How to Get Free or Cheap Rental Cars

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Spend enough years as a travel rewards geek, and you can almost book free flights and hotel stays in your sleep. But these days, rental cars can be one of the largest expenses you’ll have to worry about on your next vacation. That’s because during the COVID-19 pandemic, the rental car industry spent 2020 selling off cars while attempting to avoid bankruptcy. And prices are surging as rental-car services still haven’t been able to replace their cars quickly enough to meet the growing post-pandemic demand.

Thankfully, I've learned a few tricks along the way. Here's how to get discounted or free rental cars, including by redeeming credit rewards and finding special discounts.

1. Book Through a Travel or Airline Portal

One easy way to pay for your rental car with credit card rewards is to use a card that allows you to redeem your points directly for travel. Chase Travel℠ is one of the most popular travel portals, but you can find similar offerings from Citi, American Express and most other major credit card issuers.

Depending on which card you have, you may be able to redeem your points for additional value when using them through the related travel portal. Plus, some cards also offer higher rewards rates for travel portal bookings, so you can maximize your spending and earning power at the same time.

2. Get a Credit Card With Travel Statement Credits

Another great way to use points and miles to pay for your rental car is to use a travel credit card, including one that offers statement credits toward travel purchases.

For example, the Discover it^® Miles card offers 1.5 Miles per dollar spent on all purchases and will match the miles you earn during your account’s first year. Miles can be redeemed for travel statement credits, cash back or other options. There’s no annual fee for this credit card either.

3. Sign Up for a Loyalty Program

You may want to join a rental car company’s loyalty program to earn rewards you can redeem later to help pay for a rental. Of all the rental car loyalty programs, my favorites are National and Hertz:

• National is great in my experience because it offers points based on the number of times you rent a car., which is ideal for those who rent for shorter periods, rather than many days at a time. It also makes sense for those who rent a midsize or other inexpensive cars.
• Hertz has a decent loyalty program that rewards you based on the amount you spend, so it's often a better choice for those who rent expensive vehicles and those who rent for longer durations.

You can also occasionally find Hertz points sold during the U.S. Travel Association’s Daily Getaways online promotion. And while this can be an excellent value, these points sell fast. The program was on hiatus during the height of the pandemic but is returning in 2023, so it's worth checking out if it will be offering Hertz points again. Also note that Hertz significantly devalued their program within the last few years, but I feel it’s still a program worth using.

4. Use Corporate or Alumni Codes

Depending on your situation, you may be able to take advantage of a discount code through your job or college. Many employers, especially at larger companies, offer discounts to staff on services like car rentals, phone plans and more. Check your discount portal to see if there are any offers or ask your human resources team if you’re not sure. Some government employees and private sector staff are also eligible for discounts or free rental cars if they’re on official business for their jobs.

5. Take Advantage of AAA Discounts

If you’re a member of AAA, you may have some lucrative discounts at your fingertips already. The auto club offers deals with multiple rental car companies. For example, AAA members get a percent off car rentals at Hertz, Thrifty and Dollar Car Rental. You could potentially save up to 20% on a rental through AAA.

6. Check Out Car-Sharing Services

A rise in car-sharing services have made renting a vehicle cheaper in some situations. Turo, for example, is a little bit like Airbnb, but for cars. This peer-to-peer car-sharing service pairs automobile owners with drivers looking for short-term use of a car. Hosts can list their vehicles, and drivers can search based on their dates and other needs to find and rent the right car. In many cases, Turo is cheaper than traditional rental car companies, and it boasts free cancellations up to 24 hours before your reservation, so if you find a cheaper option, you’re not out any money.

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7. Look for Military Discounts

If you’re a member of other organizations, look into any perks or promo codes they offer. For example, military service people can sign up on miltary.com to access a range of deals, including discounts on rental cars through Hertz, Enterprise and others. You may also be able to get a discount directly through some of the big car rental companies by letting them know you are an active member of the military. Check with their customer service and shop around before you reserve a car so you can find the best deal for your situation.

Bottom Line

With many rentals selling for two to three times what we used to pay, now is the best time to look for ways to redeem your points and miles—or get a discount—instead of paying full price. By examining all of your options, you might be able to get the wheels you need without feeling like you’re being taken for a ride.