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Road trip season is in full swing, but rental cars (like everything else) are no longer as affordable as they used to be. Plus, the initial price advertised can be misleading, as there are often hidden fees, damage waivers and other expenses to take into account.
If you’re looking to cut costs on your upcoming car rental, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will provide all the tips and tricks you need to save money on your rental car.
Related: The 12 best road trips to take with your family this summer
Use a corporate, university or alumni code
Using a corporate code from your job or university is one of the simplest ways to save on rental cars. It’s worth checking your corporate or alumni travel site or student benefits page for rental company discounts. Many universities have deals with Avis, Enterprise, Hertz and National that can save students and alumni significant money. Some codes may even offer additional benefits, such as free extra drivers or waived fees for drivers under 25.
Always ensure you can use these codes on personal rentals, as some corporate codes are exclusively for business travel. Sometimes, your company or university may have a separate code for personal use.
Although you can often find these codes online, using a code you are not eligible for is highly discouraged. Rental car companies often request proof of employment or alumni status, so booking with a code that doesn’t apply to you isn’t worth the risk.
Related: How to rent a car without a credit card
Join AAA to save on rental cars
You’re likely familiar with AAA, the auto club that offers its members roadside assistance and discounts on various services. One of the most significant discounts is on rental cars: You can save up to 20% on all Hertz rentals with the AAA discount code.
Using AAA’s code when you book with Hertz provides several other benefits, such as waived fees for drivers under 25, discounts on prepaid fuel, a free additional driver, and a complimentary car seat or booster seat for an infant or child. Depending on how often you rent from Hertz, these discounts can more than compensate for AAA’s membership fee. (Membership pricing varies, as it is based on location.)
Once you become a member, you can use Hertz’s dedicated AAA website to book your discounted rental car. The process is the same as booking through the standard AAA website; all discounts are shown on the checkout screen.
Related: How to redeem points and miles for car rentals
See if you’re eligible for USAA discounts
USAA members are eligible for discounted car rentals with Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National. By booking through the USAA portal, you can receive up to a 35% discount on your next rental and still earn points through the rental company’s loyalty program.
However, not everyone is eligible for USAA discounts; membership is open to current and former military personnel as well as their spouses and children. If you qualify, it’s worthwhile to start your car rental search with USAA to determine the baseline discount before comparing costs with credit card perks and other portals.
Related: The best military travel discounts and perks
Leverage credit card perks and discounts
Several travel credit cards offer rental car perks and discounts. Here’s a quick overview of what to expect from some of the most popular travel cards.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) offers a suite of car rental discounts at Avis, Hertz and National. To take advantage of them, you must enter your Visa Infinite discount code at booking and pay with your Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is currently offering a best-ever welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points plus a $500 Chase Travel℠ credit after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
The Platinum Card from American Express
Those with The Platinum Card® from American Express can enjoy complimentary premium status with Avis, Hertz and National, which can save you money and elevate your rental experience. You must first enroll through your American Express online account; terms apply.
United Club Card
Lastly, the United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees) includes complimentary Avis President’s Club status, the highest tier in Avis’ loyalty program. This includes valuable perks like two-car-class upgrades, guaranteed car availability, expedited rental service and more. Enrollment is required.
Plus, you’ll receive $50 in United TravelBank cash, up to $100 each anniversary year, for your first and second Avis or Budget car rental booked directly through cars.united.com and paid for with your United Club Card.
If you don’t have one of the aforementioned cards, it’s worth checking to see if your credit card offers similar benefits. Often, these discounts can be applied to your rental by booking through a specific portal or booking with a designated code.
Related: Credit cards that offer elite status for car rentals
Use a credit card that includes a rental car damage waiver
Damage waivers provide coverage in case of any damage to the rental, limiting your out-of-pocket cost. But buying these waivers from your rental car company, usually at $10-20 per day, can add up fast. Thankfully, some credit cards include rental car insurance when you charge the rental cost to your card.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) and Chase Sapphire Reserve offer a primary damage waiver, so you won’t have to file a claim with your personal car insurance if damage is incurred. This is helpful since you won’t have to pay a hefty deductible or be subject to rate changes.
Just be sure to read the fine print and understand what is and isn’t covered. For example, the above cards’ policies exclude exotic vehicles and rentals longer than 31 days.
Related: Chase Sapphire rental car insurance: What it covers and how to file a claim
Book a rental car through an airline portal
Many major airlines have partnerships with rental car companies. For example, United Airlines MileagePlus members can earn up to 1,250 miles per qualifying rental and enjoy discounts of up to 35% at Avis and Budget when they book through United’s car rental portal. American Airlines’ AAdvantage Cars platform is similar, offering up to 35% off base rates at Avis and Budget and the ability to earn AAdvantage miles.
Better yet, many airlines, such as Delta and United, offer complimentary rental car status to their elite members. Some car rental programs, like National Emerald Club, match elite status from popular airline and hotel programs. Car rental status can grant you valuable perks like guaranteed free upgrades, bonus points and a wider selection of redemption options.
That said, you’ll miss out on rental car points if you choose to earn airline miles with your rental, so consider which you find more useful before deciding which currency to earn.
Related: Delta adds Hertz status for all Medallion elites, revamps earning structure for rentals
Check alternate rental locations
Major rental companies have numerous locations in key cities and airports. For instance, Hertz has over a dozen locations in New York City and Enterprise has more than 15 in the Denver metro area. To find the best possible deal, compare prices at all nearby locations.
Renting in town may save you money on airport pickup taxes and fees. These savings often apply to rentals where you pick up in town and drop off at the airport. However, there are drawbacks to renting in town — mainly that there are usually fewer cars to choose from and fewer upgrade options.
Additionally, picking up a rental in a city and then returning it to the airport at the end of your trip may subject you to one-way fees or daily rates, which can sometimes be exorbitant. Be sure to carefully compare prices to make sure you’re not overpaying.
Related: How to skip long rental car pick-up lines for free
Borrow someone else’s car with Turo
You might also consider renting with Turo, a car-sharing platform that allows you to rent cars from individuals in major cities across the U.S. Not only are the prices often competitive, but you can also rent unique cars that you may not find elsewhere, like sports cars and specialized luxury vehicles. Some Turo rentals can even be dropped off and picked up at an airport lot, making it as convenient as any other rental.
To determine the best deal for your specific dates, compare the costs of traditional rentals with Turo.
Related: You can now earn United miles with Turo
Find a deal with AutoSlash
AutoSlash is a free website that helps you find the best deal on car rentals. When you enter your rental specifications and any eligible discounts (such as AAA membership), the website searches for rates from different companies as well as coupon codes that you can use. This simplifies the process of comparing prices.
Since AutoSlash is free, there are no downsides to using it. However, keep in mind that it cannot search for corporate and university codes, so it’s essential to cross-check AutoSlash’s price with your corporate code’s price.
What distinguishes AutoSlash from other car rental sites is its ability to track rates and notify you when they decrease on a rental you’ve already booked. Specifically, AutoSlash finds cheaper rates using coupons, discount codes and membership-related discounts. You can then cancel your first reservation for a full refund and rebook at the lower rate.
How to avoid common fees when renting a car
Sometimes, it seems like there are endless fees associated with renting a car — but most are avoidable. Here are ways to avoid common rental car fees that add up quickly.
Fill up the gas tank before you return a car
To avoid inflated fuel prices charged by the rental company, the best approach is to fill up the gas tank shortly before returning the car.
Another option is to prepay for a full tank when picking up the car. However, remember that most rental car companies don’t offer refunds for unused fuel, so this option is only beneficial if you plan to use most of the tank.
Bring your own toll transponder
Rental cars may come equipped with toll transponders. For instance, Hertz’s PlatePass transponders can be used at cashless toll locations for E-ZPass and I-Pass throughout the U.S. Although these transponders are convenient, you may encounter convenience fees for using them. When possible, avoid these fees by bringing your own toll transponder or paying tolls in cash and keeping the rental car’s transponder in the provided case.
As a Florida resident, TPG’s senior editorial director, Nick Ewen, keeps a SunPass Pro transponder that works across Florida and 21 other states.
Skip the under-25 fee
We’ve already discussed multiple tricks young renters can use to bypass the costly “under 25” fee. You can avoid this fee — and save a considerable amount of money — by booking your rental with certain corporate codes, AAA discount codes and university codes.
Bottom line
Car rental costs can add up, especially on long road trips, but there are plenty of ways to save. Keep these tips in mind when booking your next rental, and remember to compare prices and read the fine print before you book. This will help you find the best deal and enjoy a stress-free rental car experience.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
