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Car Rental Discounts for Seniors
Know these Factors and follow some Simple Steps to Ensure the Best Senior Price
Author: David Smidt, SeniorDiscounts

Searching for the best car rental rate can produce large differences in pricing depending on the car rental agency. To ensure that you are getting the best value and discount available, know what factors affect the final price and follow these simple guidelines.

When looking for a car rental quote there are some important factors that will affect the final price. Understanding these factors can help you save money on the initial quote.

Factors that affect rental car prices include:

  • Location of Rental: Car rentals in larger cities will often be cheaper than those in more rural areas. Also, compare airport location rates with those within the city. Often the city rates will be cheaper. If you can get a free shuttle to your hotel there is a good chance you will be within close proximity to a city car rental location and quite possibly a better rate.
  • Drop-off of Rental: Renting a vehicle in place and dropping it off at another location will always be more costly. Returning the vehicle to the same location where you picked it up will always be cheaper.
  • Time of Rental: You will find different rates for midweek and weekend rentals. You may be able to get a better rate if you can include at least one weekend day.
  • Length of Rental: The longer the rental, the better the rate, in most cases. You will see the most significant discount on weekly rates or longer.
  • Car Size: Typically smaller cars with basic amenities will be the least expensive, but you may find that agencies are running specials on larger vehicles so it’s worth checking those prices as well.
  • Adding Additional Drivers: Most of the time adding additional drivers will increase the cost of the rental.

The Initial Search for a Price Quote:
Unless you have a strong loyalty to one company, it is best to start with travel sites that provide rates for multiple car rental agencies. Some useful web sites to visit are: Orbitz.com, Travelocity.com, Kayak.com, or Hotwire.com. This type of site will provide you with rates, including taxes and most surcharges, for most of the major companies. Now it is time to compare those quotes with the agency web sites.

Comparing the Quotes:
Locate the best price for two or three agencies, (you may want to write them down), and visit the web sites for those agencies. Comparing these quotes with the agency directly will ensure you are getting the best rate. Most car rental agencies claim that the lowest rate can always be found when booking on its site, and the travel sites are unable to provide you with any discounts or promotional codes you may have.

At each car rental web site, perform the same search for a rental as you did with the travel site. Be sure to use any promotional codes or discounts, like senior, military, AAA, or AARP that may be available to you. (Most agencies will not have and option to search for the senior discount, if they have one, and may require a promotional code instead.) There is a list of car rental companies at the end of this article with information relating to their senior discounts. SeniorDiscounts.com has also negotiated specific discounts and promotional codes for our members and we have included this information below.

Car rental agencies are continually offering special offers and promotions, and although most guarantee they will provide you with the best deal available, it is always smart to compare the rates of the current special with those of the senior discount or any other discount or promotion you may be entitled to.

Once you have located the best deal, reserve your vehicle. Make sure that the final price includes taxes and any other surcharges. Most rental sites now include this information in the final quote.

Car Rental Companies and their Senior Discount Policies:
Below, we have highlighted companies and their current senior discount policies. We have also included information for any promotions we have secured on behalf of our members.

Alamo

Alamo offers SeniorDiscounts Members unlimited mileage and year-round discounts of up to 10% off Alamo’s already great rates in more than 700 locations across the globe, making Alamo Country anywhere the road will take you. Use the unique web site link provided or call the toll free number. Request I.D. Number 706768 at the time of reservation. (50+)
www.alamo.com

Auto Europe
Auto Europe provides a 5% discount to drivers 50 and older. Please contact for details. (50+)
www.autoeurope.com

Avis Car Rental

SeniorDiscounts Members receive up to a 10% discount. Click on the web site link for this offer or you may visit their web site and use Promotional Code D897500. Senior rates and AARP rates are also available. (50+)
www.avis.com

Budget Car Rental

SeniorDiscounts members receive up to a 10% discount. Click on the web site link for this offer or you may visit their web site and use Promotional Code Y620600. Senior rates and AARP rates are also available. (50+)
www.budget.com

Dollar Car Rentals

Dollar no longer offers its Dollar’s Silver Dollar Club for drivers 50 years and older and they do not offer discounts for AARP members. Dollar now offers its best rate guarantee, which claims that you will receive the best rate available when booking on its web site. If you are able to find a better Dollar rate on any other website, submit a claim and Dollar will give you that rate plus discount it by 10%. Visit the Dollar web site for more details.
www.dollar.com

Enterprise

Enterprise no longer offers a free upgrade to people over the age of 50. They do offer a 5% discount off the regular retail rates for AARP members. (50+)
www.enterprise.com

Hertz

SeniorDiscounts.com members can save up to 10% off your car rental with Hertz. Visit the Hertz website and use CDP#1730618 when making your reservation. (50+)
www.hertz.com

National Car Rental

Members of SeniorDiscounts can enjoy the benefits of Nationals Business Partner Program. Members receive: Complimentary membership in Nationals Emerald Club for all your travelers (a $50 value), Contracted low rates and special business rates, Best Rating that ensures you receive the lowest available rate, Flexible coverage options tailored to meet your needs Fast, easy Emerald Club Aisle Service, no lines, no counter, no forms, Easy online reservations with Nationals One-Click Reservation process. To enroll, click on the link provided. Contract Id# is 5004279. (50+)
www.nationalcar.com

Payless Car Rental

Payless no longer offers the Nifty Fifty program, but now has the Payless Perks membership program, which one can apply for on their web site. Membership entitles one to a discount on car rentals.
www.paylesscar.com

Rent A Wreck
Many Rent A Wreck locations offer a discount of about 5%. (50+)
www.rentawreck.com

Thrifty
Thrifty no longer offers a discount for seniors or AARP members. Thrifty now offers its best rate guarantee, which claims that you will receive the best rate available when booking on its web site. If you are able to find a better Thrifty rate on any other website, submit a claim and Thrifty will give you that rate plus discount it by 10%. Visit the Thrifty web site for more details.
www.thrifty.com

© SeniorDiscounts

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