How to utilize AutoSlash for savings on rental cars

Whenever I travel to places without walkable areas or suitable public transport options, I frequently find myself needing a rental car. Unfortunately, rental prices can be steep, and navigating through various discounts to find the best deal can be quite daunting. Thankfully, this is where AutoSlash proves to be beneficial.

In this guide, I'll explain how I make the most of AutoSlash and provide all the essential information you need to save money on your upcoming car rental.

What is AutoSlash?

AutoSlash is a platform that offers three main services at no cost:

• Rental car quotes
• Monitoring for cheaper rental options
• Discount coupons you can apply

AutoSlash sets itself apart from other car rental sites by uncovering lower rates through features like coupons, discount codes, and discounts linked to memberships. You can also use AutoSlash to monitor rates if you already have a rental car booked.

How does AutoSlash uncover lower prices?

When compiling car rental options, AutoSlash takes into account the coupons and discounts offered by major rental companies. You can discover some of these discounts on AutoSlash's coupon page, which I'll cover further below. Additionally, AutoSlash identifies various discounts associated with memberships, affiliations, loyalty programs, and credit cards:

• Memberships and affiliations: AAA, Canadian Automobile Association, AARP, military personnel, military veterans, Union Plus, and United Services Automobile Association
• Frequent flyer programs: Air Canada Aeroplan, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, American Airlines AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, Frontier Miles, JetBlue TrueBlue, Southwest Rapid Rewards, and United Airlines MileagePlus
• Warehouse clubs: BJ's, Costco, and Sam's Club
• Credit cards: American Express, American Express Platinum, Discover, Mastercard, Mastercard World Elite, Visa, Visa Signature, and Visa Infinite

When you request a new quote or monitor an existing reservation through AutoSlash, you’ll need to provide details about your memberships, affiliations, loyalty programs, and credit cards. Based on this data, AutoSlash will display the most affordable rental car rates.

To benefit from a discount tied to a specific credit card, you may need to present that card at the rental counter. However, you typically aren’t required to pay with that card, allowing you to still utilize one of the best credit cards for rental car insurance.

How to utilize AutoSlash for a discounted car rental quote

If you're in the market for a rental car, AutoSlash is a fantastic place to begin. Visit the AutoSlash website and complete the form to receive a rental car quote. The first time I tried AutoSlash, it took me under two minutes to submit my request.

How to obtain a new quote from AutoSlash

The initial step is to decide whether you'd like to pick up your rental car at an airport or at a specific location.

Next, indicate whether you plan to return the car to the same location. If not, specify the airport or address where you'd like to return your rental vehicle.

Following that, enter the dates and times for both pick-up and drop-off.

Next, choose the type of vehicle you need from a drop-down menu. The available options will depend on your pick-up location. If you have no specific preference, you can select the "cheapest option."

For rentals in international markets, AutoSlash also provides a drop-down to select the transmission type: automatic only or manual available.

Next, make sure to check the box next to your credit cards.

Then, check the box for any memberships you hold, loyalty programs you're part of, and warehouse club memberships you possess.

Finally, AutoSlash will ask for your name, the country of issue for your driver's license, and the email address where you'd like to receive a quote.

Once you've submitted the form, you can correct any inaccuracies in the information you provided.

Due to the extensive nature of AutoSlash's search, the quote may not be available immediately, but you'll typically receive it within a few minutes.

How to secure a deal using AutoSlash

After I submit a request, I typically receive a quote via email within 15 minutes. The email for the request above had the subject line "Discounted Rates for Your 3/13 Car Rental in Denver."

By clicking the link in the email, you'll access a page that shows all your available options.

You’ll generally find choices for paying later through Priceline or AutoSlash, or paying upfront with AutoSlash. If you choose the pay-now option, your credit card will be charged, but you can usually cancel up to 48 hours before the scheduled pick-up. For the pay-later option, entering a credit card is not necessary.

From my experience, if you choose the pay-later option and provide your loyalty information during booking, you'll typically receive loyalty benefits and earnings from your rental company. However, you shouldn't anticipate these perks when selecting the pay-now option with AutoSlash.

Since rental prices fluctuate frequently, it's important to book quickly after receiving the emailed quote to ensure the price remains valid. If you delay too long, AutoSlash will prompt you to generate a new quote when you follow the link in the email.

How to utilize AutoSlash to monitor a rental for price reductions

Once you’ve secured a reservation with free cancellation, visit AutoSlash and complete the form to monitor your rental for price reductions. If you have your current reservation handy, it should take under a minute to fill out the form.

To track price drops, the form requires details about your booking, including the rental company, confirmation number, pick-up date, and the price you reserved. You'll also need to provide information about your memberships and credit cards.

After submitting the form, you'll receive a confirmation email from AutoSlash. You can click a link in the email to set your tracking preferences; for instance, you can choose to be notified only if specific car rental companies offer cheaper rates.

If you get an email indicating that AutoSlash has discovered a lower rate, the booking process is akin to what was outlined for a new quote. After securing a lower-priced option, make sure to do the following:

• Cancel your higher-priced reservation
• Terminate your current tracking (otherwise, AutoSlash will keep sending quotes if it finds lower prices)
• Visit AutoSlash and complete the form to monitor your new booking for price drops

Utilizing the tracking feature has no drawbacks. If your original reservation remains the best price, you can relax knowing you made a smart choice. And if AutoSlash uncovers a better rate, the few minutes spent will be well worth it.

Car rental coupons

If you prefer or need to book directly with car rental companies, AutoSlash can still be beneficial thanks to its coupons page. These coupons are tailored for specific car rental companies and can be used when booking directly.

You can choose a specific company from the dropdown at the top of the page to view only the coupons applicable to that particular car rental company.

Is AutoSlash a legitimate service?

I've relied on AutoSlash for numerous rentals over the past seven years. The site is trustworthy and has saved me hundreds on both domestic and international car rentals.

Whenever I need to rent a car, I check four websites: AutoSlash, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise. For years, I relied on AutoSlash as my go-to source. However, my current employer has corporate codes for Avis, Budget, and Enterprise that employees can utilize for personal rentals.

I've found that these corporate codes are quite competitive in various U.S. cities. The discount codes for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card are also appealing (and currently not available through AutoSlash). So, while I check all four sites when renting a car, AutoSlash often doesn't yield the best rates for U.S. rentals.

However, AutoSlash is still valuable for tracking my rentals. It remains the most competitive option for rentals abroad. For instance, AutoSlash offered the best rates I encountered for multiple rentals in South Africa.

In summary

There are numerous ways to save on rental car bookings. The most effective approach will vary based on your memberships and travel preferences, but I recommend incorporating AutoSlash into your search process if you haven't done so already. AutoSlash has consistently helped me find competitive rental rates worldwide, so I believe it could also assist you in saving money.