Milestone 01 / 06
Two cars and a borrowed garage
We opened our doors with a pair of hatchbacks and a promise to keep pricing honest.
2 cars to start
About us
We build journeys,
We build journeys,
not just rentals
Since 2014, we have put people behind the wheel of well-kept cars and out on roads they will remember. We are drivers, mechanics and travellers who believe the best trips are the ones you plan yourself.
- 10+
- Years on the road
- 50K+
- Drivers served
- 500+
- Cars in the fleet
- 120+
- Routes covered
Our story
It started with a road trip that almost didn't happen
open roads
In 2014, our co-founders Ethan and Maya tried to rent a car for a weekend drive to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hidden fees, long lines at the counter and a car that wasn't ready turned a simple plan into a headache. We knew there had to be a better way.
So we started OpenRoute with two cars, a borrowed garage and one rule: treat every driver the way we wanted to be treated. Today we look after hundreds of cars, but that rule has not changed. We still inspect every car ourselves, show every fee up front and pick up the phone at 2 a.m. when you need us.
We wanted renting a car to feel like the first mile of the trip, not the hardest part of it.
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Freedom
Your route, your schedule, your rules.
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Honesty
Every fee shown before you book.
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Care
Inspected, cleaned and backed by real people.
Our history
Ten years, one long road
Every milestone below started as a customer asking us for something better. Here is how we got here.
Milestone 02 / 06
Our first city hub in Austin
A proper pickup point, a small team and our first 50 cars on the road.
50 cars on the road
Milestone 03 / 06
Booking goes online
We moved from phone calls and paper forms to a simple website you can use in minutes.
Book in minutes
Milestone 04 / 06
Contactless pickup
Sanitized cars, paperless handover and doorstep delivery became part of every trip.
100% paperless
Milestone 05 / 06
24/7 roadside support
We built our own support desk so a real person answers, whatever the hour.
Open 24/7
Milestone 06 / 06
Premium fleet and the Club
We added premium cars and the OpenRoute Club, and welcomed our 50,000th driver.
50,000th driver
01 / 06
Our team
The people behind every mile
We are drivers, mechanics and problem-solvers. Meet some of the faces you will hear from.
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Co-founder
Ethan Carter
CEOStarted OpenRoute in 2014 after one too many bad rental counters.
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Co-founder
Maya Brooks
COOKeeps every pickup, return and inspection running on time, coast to coast.
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Fleet
Marcus Reed
Head of FleetA lifelong mechanic who personally signs off on every car before it leaves the lot.
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Support
Olivia Bennett
Customer Experience LeadLeads the support desk that answers your call, day or night.
Want to join the crew?
We're always looking for drivers, mechanics and problem-solvers who love the open road.
Let's go
Ready to take the road with us?
Pick a car, set your dates and let us take care of the rest. We will be with you every kilometre of the way.