46 car rental deals to help you save money this autumn

With cruising and air travel off the table, more people are taking road trips this summer than ever before. There are many amazing destinations to explore nearby, and renting a car is a safe way to travel during the pandemic.

The good news is that nearly all major car rental companies provide a wealth of attractive incentives for your next reservation. We’re talking about waived young driver fees, discounts exceeding 35%, bonus airline miles, travel credits, and much more. You don’t need to search multiple car rental sites – we’ve gathered all the best car rental promotions and discount codes in one place.

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Avis discounts and coupon offers

Avis offers an extensive array of discounts and promotional deals. There are so many options that we’ve categorized them for your convenience. Save up to 30% on summer rentals, or choose cash discounts based on your total rental cost. If you're inclined to give back, you can also benefit from Avis' partnerships with various non-profit organizations, enabling you to save money while supporting worthy causes.

Avis is currently sanitizing all vehicles with EPA-certified disinfectants and reducing contact during both check-in and vehicle returns.

Avis discount offers

Avis is providing three promotional discounts on car rentals. The top offer is a $30 discount on rentals of three days or more. The only requirement is that you make a prepaid reservation. No promo code is necessary—just search for a vehicle on the Avis website and select the "Pay Now" option on the results page.

Avis cash savings

Although Avis' 30% discount for summer rentals is quite generous, you can potentially save even more by stacking this offer with additional promo codes. Currently, Avis is providing an extra $10 to $15 off, depending on your rental duration.

I conducted a test search for each of these discount codes, and not only did the corresponding cash discount apply every time, but I was also presented with the opportunity to save more by opting for the Pay Now rate.

Just remember that the discount is applicable to the base rate, prior to taxes and fees. For instance, to utilize the $15 off coupon code, your car rental total must reach $125 before taxes and fees.

Avis membership savings and offers

Avis provides a variety of membership discounts, including options for AARP and Amazon members. Yes, if you have an Amazon account, you can enjoy up to 30% off your Avis rental, plus an additional 10% bonus in the form of an Amazon gift card.

Avis also extends discounts to military members and is currently waiving young driver fees for those aged 21 to 24.

Avis charitable offers

What could be better than saving on car rentals? Supporting a worthy cause while doing so! Avis collaborates with both the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Susan G. Komen to provide 25% off base rates, along with a donation to each organization. Just be sure to apply the relevant promo code.

Budget discounts and coupon offers

Budget currently offers over a dozen car rental discount promotions and codes, including a significant 35% off summer rentals. Similar to Avis, Budget collaborates with several non-profit organizations to provide savings alongside charitable contributions.

Budget rental car discount offers

With a 35% discount, Budget provides one of the largest car rental savings available. To take advantage of this offer, you'll need to book a prepaid rate. Additionally, beyond summer 2020, there are substantial savings on truck rentals and long-term rentals.

Budget rental car cash savings

You can combine Budget's 35% prepaid discount with a promo code for even greater savings on your car rental. Just keep in mind that the discount is applied to your total before taxes.

In a test booking, I successfully reduced the price of a 3-day luxury car rental from $194.94 to $150.45 by stacking these promotions.

Budget rental car membership offers

If you miss out on Budget's summer discount promotion, AARP members can still save up to 30% year-round. The best part about AARP is that, while it's aimed at seniors, anyone can join, regardless of age.

Veterans and active military personnel can bypass the AARP membership fee and enjoy savings of up to 25% on Budget car rentals. Notably, Budget also provides discounts for union members.

Budget charitable offers

When you rent a car using one of these promo codes, Budget gives you a 25% discount off the base rate, and also donates 5% to either Alex's Lemonade Stand or the Susan G. Komen foundation.

Budget partner offers

In addition to saving up to 30% on Budget car rentals, you can earn exciting rewards. For instance, Budget is currently offering four months of free Apple Music when you rent a car and agree to receive promotional emails.

An individual Apple Music subscription typically costs $9.99, making this offer potentially worth up to $40. If you manage to find an inexpensive one-day rental, it could be worthwhile just for the Apple Music subscription alone.

Dollar Rent A Car promotions and coupon offers

While Dollar Rent A Car may not provide the largest percentage discounts on rentals, their rent-five-earn-two-free promotion is quite generous. You may also find value in their airline partnerships, which allow you to earn bonus miles and save on rental bookings.

Dollar Rent A Car discounts

With Dollar's rent-five-earn-two promotion, you'll accumulate enough points from five rentals to redeem two free rentals in the fall.

Dollar Rent A Car membership and demographic discounts

In addition to the standard AAA discount, Dollar is also providing savings for members of AICPA, Union Privilege, and BJ's Wholesale Club. While specific discounts for these groups aren't detailed, it's beneficial to compare rates with other promotions to see if you can save some money.

Dollar Rent A Car partner promotions

Although many of us are not traveling currently, if you're planning for a post-pandemic vacation, Dollar's airline partnerships could be quite rewarding. For instance, you can earn 2,500 LifeMiles with a one-day rental. TPG values these miles at $42.50, which can help offset the rental expense.

For more expensive rentals, you might find it more advantageous to choose the 10% discount, which also provides 1,500 LifeMiles.

Enterprise promotions and coupon offers

Enterprise is currently offering the Plus Your Points promotion, which grants double points on qualifying rentals until January 31, 2021. Make sure to register for this promotion prior to your next booking to maximize your points.

Currently, CAA members can enjoy 10% off prepaid fuel, along with a complimentary car seat at airports, two free additional drivers, and unlimited mileage.

Enterprise also collaborates with various travel rewards programs, allowing you to accumulate points on your car rentals:

• Earn 500 Hilton Honors points for each qualifying rental
• Earn 50 Amtrak Guest Rewards for every qualifying rental day
• 4 Flying Blue miles for every qualified Euro spent

Hertz promotions and coupon offers

Currently, Hertz is offering discounts of up to 20% for travelers aged 50 and over. Additionally, their fourth-day free rental and $250 travel credit promotion are also appealing. Hertz is also accommodating young drivers by waiving fees for those as young as 20.

Hertz discounts and bonus points

Hertz's $250 in travel credits are beneficial for both long road trips and one-day rentals. Given that live events are not currently on the agenda, that part of the credit may not be particularly useful. However, the restaurant credit can be quite handy if you're traveling or even just supporting local eateries during a staycation.

Regarding the double points promotion, it's important to note that it only applies to Pay Later rates.

Hertz membership and demographic-based promotions

Currently, Hertz is offering AAA members up to 20% off rentals. If you're aged 20-24, you won't incur young driver fees until September 30. Additionally, customers over 50 can enjoy a 20% discount on the base rate, which is Hertz's best available offer.

National Car Rental

Currently, National's promotions aren't particularly strong. They are offering $20 off weekend base rates for compact to full-size vehicles, including minivans, SUVs, and convertibles. To qualify, you need to book for a minimum of three days.

Moreover, you can receive $20 off the weekly base rate by reserving a rental for five days. This deal applies to economy to full-size vehicles, premium and luxury options, SUVs, minivans, and pickup trucks. While it's not overly enticing, it's worth comparing National's prices with those of other companies on this list before dismissing them entirely.

Bottom line

In summary, Avis and Budget are currently offering some of the most substantial car rental promotions and discounts available. However, it's essential to shop around to secure the best possible rate. For instance, while Budget provides a 35% discount on prepaid rentals this summer, their prices might still be higher than Hertz's, which has no discounts at all. Therefore, always compare both rates and discounts.

When you're set to make a booking, remember to go through a shopping portal and utilize a credit card that provides primary car rental coverage along with bonus points. The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred Cards are excellent choices, offering primary coverage and earning 3x and 2x points per dollar spent, respectively.

Stay informed by regularly checking back on this page for the latest car rental discounts and promotions.