Everything You Need to Know About Renting from Silvercar

The summer travel season is upon us, and while air travel is still mostly limited, car rentals might become more essential than ever for your summer vacation plans.

Silvercar has always set itself apart from typical car rental companies, and now its unique features (like no-contact pickups via its app) provide a significant advantage in our socially distanced world.

I’ve been a fan of Silvercar since it started in 2012. While no rental service can completely eliminate all the usual hassles, Silvercar has successfully addressed many of them. As we’ve begun traveling again during the ongoing pandemic, it’s no surprise we chose Silvercar to make the car rental process as smooth (and contactless) as possible.

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With Silvercar, you can rest assured that you’re getting an Audi (high-quality car seats included), and Wi-Fi is complimentary. While the fees for fuel refueling ($9.95) and the toll transponder ($4.95) have increased slightly, they still remain more affordable than many competitors. Utilizing both features helped us minimize contact points during our time in Florida.

If you’re thinking about renting from Silvercar for the first time, here’s what you can anticipate.

Types of Vehicles and Pricing

Silvercar's fleet used to consist entirely of—surprise!—silver Audi A4 sedans. Now, you have a variety of color options (gray, silver, or black) and types of vehicles to choose from, though you’ll always be driving an Audi. In fact, Silvercar is currently owned by Audi, so I don’t foresee any significant changes to the vehicle lineup in the near future. The offerings may vary by location but can include:

• Audi A4 (sedan)
• Audi Q5 (compact to mid-size crossover SUV)
• Audi A5 Cabriolet (convertible)
• Audi Q7 (three-row SUV)

I’d argue that if you’re traveling with more than four people—especially with luggage—you’ll want to opt for the Q7. Even with a family of four, our luggage was piled up everywhere on a recent ski trip, making the drive to the mountains from Denver in an A4 a bit snug. However, for trips with four or fewer passengers, the A4 works just fine.

The price typically rises as you move from the A4 to the Q7. Outside of any discounts (which we’ll cover shortly), the A4 usually starts at around $60 per day, while the Q7 generally begins at about $90 per day. These rates can fluctuate based on rental location, season, and demand.

While Silvercar may not always be the lowest-priced car rental option, it’s not significantly higher than competitors once you factor in discounts. In fact, there have been instances where it’s more budget-friendly than some of the larger rental brands.

Locations

Since its launch, Silvercar has expanded into many major cities nationwide. You can currently rent from Silvercar at these locations:

• Austin-Bergstrom (AUS)
• Boston Logan (BOS)
• Charlotte Douglas (CLT)
• Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
• Dallas Love Field (DAL)
• Dallas — Audi Dallas
• Denver International (DEN)
• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL)
• McCarran International in Las Vegas (LAS)
• Los Angeles International (LAX)
• Miami International (MIA)
• Miami South Beach
• Newark Liberty (EWR)
• New York City — Brooklyn Williamsburg
• New York City — Brooklyn Downtown
• New York City — Manhattan Columbus Circle
• New York City — Manhattan West 42nd Street (temporarily closed)
• John Wayne Airport in Orange County (SNA)
• Orlando International (MCO)
• Sky Harbor International in Phoenix (PHX)
• Salt Lake City (SLC)
• San Diego International (SAN)
• San Francisco International (SFO)
• San Francisco Downtown — Union Square
• Seattle-Tacoma (SEA)
• Tampa International (TPA)
• Dulles International in Washington, D.C. (IAD)

Rental Process

Silvercar embraces technology: The app-based rental system eliminates lines and waiting times. You can effortlessly book your Silvercar through the app or the website.

If you require special items like a car seat or ski rack, you'll need to request them directly from Silvercar after completing your booking. The best part? These add-ons come at no extra charge.

Even if you don't plan to add anything to your reservation, make sure to download the Silvercar app before you pick up your vehicle, as it's necessary for collecting the car.

Car Seats

Silvercar offers the finest car seats in the rental industry — and they are complimentary. However, you'll need to reserve car seats alongside your rental to ensure they are available for your arrival date and time.

If you require the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible or Peg Perego Viaggio Flex Booster car seats, please make a car seat request using Silvercar's chat feature.

Ski Racks

At Silvercar locations in Denver and Salt Lake City, ski racks are available at no additional cost, but you must request them online in advance.

Pet Hammocks

You can request pet hammocks for $25 for the entire rental period.

Surf Racks

At Silvercar's San Diego location, surf racks are available upon request at no extra cost.

Pickup Process

The pickup process for Silvercar can differ based on your location.

For instance, last year in Salt Lake City, Silvercar picked my family up directly from the terminal, and we were on our way with our rental. The Austin location is also recognized for this service. However, during recent rentals in Denver and Orlando, we had to take a shuttle to an off-site rental facility to get our car.

In a pre-pandemic era, sometimes you could have a Silvercar employee meet you at the airport to return the car, and they would drive you (along with your kids, luggage, and pets) back to the airport without needing to unload again.

To find out the specific pickup or drop-off procedure for your location, either check Silvercar's website or follow the instructions you receive via text on the day of your pickup. You can inform Silvercar of your arrival through the app as soon as you land, and the details will be provided there.

No matter when or where you pick up your Silvercar, the app is essential for scanning a code on the vehicle to finalize the rental process. Enjoy the convenience of no paper contracts, upselling, or waiting in line, which is a real bonus.

A new "Delivery to You" feature is now offered at all Silvercar locations, excluding Newark and Miami (South Beach). For a fee starting at $50, you can have your Silvercar delivered or picked up from a specified address within the metro area surrounding the regular pickup site.

Adjustments related to COVID-19

It’s not surprising that Silvercar has updated its policies and procedures due to the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis.

To ensure safety, staff are now required to wear face masks and maintain a distance of at least six feet from others. Silvercar has also implemented a no-touch rental handoff policy, meaning staff will not handle your credit card or driver's license.

The company employs a comprehensive 19-step cleaning procedure that reportedly involves disinfecting all interior areas and surfaces with a specialized germicidal solution. The Peg Perego Booster and Flex Convertible child seats are sanitized using a concentrated quaternary ammonia detergent and disinfectant.

Save money with Silvercar

Exclusive offers for new customers

As a new customer at Silvercar, you can enjoy a 20% discount on your first rental by using the code TPG20.

Promotional discount codes

• Holding a Visa Infinite credit card, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve? Use the code VISAINF20 to receive a 20% discount on Silvercar rentals.
• Silvercar occasionally offers seasonal discount codes. Currently, the code MYBACKYARDTPG10 provides a 10% discount for bookings made by Sept. 30.
• If you rent for a week or more, you can benefit from a 30% discount with the code 30OFF15+DAYS.
• Keep an eye out for Amex Offers that might help you save on your Silvercar rentals.

Audi owners program

If you're an Audi owner, you can take advantage of exclusive Silvercar offers. Until Dec. 31, 2020, Audi owners receive one complimentary day with every two-day rental and two free days for four-day rentals. Additionally, purchasing or leasing any 2019 or newer Audi model grants you seven free rental days with Silvercar.

Loyalty points program

In August 2019, Silvercar launched a loyalty initiative called Premium Rewards. You earn 1 point for every dollar spent on the base rental rate. These points can be redeemed to reduce the base rate of future rentals at roughly 9.5 cents per point, according to our findings.

You can start redeeming your points once you accumulate enough to cover at least 50% of the base rental rate. However, remember that taxes and fees must still be settled with cash.

Is it really worth it?

At times, renting a Silvercar feels far more luxurious and technologically advanced compared to the typical car rental experience—especially when you're effortlessly picked up and dropped off at the terminal, the app functions smoothly, and you find yourself driving the Audi you've always dreamed of within minutes. When that occurs, particularly if I've booked a complimentary ski rack or child seat, it's always proven to be worth the expense.

For instance, last year we utilized Silvercar for a ski trip to Colorado, and our Audi navigated the icy, snow-laden roads without issue. In contrast, my parents' compact rental car struggled to stay on the driveway and needed assistance to climb a hill (definitely not worth it).

If you're still relying on an airport shuttle, need a different type of vehicle, or weren't able to get the complimentary extras, Silvercar may not hold as significant an advantage over some competitors. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, you'll be driving a premium Audi with complimentary Wi-Fi.

Especially now, I fully support the touchless service, even for trips where any basic rental car would do just fine.

So, whether you're after a completely touchless car rental experience or simply want to set off on a stylish summer road trip, Silvercar could very well be the top choice available today.