How to Save on Car Rentals

Your travels are just as much about the journey as they are about the destination. However, like the destination, the journey can also come with some added costs – take car rentals for example.

If you’re a budget-conscious traveller in need of a rental car, we’ve curated this comprehensive guide on how to save on car rentals, from cross-searching for discounts to booking with the right credit credit card.

Cross-Search Boosted Booking Sites

First thing’s first, cross-search – and while you’re at it, boost your bookings with rebates.

On top of booking directly through a car rental company, you can also use other platforms to cross-search different deals on rental cars. When you find these deals through Finly partners, you can earn cashback on your bookings with our FinlyBoost extension.

To use FinlyBoost, simply install the extension onto your browser, browse partner websites, and activate the extension through the pop-up before checkout. 

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Here’s a closer look at which boosted cross-search sites you can consider using:

Expedia

A common site you can use to make travel bookings is Expedia.

Expedia is a third-party platform that helps you secure deals on hotel stays, flights, car rentals, vacation packages, and cruises.

To find a rental car using Expedia, follow these steps:

1. Select “Cars” from the Expedia homepage’s drop-menu.
2. Under “Rental Cars”, start filling out your pick-up point and drop-off location.
3. Next, input how long you’ll need the rental car for. Include your desired pick-up and drop-off time.
4. If you have a discount code, you can select your preferred brand and indicate the discount type before hitting “Search.”
5. Take your time sifting through deals provided by different rental car companies.
6. Once you find a deal you like, select it and book directly through the Expedia website.

With FinlyBoost, you can earn solid cashback on Expedia car rental bookings.

Booking.com

You can also cross-search car rentals and boost your bookings through Booking.com.

Booking.com is a popular platform for booking hotel stays, flights, vacation packages, car rentals, airport taxis, and experiences.

To secure a rental car, use this guide:

1. From the top of the Booking.com homepage, select “Car Rentals.”
2. Begin filling out your pick-up location, pick-up date and time, and drop-off date and time, then press “Search.”
3. Browse tons of car rental deals from various car rental companies. When you see a deal that speaks to you, select it to review all of the terms and conditions.
4. After reviewing your potential rental, click “Continue to book” to checkout directly through Booking.com.

When you use the FinlyBoost extension on Booking.com, you’ll receive impressive cashback on your rental car booking.

Travelocity

Aside from hotel stays, flights, packages, and experiences, travellers can also make rental car bookings on Travelocity.

To make booking through Travelocity even more enticing, FinlyBoost offers decent cashback on rental car bookings.

Here are the steps on how to find the best boosted car rental deals through Travelocity:

1. Choose the “Cars” option from the Travelocity homepage.
2. Input your desired pick-up and drop-off locations, as well as the rental time frame, and pick-up and drop-off schedule.
3. If you happen to have a discount code, you can select your preferred rental car brand and discount type before pressing “Search.”
4. Check out tons of deals offered by different rental car companies and select the deal that suits you best.
5. Reserve your rental car directly through the Travelocity platform.

Enterprise Rent a Car Canada

As the name implies, Enterprise Rent a Car is a rental car booking platform.

Activate the FinlyBoost extension to earn some cashback on your rented ride through Enterprise.

Here’s how to make a successful booking:

1. Enter your pick-up and return location on the Enterprise Rent a Car homepage.
2. Fill in your pick-up and return dates, as well as your age, any corporate account number or preferred vehicle class, then hit “Browse Vehicles.”
3. Scroll through a wide-selection of rentals and select a deal that works for you.
4. Opt into any add-ons and provide further details for a seamless experience before completing your booking.

Hertz

Book through Hertz and earn a nice cashback with the FinlyBoost extension.

To reserve a rental car, follow these steps:

1. Enter your pick-up location on the Hertz homepage, include your preferred pick-up and drop-off dates and times, then hit “View Vehicles.”
2. Browse your rental options.
3. When you find the right fit, decide whether you’d like to “Save & Pay Now” or “Pay Later.”
4. If you choose the “Save & Pay Now” option, you can book your rental car directly through the Hertz site.
5. If you’d rather “Pay Later”, you’ll still need to provide your credit card information but you won’t be charged until you pick up your vehicle. 

Trip Advisor

Known primarily as a travel platform for booking hotels, experiences, restaurant reservations, and flights – Trip Advisor is no stranger to car rentals.

To make a car rental booking, follow this process:

1. Select “Rental Cars” from the menu featured in the homepage’s top-left corner.
2. Indicate whether or not your drop-off location will be the same or different from your pick-up location, then input your pick-up and drop-off times before pressing “Find rental cars.”
3. Sort through your options until you find the perfect match. When you’ve done so, hit “View Deal.”
4. The deal will be associated with different car types, select your favourite to move forward.
5. Review the car’s information before you “Continue to book.”
6. Check out directly through Trip Advisor.

Before checking out, make sure you activate the FinlyBoost extension. FinlyBoost earns you admirable cashback on Trip Advisor bookings.

Auto Europe Car Rentals

Compare rental car rates on Auto Europe Car Rentals and earn helpful cashback on your booking with FinlyBoost.

Here’s how to book:

1. Provide your pick-up location, date, and time as well as your drop-off location, date, and time.
2. Next, choose your vehicle type and browse all the corresponding results.
3. Select your deal and book directly through the Auto Europe Car Rentals platform.
   

Airport Rental Cars

If you want significant cashback on your rental car booking, book with Airport Rental Cars and FinlyBoost.

To reserve your rental car through the Airport Rental Cars platform, use this guide:

1. Input your preferred location, time, and date for pick-up and drop-off.
2. Filter through rental car options that allow you to either “Pay Now” or “Pay Later.”
3. If you choose to “Pay Now”, you can book and pay directly through the Airport Rental Cars website.
4. If you want to “Pay Later” instead, reserve your rental car and pay at pick-up.

Hotels.com

Despite its name, Hotels.com can set you up with more than a hotel stay, they also provide rental car bookings.

To optimize your rental car booking through Hotels.com, activate the FinlyBoost extension to receive decent cashback after checkout.

Here’s how to find deals:

1. Choose the “Cars” option on the Hotels.com homepage.
2. Provide the search filters with your pick-up and drop off locations, dates, and times, you can also include any discount codes before hitting “Search.”
3. Take a look at some of the top deals from various rental companies and select the best deal for your trip.
4. Review the rental information before reserving directly through Hotels.com.

Choice Hotels

At Choice Hotels, you can choose to include a rental car with your hotel booking from either Avis or Budget to earn 1000 Choice Privileges reward points on a rental of 3+ days. That’s not all, with Choice Hotels, you can also save up to 35% off base rates on your rental!

For more savings, activate the FinlyBoost extension before checking out at Choice Hotels to collect some cashback – it’s the perfect package deal!

To book with Avis and Choice Hotels, sign-up for a Choice Privileges account (Choice Hotels’ loyalty program) and make a reservation through the partnered portal.

To book with Budget, create a Choice Privileges account and reserve through this partnered portal instead.

Best Western

Like Choice Hotels, Best Western partners with tons of car rental companies to earn you discounts and Best Western Rewards points for every dollar spent.

Simply sign up for the Best Western Rewards loyalty program and pair your rental car booking with your hotel stay.

Here are the different partnered rental car companies you can choose from, their discounts, and their earn potential:

• Alamo: Saves travellers 5% or more on car rentals, plus 3 Best Western Rewards points on every dollar spent.
• Avis: Saves travellers up to 25% on car rentals, plus up to 5,000 Best Western Rewards points.
• Budget: Earns travellers up to 5,000 Best Western Rewards points and a discount of up to 25% on car rentals.
• Enterprise: Saves travellers 5% or more on car rentals, plus 3 Best Western Rewards points on every dollar spent.
• National: Saves travellers 5% or more on car rentals, plus 3 Best Western Rewards on every dollar spent.
• Sixt: Saves renters 15% on every car rental, plus 1,000 points for every car rental or 2,000 points for every rental with Sixt limousine service worldwide.

If you choose to make a Best Western booking, then optimize a car rental service with that booking, you’ll earn comendable cashback on your Best Western purchase with FinlyBoost.

CheapOair.ca

CheapOair.ca helps you track down solid deals on flights, vacation packages, hotels, and car rentals.

Here’s how you can take advantage of car rental deals through this platform:

1. To save on car rentals with CheapOair.ca, select the “Cars” icon from the menu on the homepage.
2. Input your pick-up location, date and time, then indicate whether your drop-off location is the same as the pick-up location – as well as the drop-off date and time. Once everything is filled out, hit “Search Cars.” 
3. From here, you’ll be matched with the top deals issued by several car rental companies. 
4. When you find the right deal, select it, review the booking, and reserve.

Car rental bookings made through CheapOair.ca earn respectable cashback with FinlyBoost.

Viator

FinlyBoost also offers a rebate program through Viator, earning you decent cashback on your bookings.

You can book a car rental service through Viator by searching for “car rentals” through the homepage search bar.

You should be able to find car rentals with drivers, plus full-day car rentals at select locations.

Save Money With Memberships

In addition to FinlyBoost rebates on cross-search sites and rental car companies, you can also save money on rental cars with eligible memberships.

In this section, we’re going to highlight two popular membership programs that can help you save on car rentals.

Rent a Car With Costco

With a Costco membership, travellers can access discounts at car rental companies like:

• Alamo
• Avis
• Budget
• Enterprise

To access these savings, simply book through Costco Travel by following these steps:

1. Visit Costco Travel and login or sign-up to become a member.
2. On the homepage, select the “Rental Cars” icon.
3. Provide the search filter with your pick-up and drop-off location, dates, and times, then press “Search.” 
4. Browse the various deals offered by different rental companies and select one that suits your needs.
5. Apply any necessary upgrades before checking out.

Keep in mind that a Costco membership comes with an annual fee, so you’ll want to make sure you’re a frequent enough shopper to take advantage of these associated deals.

Save With AAA 

AAA offers more than roadside assistance, members can also reap the benefits of discounts at Hertz – saving you up to 20% on rental cars.

Simply use a designated discount code and present your AAA membership card to score these specialty savings.

Note that there are membership tiers with associated annual costs, so make sure that you’re using the provided benefits enough to make the most of the yearly expense.

Pick an Economy Car

With impressive catalogues stocked with various makes and models, it can be tempting to rent a luxury vehicle so you can travel in style.

Still, the best way to save money on the actual rental car itself is to opt for an economy car. Economy cars are usually the cheapest rental option and are typically a smaller pick, so ensure that your entire travel party (and their luggage) can be accommodated.

As the most budget-friendly option, economy cars are oftentimes the most sought-after rental cars. This can actually work to your advantage. If you reserve an economy car, then come to find out by pick-up time that they’ve run out, there’s a chance you could be upgraded to a better alternative.

Designate a Driver

Usually, rental car companies will charge an extra fee for additional drivers – these fees can start at $10 a day. That’s why picking a designated driver is the most cost-effective way to secure your vehicle.

Sometimes, certain rental car companies will waive the extra fee for spouses or domestic partners, as long as you both have the same home address on your driver’s licenses or you’re enrolled in a specified membership program.

Ensure You Don’t Need Insurance

Avoid getting roped into unnecessary insurance add-ons provided by the rental car companies themselves by reviewing your personal and primary insurance policies. Oftentimes, these policies will cover you and help you avoid daily coverage costs.

You can also take advantage of certain credit cards that come with rental car coverage. To learn more about these insurance policies and the cards that offer them, check out our Credit Card Rental Car Insurance blog. 

Use The Perks on Car Rental-Optimizing Credit Cards

In addition to coverage, some credit cards come with perks that help you save on rental cars.

Some popular credit card issuers with these types of deals include:

• BMO: Provides discounts at National and Alamo of up to 25% off.
• CIBC: Features discounts on rental cars at Budget of up to 25% off.
• MBNA: Grants discounts of a minimum of 10% in Canada and the US and 5% internationally at Avis and Budget.
• Scotiabank: Extends discounts of up to 25% at Avis and Budget.
• TD: Issues discounts of at least 10% in Canada and the US and 5% internationally.

At Finly, our top-rated BMO credit card with car rental discounts is the BMO Cashback World Elite Mastercard – with 25% off the base rate of rental cars at participating National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car locations. 

One of our top-rated CIBC credit cards with car rental discounts is the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card, which comes with 25% off auto rentals at participating Avis and Budget locations across the globe.

Our best MBNA credit card with a car rental discount is the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, which is equipped with 10% off the base rate of rental cars at Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car locations in Canada and the US, or 5% off at International locations (view card details).

There are a couple of great options with Scotiabank, one of the best Scotiabank cards for car rental discounts is the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card, complete with 25% off the base rate of car rentals at Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car locations.

For TD, a good option is the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card, which offers 10% off the base rate of rental cars at Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent a Car locations.

To explore all of your options, check out our Best Credit Card Finder tool.

Find a Rental at Off-Airport Locations

Lots of times, renting a car at the airport comes with extra charges due to increased demand. These extra charges often include facility fees and taxes.

If possible, try to take public transportation to a nearby rental location off of airport grounds, or at least compare the price against what the airport charges and any costs associated with taking you offsite instead. 

Conclusion

Renting a car can be budget-friendly, you just have to know where to look, how to optimize, and what to choose.

To make this criteria simple for you, we’ve curated the best tips on how to cross-search and boost your rental car bookings, how to make the most out of memberships, which type of car will save you the most money, and which credit cards come with the best rental car perks.

Start your search today through one of our partnered travel merchants, or sift through our top credit cards that come with rental car discounts. Either way, a budget-conscious journey awaits!