
15 Passenger Van$750/week

The math: 7-day intermediate car example

7-Day Rental — Intermediate Car

DAILY UNLIMITED × 7

$525

$75 × 7 days

WEEKLY UNLIMITED

$450

You save $75 — one day free

That's the equivalent of one day free when you book the week — the 7th day is on us. The same logic applies to the Local tier: pay for 6 days, get 7.

Which rate should you choose?

  • 1–3 days, staying local → Daily local rate ($55–$65/day)
  • 1–3 days, driving long distances → Daily unlimited rate ($75–$85/day)
  • 4–6 days → Call us at 715-396-1466 to compare options for your exact situation
  • 7+ days → Weekly rate — always the best value

Frequently Asked Questions

Weekly is cheaper. An intermediate car at the unlimited daily rate for 7 days costs $525 ($75 × 7). The weekly unlimited rate is $450 — you save $75, the equivalent of one day free. The same one-day-free logic applies to the Local tier (pay for 6 days, get 7).

It depends on the tier. Car weekly rentals come in two tiers — Local (100 mi/day limit, lower price) or Unlimited (no cap, higher price). Van weekly rentals are flat-rate with unlimited mileage included.

The local rate includes up to 100 miles per day at a lower price. The unlimited rate has no mileage cap. Choose local for short trips around Black River Falls; unlimited for longer drives.

Cars have two weekly tiers: Intermediate $330/week local (100 mi/day) or $450/week unlimited; Full-size $390/week local (100 mi/day) or $510/week unlimited. Vans are flat with unlimited mileage included: 7-passenger minivan $450/week, 15-passenger van $750/week.

Related Articles

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What You Need to Rent a Car — A First-Timer's Guide →

Three documents and a quick walkthrough so you know what to bring before your first rental.

7 & 15 Passenger Van Rental in Black River Falls →

Our signature offering for groups, families, sports teams, and church outings.

Not Sure Which Rate to Pick?

Call and tell us how long you need the car and where you're going — we'll find the best deal.

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