The holiday season is in full swing and more people than ever are hitting the roads, so if you haven’t booked your own rental car yet, now is the time to do so.
We’ve written before about why you should book your rental car early to lock in your rate, because you can (usually) cancel and rebook with no penalty if prices drop. But regardless of when you reserve and how rates fluctuate, there are a number of strategies for saving money on both base rates and fees (such as upcharges for young or additional drivers) when you book so you don’t wind up blowing your whole travel budget on your rental car.
Notoriously compare the costs of rental companies to get the cheapest option, especially if you’re not a member of any loyalty program, and have car rental opportunities like Turo and Getaround. AutoSlash keeps track of rental car rates so you can set up an alert for your booking.
But go one step further than just comparing companies. your rental company has multiple locations in your area—both in-town and at the airport, for example—check for price differences if you pick up and drop off at one versus another. Downtown pickup is cheaper on average than airport locations, according to NerdWallet. However, you should also factor in convenience (taking a rideshare to a location further away could offset any savings) and business hours, as well as available inventory and one-way fees if you pick up at one location and drop off at another.
AAA may be the most well-known car club that offers discounts on car rentals, but there are several club systems that offer benefits:
AARP: Up to 30% off base rates
BJ’s: Up to 30% off base rates
Costco: up to 30% off base fares
USAA: Up to 25% off
Sam’s Club: up to 25% off
Each of the above companies has contracts with certain car rental companies to offer discounts to their members, so if you prefer an express provider, check out the main points before signing up. Keep in mind that, with the exception of USAA (which offers clubs only to military workers and their families), those clubs have fees ranging from $12 to $110, and you may want to book your rental through the club’s portal for perks. of your discount. Array
But if you use this benefit (and others) frequently, the cash savings can temporarily offset the value of the buy-in.
As The Points Guy lays out, there are a handful of travel credit cards—the Chase Sapphire Reserve, The Platinum Card from American Express, and the United Club Infinite Card, for example—that have solid rental car benefits, such as discounts, waived fees, free upgrades, and priority service.
Another potential advantage of using a credit card to book your rental is that an insurance policy can be included as the damage waiver, so there’s no need to purchase an expensive policy from the rental company or register a claim with your private insurance, if at all. A collision goes wrong. (Obviously, it deserves to check what your card covers before turning down other insurance options. )
Hotel and airline loyalty program members may be able to score rental car discounts with partner companies and earn bonus points or miles on the booking. For example, Alaska Air offers 35% off Avis and Budget rentals and up to 1,250 miles for its Mileage Plan customers who use their membership number when booking, while Marriott has a partnership with Hertz to offer discounts to Bonvoy members.
If you use rental cars and/or prefer a certain provider, you may want to consider joining their rewards program, which can earn you points that can be redeemed for rate discounts and upgrades.
Ask your employer about a corporate code for rental car discounts (just make sure you understand the restrictions, such as for private or business trips). Similarly, some colleges have partnered with rental companies to offer discounts and benefits to students and alumni. Union members can also access car rental benefits through UnionPlus.
Please note that you may be required to show evidence of employment, registration, or club in order to get your discount.
Emily is a freelancer founded in Salt Lake City, UT.