Timing is everything when you're looking for a rental car. You may find a great rate, but if you wait for an even lower price, you could be missing out on a great deal. But there are other secret ways to find the best price. Use these 15 insider strategies to thoroughly search for the cheapest rental car possible — and maybe even score an upgrade.
Search with membership sites.
Although paid memberships are required to access offerings such as Costco Travel And AAAThe cost can be cost-effective if you rent cars frequently. If you're already a member, this is where you should look for savings first. Instead of providing their own rental cars, these companies leverage their size and customer base to negotiate better deals. Costco Travelfor example, consistently offers lower rates than major car rental companies like Budget, Enterprise, Alamo and Avis, and AAA offers deals on Hertz rentals.
Check your airline's schedules
You may be able to find some great discounts through frequent flyer loyalty programs. However, these offers sometimes come with conditions such as exclusive rental with airline partners or limited airport pick-up and drop-off. Even if there is no discount, booking through the airline can give you a chance to earn more points. For example, in 2023, Delta announced a new SkyMiles partnership with Hertz, offering four miles for every dollar spent on a Hertz rental car; it's an even better deal for Gold members who earn six miles for every dollar spent, and Diamond members who earn eight miles for every dollar spent.
Look for third-party discount sites.
If you are not interested in the car rental provider, check out “opaque” sites like Price line And Hot wireboth of which offer significant discounts, but don't reveal the name of the rental company until you've made a non-refundable booking. You never know where the best deal is, so it's worth doing a quick search on third-party discount sites if you want to find the cheapest car rental price possible.
Compare with direct booking rate.
If you are If you've chosen a car rental company, before paying through a third-party site like Expedia, for example, head over to the rental company's website directly and check the prices for your dates. You may find that it's much cheaper to book directly and you can then earn points directly with the company's membership program. That way, you'll know you've covered all your bases.
Try an alternative to carpooling.
If you can list your house on Airbnb, why not your car? Peer-to-peer car sharing companies like Move And Turo allow you to rent cars directly from their owners, who set the price and mileage limits. Once you book, you'll meet your host to pick up the keys and car, and off you go. This type of car rental has some unique benefits, like being able to read reviews of the exact car you'll be driving and the option to pick up the car somewhere near you. If you're looking for the cheapest car rental company and you live in an area where many people offer their cars, you can save a lot by booking a peer-to-peer rental. And if the idea of driving someone else's car makes you nervous, you can also check out options on Zipcara membership platform that allows you to book cars instantly.
Check Transfercars.
With so many people picking up rental cars in one location and dropping them off in another, rental companies often struggle to maintain inventory in their most popular destinations. This requires hiring drivers to get cars to where they’re needed most, but it also presents an opportunity for savvy travelers with free schedules. Transfer car is a platform where you can find cars with predefined destinations for only the cost of insurance and gas. For example, you can find a station wagon that must be driven from Las Vegas to San Francisco in three days. This represents a nine-hour journey, which you can break up to make a stop at Yosemite National Park or go up to Lake Tahoe. If it is the Life in a camper van you are more interested in, imoova.com is a similar platform for motorhomes.
Try the two-minute trick.
If you have patience and two minutes a weekThis easy tip recommended by Scott Keyes, the founder of On the way (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights), can help you get a better deal. The first step is to book your car rental as soon as you need it, regardless of the rate. Then, set a reminder in your calendar once a week to check the rate on the same car and see if it has dropped. If it's lower than what you originally paid, you can cancel your first booking and then rebook at the lower rate. Before you do this, make sure your rental company won't charge a cancellation fee, which they usually won't do as long as the cancellation occurs within 24 hours of your booking. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to get a good price drop.
Search for coupons.
You may be able to earn a few extra dollars from your offer with a coupon from AutoSlash.comthat searches a database of coupons for the best price. Simply enter the dates you need your rental car and customize the search based on your travel subscriptions, credit cards, and loyalty programs. You'll then receive an email with potentially discounted rates. You can also check out coupons available listed on the site sorted by company if you prefer to shop your options.
Get a manual transmission.
If you're traveling outside of Canada and the United States, you'll find that manual transmission cars are much more common. That doesn't mean you can't find an automatic in Europe (or anywhere else), but you may have to pay a much higher price because there are fewer of them. If you don't know how to drive a manual, taking the time to learn can help you save more in the long run.
Avoid insurance potholes.
Your credit card, personal auto insurance, or travel insurance may cover your vehicle during your rental. Check before you rent and read the fine print. It could save you $15 to $25 per day on the cost of your car. Don't forget to bring proof of your insurance coverage; increasingly, car rental companies have started requiring it before handing you the keys. A site like Rental coverage can sell you a stand-alone insurance policy that costs a fraction of what rental companies charge.
Try not to rent at the airport.
Car rentals at the airport are typically more expensive due to taxes and additional fees. When you rent a car from an off-airport location, you can save up to 20%. If you can use public transportation to get to the city center (or take a taxi to an off-airport location without spending more than if you rented at the airport), it's cheaper to rent a car in or around the city itself. The exception is renting a car in a major city like New York, where airport rentals are always cheaper because parking in the city is expensive and scarce. Be sure to compare airport and off-airport car rental prices to get the best deal.
Be careful of unwanted charges.
Spam charges have gotten so out of control that even The White House is working to resolve themDisposal fees can include renting a toll transponder (around $5 per day), a GPS (use your phone instead), or a satellite radio (sometimes up to $8 per day). Try to bring your own car accessories, like your charger or phone holder, if you want to avoid paying for extras at the rental counter. Just be sure to remove them from your reservation.
Compare rates throughout the week.
Sometimes you will find that it is cheaper to book a car for a whole week rather than just a few days. Click around and compare the difference between returning the car on the day you actually need to leave and a few days later. If it is cheaper to return the car later, book that period and simply return the car when you need to leave. To do this, however, you must confirm in writing that the car rental company will not impose an early return fee.
Book the smallest car possible.
Car rental companies are notorious for overbooking to offset the number of people who book a car and never show up. While this can backfire during peak demand, you can use this knowledge to your advantage by booking the smallest, cheapest car possible and being prepared for an upgrade. Of course, this is still a gamble, so don’t book anything that isn’t big enough to accommodate your entire group.
Set a designated driver.
If you plan to drive as a team with your travel companions, you may have to pay a fee for each additional driver added to the reservation. This fee typically starts at $10 per day. If you only put one driver on the reservation to save on fees, don't let the other person drive, or you could face very costly consequences if you get into an accident or get caught speeding while they're behind the wheel. Sometimes, car rental companies offer deals or coupons that waive the fee for additional drivers. Depending on your itinerary, this can be a good way to save money on your car rental.
