Renting a car can quietly wreck your travel budget if you’re not paying attention. The base rate looks reasonable, then you get to the counter and suddenly there’s insurance, an extra driver fee, a GPS charge, and a mysterious airport surcharge stacked on top. By the time you drive off the lot, you’re paying double what you expected.
However, most of those costs are avoidable. There are proven strategies that can cut your rental bill significantly, and you don’t need to be a travel hacker to use them. This guide covers 14 of the best ways to rent a car for less in 2026, including updated pricing, smarter booking habits, and a few tips the rental companies would prefer you didn’t know.
14 Ways to Rent a Car for Cheap
Here are 14 proven strategies that can make your car rental experience both economical and satisfying.
1. Become a Member of a Rental Car Rewards Program
Most major rental companies offer free loyalty programs, and joining one costs you nothing. Benefits typically include faster pickup, free upgrades, and access to member-only pricing. If you rent even a couple of times per year, the perks add up fast.
If you have a side business or work for a company that travels regularly, look into the corporate rewards tiers. Some rental programs offer up to 25% off for business members, which is a meaningful discount over the course of a year.
2. Search for Discount and Coupon Codes Before You Book
Rental car companies run promotions constantly, and a quick search before you book can turn up real savings. Common deals include flat dollar amounts off your total, a free rental day when you book at least seven days out, or reduced weekend rates for local getaways.
The key is to compare across companies. A coupon that works well at Hertz may not beat a base rate at Enterprise, so always check the final total before committing.
3. Check Every Membership and Affiliation You Have
You may already qualify for a car rental discount and not know it. Rental companies partner with a wide range of organizations to offer reduced rates to their members.
Some of the most common discount programs include:
- AAA members: Discounts of up to 20% at major brands, plus perks like free additional drivers and waived young driver fees
- AARP members: Reduced rates at several major chains
- Active military and veterans: Discounts at Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, and others, with USAA members eligible for up to 35% off
- Corporate and alumni codes: Many universities and employers have negotiated rates with Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, and National
- Warehouse club members: Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s all offer competitive rental rates through their travel portals
- Hotel loyalty members: Some hotel programs offer rental discounts as a partner benefit
- First responders and healthcare workers: Police, firefighters, nurses, and doctors can qualify for discounts at select companies
This list is not exhaustive. If you belong to any professional organization, union, or membership club, it’s worth checking whether they have a car rental deal in place.
4. Use a Deal Finder or Metasearch Site
Travel aggregators like Kayak, Expedia, and Hotwire let you compare rental car prices across multiple companies in one search. AutoRentals.com is worth adding to your list as well. It displays a comparison matrix of prices across up to 25 car models from more than two dozen sources, including other metasearch sites and rental company homepages, all on one screen.
If you book a refundable reservation, you can keep checking these sites for a better rate. Prices fluctuate regularly, and a lower rate might appear closer to your pickup date.
5. Don’t Assume Discount Brands Are Always the Cheapest
Many people default to so-called “budget” brands assuming they’ll get the lowest price, but that’s not always how it works. A 2024 NerdWallet analysis tracking more than 480 rental car prices across eight major U.S. companies found that Thrifty, Hertz, and Enterprise ranked among the cheapest, while National was the most expensive. The average seven-night rental from Thrifty was $414, compared to $601 from National.
The takeaway is that brand reputation doesn’t reliably predict price. Budget brands can also hit you with higher add-on fees at the counter, like additional driver charges or hard upsells on insurance that a premium brand might waive. Always compare the final out-the-door cost across multiple brands before booking.
6. Consider Prepaying for a Lower Rate
Prepaying for your rental can lock in a noticeably lower rate. Hertz, for example, advertises savings of up to 25% when you pay in full at booking rather than at pickup. Other major companies offer similar prepay discounts.
The tradeoff is flexibility. Most prepaid reservations are non-refundable, or carry cancellation fees that increase the closer you get to your pickup date. If your travel plans are solid and the savings are significant, prepaying makes sense. If there’s any chance your plans could change, a refundable rate gives you more room to adjust.
7. Pick Up Your Car Away from the Airport
Renting a car at the airport is convenient, but that convenience comes with a real cost. Airport locations charge extra fees and taxes that off-site locations don’t, and you can pay anywhere from 10% to 30% more as a result.
If you can take a rideshare or public transit to a nearby off-airport location, the savings can more than cover the fare. Even renting through your hotel can be a cheaper option in some cases. It’s worth running the numbers before you default to the airport counter.
8. Stick to One Driver
Rental car companies charge a daily fee for each additional driver, and those fees add up fast. Depending on the company and state, you could pay around $13 to $15 more per day for each extra person authorized to drive. On a week-long rental, that’s close to $100 in fees that could easily be avoided.
Some exceptions are worth knowing about. Spouses and domestic partners are often exempt when their address matches the renter’s license. AAA members can typically add additional drivers for free when booking through the AAA portal at select partner brands. Loyalty program members may also get the fee waived for immediate family or co-workers on corporate accounts.
9. Check Your Credit Card and Auto Insurance First
Rental car insurance offered at the counter can add $20 to $40 per day to your bill, and most renters don’t actually need it. Before you agree to any coverage at the rental desk, check what you already have.
Many credit cards include some level of collision or damage coverage when you use the card to pay for the rental and decline the rental company’s coverage. Your personal auto insurance policy may also extend to rental cars.
AAA members often have access to supplemental coverage at lower rates than what rental companies charge. A quick call to your card issuer and insurance provider before your trip can save you a meaningful amount.
10. Skip the GPS and Toll Transponder Rentals
Rental companies charge daily fees to use their GPS units and toll transponders, and neither is worth paying for. GPS units typically run around $15 per day, which is easy to skip since Google Maps and Waze are free on your phone.
Toll transponders are a bigger trap. Some companies charge $25 per day for a transponder, whether you use it or not. A better move is to add your rental car’s license plate to your own E-ZPass or similar account for the duration of your trip. If you don’t have one, a one-time prepaid transponder from a local convenience store costs around $25 total, rather than $25 per day.
11. Return the Car Early the Right Way
Booking a longer rental period to get a lower daily rate is a legitimate strategy, but it requires some careful planning. Weekly rates often work out cheaper per day than daily rates, so booking a full week even when you only need the car for a few days can sometimes lower your overall cost.
The catch is that early returns don’t automatically result in a prorated refund, and some companies actually charge a fee for returning a vehicle ahead of schedule. Always read your rental agreement carefully before relying on this approach. If early returns are penalized, this strategy won’t work in your favor.
12. Be Honest About What Kind of Car You Need
Booking the smallest car that fits your needs is one of the most straightforward ways to pay less. Economy and compact vehicles carry the lowest daily rates, and the savings over a week-long rental can be significant.
There’s also an upside to booking small: if the economy class is overbooked, rental companies sometimes offer a free upgrade to a larger vehicle at no extra charge. Either way, resist the pressure to upgrade at the counter. If you pack light and plan ahead, you likely won’t need anything bigger than what you booked.
13. Look Into Short-Term and Peer-to-Peer Options
Traditional rental companies aren’t your only option, especially for shorter trips or urban travel. These alternatives are worth considering depending on your situation:
- Zipcar: Hourly car sharing starting around $9 per hour or $74 per day, including gas, insurance, and 180 miles per day. Membership costs $9 per month or $90 per year, plus a one-time $25 application fee.
- Turo: A peer-to-peer platform where you rent from individual car owners. Prices often run 25% lower than traditional agencies, with vehicles starting around $25 per day.
- Getaround: Similar to Turo, with hourly options starting around $8 per hour in major cities.
- Rideshare (Uber or Lyft): For shorter, more scattered trips within a city, a few rideshare rides per day may cost less than a daily rental plus parking fees.
Before booking a traditional rental, estimate what your total cost would be under each option. In urban areas especially, a combination of rideshare and short-term car sharing can come out significantly cheaper.
14. Check Whether Booking Early or Late Actually Saves You Money
Conventional wisdom says to book your rental car as early as possible, but the data tells a more complicated story. A NerdWallet pricing analysis found that rental cars booked seven days in advance averaged 13% less than those booked 91 days out. In some cases, last-minute availability works in the renter’s favor.
That said, booking early still gives you more options and the flexibility to cancel if a better rate appears. The smartest approach is to make a refundable reservation early, then keep monitoring prices as your trip gets closer. If you find a lower rate, cancel and rebook. You’re not locked in, and you’re not leaving money on the table.
Final Thoughts
Renting a car doesn’t have to cost as much as it often does. Most of the fees that inflate your final bill are optional or avoidable with a little preparation. Skipping the insurance you already have through your credit card, picking up off-airport, and booking the right size vehicle can shave a meaningful amount off even a short rental.
The biggest shift in mindset is to stop treating the base rate as the full price. Always compare the complete cost across multiple platforms, account for fees, and read the terms before you commit. A little extra research before you book is the real secret to a cheap car rental.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it usually cost to rent a car?
The cost of renting a car depends on numerous factors, including the type of car, the rental period, and the company you rent from. Typically, the cost can range from $20 to $100 per day.
When is the best time to rent a car?
The cheapest time to book a rental car is usually during the week, when there is less demand for rental cars. It is also typically cheaper during the off-season when fewer people are traveling.
Additionally, some rental car companies may offer discounts for renting during certain days of the week or at certain times of the day.
Does my personal auto insurance cover rental cars?
Your personal auto insurance will usually cover rental cars, but you should always check with your insurance provider to be certain.
Can I rent a car with a debit card?
Some rental companies do accept debit cards, but the rules are stricter than with a credit card. Most will require a credit check, proof of a return flight or hotel reservation, and a larger security hold on your account, sometimes $200 to $500 or more, that ties up your funds for the duration of the rental.
Premium and airport locations are more likely to require a credit card outright. If you plan to pay with a debit card, call the rental company ahead of time to confirm their specific policy so there are no surprises at the counter.
