How to Get a Car Rental Discount Code

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: May 6, 2021 References

Saving money’s always great, especially when travelling. This doesn’t mean just flights and accommodations either; there are lots of discount codes and deals available for rental cars. In fact, you may already qualify for repeat discounts and not even know it. You can try checking with associations you might already be a member of, using generic coupon services or checking the car rental company’s site directly.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Checking Connected Associations and Companies

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Check your existing memberships for benefits. There are hundreds of car rental discount codes and coupons that you can get just by already being a member of certain associations.
- Do you belong to a frequent flyer program, auto club, travel club, or any other group that has gotten you discounts in the past? Members of AARP, AOPA, CARP, Sam's Club, Costco, Delta Skymiles, Aeroplan, AIChe, or the APA, for example, are eligible for car rental discounts.^{[1]
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- Being a member of AAA makes you eligible for discounts with various car rental companies.^{[2]
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- Some insurance companies such as Allstate or GEICO have coverage that includes free rental while your car is being repaired.
2
Book with a company that offers discounts. Popular online booking companies such as Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia, and Kayak all advertise auto rental discounts as part of their value offerings. Autoslash.com is an example of a website that consolidates car rental prices and discount codes.^{[3]
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3
Look for discounts associated with your travel destination. Popular locations like resorts, theme parks and other attractions often offer car-rental discounts to travelers to set themselves apart from the competition.
- Your first step should be to check the website of any resort, hotel or attraction you’re going to. Use the website’s search function to find car rental discounts.
- If you’re not able to find anything on the website, consider calling the resort, hotel or attraction directly. If there are any car rental discounts available, they can let you know.
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Look for travel-package deals. If you plan to take a plane, train, or ferry before renting a car, you may be able to get a discount depending on the company you travel with. Try to find an all-inclusive package for your destination and compare it with regular car rental prices to confirm you’re getting a good deal.

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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Generic Coupon Services

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Search for coupon codes online. There are a host of general coupon sites (RetailMeNot.com, CouponCodes.com, CurrentCodes.com) as well as sites that are car-rental specific (RentalCodes.com, RentalCarMomma.com). Make sure to shop around for the best deal and keep an eye out for instances in which more than one coupon may be used at a time (infrequent but lucrative).
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Use automated coupon applications. This kind of software comes in various flavors, like mobile apps and browser extensions. When activated, they’ll automatically search the web for coupon codes that apply to whatever you’re purchasing online. This usually happens at checkout; as you book your car rental, the application will find the appropriate deal for you.^{[4]
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Sign up for mailers. You might already be signed up for a few of these without realizing it. They’re usually put in mailboxes and have a variety of coupons for local businesses. As such, you might find coupons and discount codes for local car rental companies in these packages. If you’re not already receiving them, you can either check with local businesses or do a quick online search to find coupon mailers in your area.^{[5]
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- Valpak is an example of a company that sends out promotional booklets with various coupons inside.^{[6]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Getting Coupons Directly From Car Rental Companies

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Look for discounts associated with your work. Car rental agencies like making arrangements with businesses because it guarantees repeat customers. Check with your Human Resources manager to see if the company you work for has a deal like this in place.
- If you’re self-employed or own a small business, many rental agencies will offer you repeat discounts in exchange for long-term loyalty. Shop around to see which company seems most reliable and offers the best program.
2
Try asking for a discount. Like many products and services, using the right words might net you a discount code. It’s possible to negotiate for these, but it’s important to stay polite. If you turn what should be a nice conversation into a debate or an argument, the other party is less likely to want to help you. You can either do this by calling the company’s customer service line, or going to their local office and speaking to the clerk at the counter.
- You can try saying ”I’ve been a long time customer, what kind of advantages can I have?”^{[7]
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3
Sign up for rewards programs with car rental companies. Many car rental companies offer special membership programs that reward frequent use of their services. Usually you’ll accumulate points or miles that you can use towards future car rentals, but some programs reward you with discount codes that save you money.
- If you’re using rental car services frequently, you should check if they allow paying for bookings weekly or monthly rather than individually. This may land you some interesting discount codes.^{[8]
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4
Search through the company’s website. Some car rental companies make various discount codes directly available on their website. You might find these well in view, on the homepage, whereas for others you may need to dig a bit deeper. Compare across companies to find the best discount codes.^{[9]
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5
Look for age-related discounts. Depending on your age, you might be able to find discount codes that apply to you. The best place to check for this is on a car rental company’s website or with their agents. For instance, Hertz offers discount codes exclusively for their customers who are over 50.
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Prepay your car rental. With many companies, you’ll find the price of rental cars is lower when you pay the cost of the booking in advance. This option is usually made available as you’re confirming your rental. As you checkout, you should be provided with a coupon code that you can apply to your booking immediately.
- If you choose to prepay, make sure you check the company’s policy for cancellations and changes. Some may not allow you to cancel a booking without paying a fee.^{[10]
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