Cut costs on your next journey: Follow these tips to ensure you never pay full price for a rental car

Summer brings warm temperatures, school vacations, and abundant travel opportunities. However, traveling in summer can be quite costly, especially when renting a car. Rental vehicles (like many other things) are no longer as budget-friendly as they once were. Additionally, the initial price shown can be deceptive, as there are frequently hidden fees, damage waivers, and other costs to consider.

If you want to reduce expenses on your upcoming car rental, you’re in the right spot. This guide will equip you with all the tips and tricks necessary to save money on your rental vehicle.

Utilize a  corporate, university, or alumni discount code

Leveraging a corporate code from your employer or educational institution is one of the easiest ways to save on rental cars. It's a good idea to check your company or alumni travel website or student discount page for offers from rental companies. Many universities have partnerships with Avis, Enterprise, Hertz, and National that can lead to significant savings for students and alumni. Some codes may even provide extra perks, such as complimentary additional drivers or waived fees for drivers under 25.

Always verify that you can use these codes for personal rentals, as some corporate codes are strictly for business travel. Your company or university may have a distinct code for personal use.

While these codes can typically be found online, it's strongly advised against using a code you aren't qualified for. Rental car companies often require proof of employment or alumni status, so booking with an ineligible code isn’t worth the potential consequences.

Become a AAA member to save on rental cars

You may already know about AAA, the auto club that provides members with roadside assistance and various service discounts. One of the biggest savings comes from rental cars, allowing you to save up to 20% on all Hertz rentals using the AAA discount code.

By applying AAA's code when booking with Hertz, you gain access to additional perks, including waived fees for drivers under 25, discounts on prepaid fuel, a complimentary additional driver, and free child, infant, or booster seats. If you frequently rent from Hertz, these benefits can easily offset AAA's annual membership fee, which ranges from $64.99 to $124.99.

After joining, you can use Hertz's dedicated AAA website to reserve your discounted rental car. The booking process mirrors that of the regular AAA website, with all discounts displayed during checkout.

Check your eligibility for USAA discounts

Members of USAA can access discounts on rental cars with Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Hertz. By using the USAA portal for bookings, you can secure up to a 35% discount on your next rental while still earning loyalty points with the rental company. You'll also benefit from discounts or waivers on various fees, including those for additional drivers and for drivers under 25.

Keep in mind that USAA discounts are not available to everyone; eligibility is limited to current and former military members and their spouses and children. If you qualify, it's a good idea to begin your car rental search with USAA to find out the standard discount before comparing with credit card benefits and other booking platforms.

Take advantage of credit card benefits and discounts

Many travel credit cards provide valuable rental car perks and discounts. Here's a brief overview of what some of the most popular travel cards offer.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides a variety of discounts on car rentals. To benefit from these at Avis and National, you need to enter your Visa Infinite discount code when booking and use your Chase Sapphire Reserve card for payment. For Audi on Demand, simply set your Chase Sapphire Reserve as the default payment method in your account.

The Platinum Card from American Express

Holders of The Platinum Card® from American Express can enjoy a range of advantages with Hertz, National, and Avis (registration required), offering savings and enhancing your rental experience (terms apply).

Hertz offers the following benefits for cardmembers:

• Complimentary Five Star elite status, offering priority service at the rental counter and a potential one-car-class upgrade when available
• Up to 15% discount on standard rates and 25% off vehicles from the Prestige Collection
• Free additional driver for your spouse or civil partner
• Four-hour grace period for returning rentals

To enjoy these benefits, you must enroll in Hertz Gold Plus Rewards and book your rental directly through Hertz or Platinum Travel Services.

If you choose to rent from Avis, you can receive:

• Priority service at the rental counter
• Discounts on your rental
• A free two-day weekend rental coupon after completing two qualifying rentals of two or more days with Avis within a six-month period

To access these perks, you need to enroll in Avis Preferred and then book your rental directly with Avis or through Platinum Travel Services.

If you rent from National—remember, you must enroll to get a complimentary Emerald Club membership with Executive status—you can enjoy these benefits:

• Executive members can select their vehicle from the Executive Selection area
• Automatic upgrades when you book a full-size car or higher
• Earn a free rental day after completing six qualifying rentals
• Accumulate airline miles or hotel points through one of National's partner programs

United Club Infinite Card

The United Club℠ Infinite Card grants you complimentary Avis President's Club status, the top tier of Avis' loyalty program. This offers a range of valuable perks including:

• Complimentary upgrades of two car classes when available
• Guaranteed car availability if booked at least 24 hours in advance
• Faster rental service
• A dedicated phone line for reservations and customer assistance

If you don’t possess any of the cards mentioned earlier, it’s a good idea to check if your credit card provides similar advantages. Frequently, you can access these discounts by booking through a specific portal or applying a particular discount code.

Opt for a credit card that offers a rental car damage waiver

Damage waivers play a crucial role in car rentals. Should you cause any damage to a vehicle (ranging from minor dents to theft), the damage waiver could cover the costs, reducing your financial burden.

While you can purchase these waivers from the rental company, they tend to be expensive—typically between $10 and $20 each day. However, some credit cards provide a primary collision damage waiver when you pay for the rental using that card.

Among these options are the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Both cards provide a primary damage waiver in the event of theft or damage. There are some exceptions, particularly for exotic, "luxurious" and vintage vehicles, but standard rental cars should not pose a problem.

Since this insurance is primary, you won't need to file a claim with your personal auto insurance if any damage occurs. This is advantageous because it prevents you from facing a significant deductible or potential rate increases. Just keep in mind that the coverage is applicable only for rentals lasting 31 consecutive days or less.

Reserve a rental vehicle via an airline portal

Numerous major airlines collaborate with rental car firms, providing discounts, the chance to earn miles, and additional benefits. For instance, members of United Airlines MileagePlus can earn up to 1,250 miles per qualifying rental and receive discounts of as much as 35% with Avis and Budget. For more details, including current promotions and offers, check out United's car rental portal.

Even better, numerous airline loyalty programs provide complimentary rental car status to their elite members. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines offer status matches for elite members with select rental companies, with United additionally granting status to certain co-branded credit card holders.

Car rental status may come with guaranteed complimentary upgrades, extra bonus points, and a broader range of redemption options. The benefits from these perks can accumulate significantly depending on how frequently you rent cars, so we strongly advise you to seize a status match if one is presented to you.

However, if you opt to earn airline miles with your car rental, you will forfeit any rental car points. Weigh which option you find more valuable before making your decision on which currency to accumulate. Contrary to common belief, rental car points can indeed be quite valuable based on how you choose to use them.

Explore alternative rental locations

Leading rental companies operate numerous branches in major cities and airports. For example, Hertz has over a dozen outlets in New York City, while Enterprise boasts more than 15 locations in the Denver metropolitan area. To secure the best deal, make sure to compare prices at all nearby sites.

Renting a car in town could help you avoid airport pickup taxes and fees. These savings typically apply to rentals where you pick up in the city and return the vehicle at the airport.

However, there are some disadvantages to renting from an in-town location — primarily that these sites often have a smaller selection of vehicles. This could be inconvenient if your preferred car is not available, limiting your upgrade possibilities.

Moreover, picking up a rental in the city and returning it to the airport at the end of your journey might incur one-way fees or daily charges, which can sometimes be quite steep. Be sure to compare prices carefully to avoid overspending.

Consider renting a car from Lyft

Did you know that you can rent a vehicle through Lyft instead of just hailing a ride? Most rentals are handled by Flexdrive or Hertz, and the prices are comparable to those you’d find if you booked directly.

When you rent a car via Lyft, you typically earn a $10 Lyft credit upon returning the vehicle. This credit can be used to cover your ride from the rental agency.

Consider borrowing someone else's car with Turo

You might also want to consider renting through Turo, a service that enables you to rent cars from individuals in major cities throughout the U.S. The prices are often quite competitive, and you can also find unique vehicles not available from standard rental agencies, such as electric cars, sports models, and specialized luxury options.

To find the best deal for your specific rental dates, compare prices between traditional car rentals and Turo. Some Turo vehicles can even be picked up and returned at airport locations, making them just as convenient as other rental options.

Score a deal with AutoSlash

AutoSlash is a free online tool that assists you in finding the best rates for car rentals. By entering your rental details and any applicable discounts (like AAA membership), the site scans various companies for rates and coupon codes, making it easier to compare options.

Since AutoSlash is completely free to use, there are no drawbacks to trying it out. However, be aware that it cannot check corporate or university codes, so it’s wise to compare the prices from AutoSlash with your corporate rate.

What sets AutoSlash apart from other car rental websites is its unique capability to monitor rates and alert you when they drop for a rental you’ve already reserved. Specifically, AutoSlash identifies lower prices through coupons, discount codes, and membership perks. You can then cancel your initial booking for a full refund and rebook at the reduced rate.

Tips for avoiding common fees when renting a car

It often feels like there are countless fees tied to renting a car, but many of them are avoidable. Here are some strategies to help you steer clear of common rental car fees that can quickly add up.

Refuel the gas tank before returning the vehicle

To steer clear of the inflated fuel charges imposed by the rental agency, the best strategy is to top off the gas tank just before you return the vehicle.

Alternatively, you can opt to prepay for a full tank when you pick up the car. However, keep in mind that most rental companies do not provide refunds for any unused fuel, making this option worthwhile only if you intend to use a significant portion of the tank. Therefore, we recommend refueling before dropping off the rental to save some cash.

Use your own toll transponder

Rental vehicles might come with toll transponders; for example, Hertz offers PlatePass transponders that can be used at cashless toll points for E-ZPass and I-Pass across the U.S. While these transponders are handy, be aware that you might incur convenience fees for their use.

Whenever possible, bring your own toll transponder or opt to pay tolls in cash while keeping the rental car's transponder in its case. Otherwise, you risk incurring significant convenience fees.

If you're renting a car in New York City, consider signing up for Pay Per Trip to manage your bridge and tunnel tolls. Simply register your rental's license plate on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority website, and all tolls will be automatically charged to your linked credit card.

As a resident of Florida, TPG's senior editorial director, Nick Ewen, uses a SunPass Pro transponder that operates in Florida and 21 other states. Additionally, visitors to Florida can use E-ZPass or the Visitor Toll Pass program specifically for those arriving and departing from Orlando International Airport (MCO).

Avoid the under-25 surcharge

As highlighted in this article, there are various strategies for young renters to sidestep the expensive "under 25" fee. You can eliminate this charge—and save a substantial amount—by booking your rental using specific corporate codes, AAA discounts, or university codes.

Final thoughts

Renting a vehicle can be costly, but there are many strategies to save money. Keep these suggestions in mind when arranging your next rental, and always compare prices and check the fine print before finalizing your booking—this will help you secure the best deal and ensure a hassle-free car rental experience.