When you’re traveling on a budget, you can spend days searching for discounts on your airfare and hotel room. But if you forget about your rental car, you’ll still end up paying a premium to get around.
Wondering how to get a discount on a rental car? If you know what to do, it’s not that hard.
Search Online
The Internet is your friend here. Before you make a single reservation, see what sort of discount codes you can find online. Don’t just search the company website; sites like Rental Car Momma list dozens of coupon codes. If you’re a member of AAA, a student or a senior citizen you might also be able to get an extra discount on top of any coupons.
Rent from a Non-Airport Location
Rental companies at airports generally tack on a concession fee, which can add 10–20 percent to your rental rate per day. If you can, pick a location that you can get to by foot, cab or public transit. It’s a little less convenient, but if you have more time than money it can save you a bundle.
Pick Up the Phone
Most of us like to make our reservations online — it’s quick, easy and you can do it before bed. But sometimes a person is more likely to give you a break than a machine. Try calling the company and asking a representative what sort of deal they can offer you on a rental car. If you’ve been a customer before, be sure to mention that — businesses love to reward loyalty.
Read This Next
What to Expect if You’ve Never Been to a Buc-ee’s
Tips / Destination
Oct 23, 2024#TrazeeTravel
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
Apr 29, 2025Cheapest U.S. Fall Shoulder Season Destinations Revealed
Planning ahead for a fall shoulder season (mid-September–October) trip? If you’re traveling on a budget, you’ll want to visit one of the cheapest U.S. fall shoulder season destinations.
Sponsored Content
AmaWaterways’ Specialty River Cruises
When you embark on a river cruise with award-winning AmaWaterways, unpack once and step aboard a world of unparalleled experiences. With enriching excursions, exquisite locally sourced food and wine, nightly entertainment and more included in the fare, you will learn why AmaWaterways has the most returning guests out of any river cruise line.
Hotel
Apr 29, 2025Fairmont Royal York’s Spring Programming
Take in the Splendor of Spring, a curated selection of activities and events, at Fairmont Royal York.
Slideshow
Apr 29, 20257 Must-See Sites in Sapporo, Japan
It’s time to start dreaming of your next trip. Here are seven must-see sites in Sapporo, Japan.
Hotel
Apr 29, 20254 Hotels Taking Advantage of Summer Fridays
With summer around the corner, many companies in corporate America gear up for the start of summer Fridays. Summer Fridays can come in handy when making summer travel plans, and can give you some extra time to travel in the afternoon to enjoy a full weekend away. We’ve rounded up some hotels in destinations that are easy to get to and perfect for taking advantage of a summer Friday.
Surveys
Apr 28, 2025Study Reports Americans Increased Spending on 2025 Spring Break
Spring break may already be in your rearview mirror, and you might be looking forward to your summer vacay — but did you save enough cash after your springtime travel? A new study from Allianz Partners found Americans spent quite a bit more on their spring break trips this year than they did in 2024. The average spring break trip was $5,325 in 2025, more than a 10 percent increase from 2024.
ShareThis