Car rental prices have leveled off since the post-pandemic spike, but the average daily rate at U.S. airports still hovers around $62. The base rate is only part of the story, though. Taxes, insurance, add-ons, and supplier charges can push the final cost well past what you expected when you booked. These 10 tips cover how to find a lower rate and how to keep that rate from climbing once you reach the pickup counter.
1. Compare Prices on Multiple Platforms
Rental companies use dynamic pricing that changes several times a day, so the same car at the same location can show a different rate depending on where you look. A car rental comparison platform like EconomyBookings pulls offers from hundreds of suppliers into a single search. You can compare rates, rental terms, and what’s included before you commit. Checking two or three aggregators before you book takes a few minutes and often turns up a better deal than searching on any one site alone.
2. Book 2 to 31 Days Before Your Trip
Booking months in advance might feel responsible, but pricing data says it’s often the most expensive approach. An analysis of booking data found that the lowest rates tend to show up within that two-to-four-week window before pickup. NerdWallet’s study of over 480 price points showed a similar pattern, with one-week-out bookings often beating those made three months early.
Make a refundable booking early as a safety net, then check back closer to your trip to see if the price has dropped. If it has, cancel and rebook. EconomyBookings and a few other platforms monitor your reservation and apply a credit to your account when the rate falls.
3. Pick Up Midweek If You Can
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday pickups typically run up to 12% cheaper than weekend rentals. If your travel dates are flexible, shifting your pickup by even one day can make a real difference.
Weekly rental rates also tend to cost about the same as five-day bookings, so pricing the full seven days is smart even if your trip is shorter.
4. Don’t Automatically Avoid the Airport
Many travelers assume airport rental locations carry surcharges that inflate the price. A pricing study across more than 20 cities found that’s frequently wrong. Airport locations often have lower total prices than city-center options, because having multiple suppliers in one spot creates stronger competition. Higher booking volume also lets those suppliers offset concession costs with more aggressive rates. Compare total prices for both options on an aggregator before you assume the airport will cost more.
5. Understand Who Charges What
Most rental bookings involve two separate companies. The comparison platform (the aggregator) handles the search, the price comparison, and the reservation. The rental supplier is the company that owns the car and runs the pickup counter.
This matters because many of the charges that surprise travelers at the desk come from the supplier, not the booking platform. These can include required insurance for certain locations and nationalities, toll transponder rentals, cross-border fees, and optional damage coverage upgrades. The price on most aggregator sites already accounts for common surcharges, so what you see during your search is closer to what you’ll pay than a raw base rate from the supplier. Platforms like EconomyBookings.com show you what’s included before you book, and the rental terms page will list any costs the supplier may add at the desk.
6. Read the Rental Terms Before You Book
Five minutes with the rental conditions page can save you from every surprise charge on this list. Before you confirm a booking, check for:
- Mileage limits and what happens if you exceed them
- The fuel policy (full-to-full is usually the best deal)
- Deposit amount and whether a credit card hold is required
- What insurance is included and what’s optional
- Late return and no-show fees
Most comparison platforms display these details before you book. If you can’t find them, that’s a reason to book somewhere else.
7. Check Your Existing Insurance and Credit Card Benefits
Collision damage waivers (CDW) at the rental desk can add $105 to $280 to a week-long booking, and they’re one of the biggest add-on expenses in car rental. But many personal auto policies and credit cards already include collision or damage protection for rental cars.
Some premium travel credit cards even offer primary coverage, meaning you don’t need to file through your personal insurer first. Before your trip, call your auto insurer and your card company to confirm what’s covered. If your existing coverage is solid, you can decline the supplier’s plan at the desk and save real money over the length of your rental.
8. Join Free Loyalty Programs
This is one of the most commonly missed ways to save on car rentals. Every major rental company offers a free loyalty program, and the perks go beyond earning points toward free days:
- National Emerald Club lets you skip the counter and choose your own car from the lot at most airport locations
- Hertz Gold Plus Rewards offers express pickup, and AAA members who are also Hertz Gold members get the young driver fee waived for ages 20 to 24. Hertz Gold status also carries over to European locations, though CDW requirements and young driver thresholds shift depending on the country.
- Enterprise Plus earns points toward free rental days with no blackout dates on redemptions
- Several programs, including Hertz, National, and Dollar, waive the additional driver fee for a spouse or domestic partner
Signing up takes two minutes and costs nothing. Even if you only rent a few times a year, the counter bypass alone makes it worthwhile.
9. Book the Smallest Car Class
Economy cars are the cheapest option and the most likely to be fully booked. If the rental supplier doesn’t have one available when you show up, you’ll often get a free upgrade to a larger car. If they do have it, you’re paying the lowest possible rate. Either outcome works in your favor. Just make sure the car you book can actually fit your group and luggage in case you do get exactly what you reserved.
10. Bring Your Own Extras and Return with a Full Tank
Rental suppliers charge $10 to $15 per day for GPS units and child car seats. Over a week-long trip, that’s $70 to $105 per item. Bringing your own cuts that cost completely.
Refueling fees are another common markup. Suppliers that fill the tank for you typically charge about double the going rate at a gas station. Fill up at a station near the return location before you drop the car off.
One more step before you drive away from the lot: walk around the car and photograph every panel, plus any existing dents or scratches, and the dashboard showing the fuel level. Two minutes of photos can protect you from damage claims you didn’t cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I book the cheapest car class even if I want something bigger?
It depends on how flexible you are. Booking an economy car gets you the lowest rate, and if that class is sold out at pickup, suppliers often upgrade you at no charge. But free upgrades aren’t guaranteed and vary by location, season, and availability. If you need a specific car size for luggage or passengers, book that size so you’re covered either way. Treat a potential upgrade as a bonus, not a plan.
Do rental car loyalty programs work when booking through an aggregator?
In most cases, yes. You can usually add your loyalty number to the reservation details or provide it at the counter when you pick up the car. The rental supplier handles the loyalty program, not the aggregator, so your points and perks should apply regardless of where you booked. That said, some promotional loyalty rates are only available on the rental company’s own site, so compare both options if you’re chasing a specific reward tier or promotion.
Make Your Next Rental Work for You
Fifteen minutes of comparing, reading the terms, and checking your insurance coverage before you book can prevent most of the charges that inflate rental bills at the counter. Start with tip 7, the insurance phone call, since that one eliminates the most expensive add-on in a single step. Work through the rest before your next trip and the price you booked should be much closer to the price you pay.
