You booked a compact car at a price that looked great. At the counter, you hear about upgrades, fuel plans, insurance and a toll device you didn’t ask for. By the time you drive off, the bargain you thought you were getting has quietly disappeared. Rental car savings are less about a single deal and more about avoiding those annoying small charges (and, of course, earning Cash Back!).
The good news is that Rakuten works with several well-known car rental brands, including Hertz, Avis and Budget, so you can earn Cash Back while you do the sensible things below. Rakuten has over 3,500 partner stores, and the car rental category is one of the more useful ones for travelers.
Car rental brands that are Rakuten partners
|
Brand |
What to know |
Posting window |
|
Hertz |
Cash Back is not available on counter upsells at pickup, net rate or corporate negotiated rate bookings, CDP discounts, Hertz Member Program discounts or rates, government bookings, travel industry discount bookings or car sales. It applies only to completed reservations in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Coupon codes not listed on Rakuten void Cash Back. |
Within about a month after travel |
|
Avis |
Cash Back is not available on rentals picked up in Alaska, rentals outside the US and Canada, or rentals that use the Avis Worldwide Discount. |
Within about six weeks after travel |
|
Budget |
Gift card purchases and redemptions are excluded. Coupon codes not listed on Rakuten may void Cash Back. |
Within about six weeks after travel |
|
Thrifty |
Coupon or promotional codes not listed on Rakuten may void Cash Back. |
Within about six weeks after travel |
|
Sixt |
Only the Pay Now option earns Cash Back. Pay Later, subscriptions, corporate rates and gift cards are excluded. |
Within about six weeks after travel |
|
Turo |
A car sharing marketplace where hosts list their own cars. |
Added automatically after travel is completed |
A few more rental sellers are also on Rakuten, including Fox Rent-a-Car, AirportRentalCars, AutoRentals.com and Europcar.
Should you book through a travel site or direct?
Both can work. Booking directly with a rental company gives you the clearest view of its terms and loyalty perks. Booking through a travel site gives you more rental companies to choose from and sometimes lets you bundle your rental with a flight or hotel.
Rakuten partners that offer rental cars as part of a larger trip package include Expedia, Priceline and Travelocity. For more on the booking sites, see our guide to the best travel websites to save money.
Loyalty programs worth joining before you book
Most rental programs are free, and they pay off with faster pickup, perks and sometimes free rental days.
|
Brand |
Program |
Why it helps |
|
Hertz |
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards |
Free to join. Members can skip the counter at select locations, earn points toward free rental days and add a spouse or domestic partner as an additional driver for free in the US. Higher tiers add more points and upgrades as available. |
|
Avis |
Avis Preferred |
Earn points on qualifying rental spend and redeem them for rental days and accessories. Members also get expedited service at most locations. Joining is free. |
|
Budget |
Fastbreak and Budget Bucks |
Fastbreak is free and speeds up pickup and return. Members can earn Budget Bucks through rental promotions to use on later rentals. |
|
Thrifty |
Blue Chip Rewards |
Free to join. Members get a free authorized additional driver (a spouse or domestic partner) and quicker reservations, pickups and returns. |
|
Sixt |
Sixt One |
Free to join on the Sixt website or app. Members earn points on qualifying rentals and can redeem them for savings and higher tiers add member discounts, upgrades and mobile check-in so you can skip the counter. Points can only be redeemed in the Sixt app. Cash Back applies only to Pay Now bookings, so check the booking option before you pay. |
When to book and when to recheck
Rental rates change constantly, so timing your booking exactly right can be very difficult. These tips may help, depending on the type of trip you’re taking and your specific circumstances, but prices vary by location and season.
|
Situation |
What to do |
|
Holiday weeks and school breaks |
Book early, since airport lots run low on cars. |
|
Flexible plans |
Choose a free-cancellation rate, then recheck prices as your trip gets closer. |
|
Last-minute trips |
Compare neighborhood locations against airport locations. |
|
Long rentals |
Ask for weekly or monthly pricing, which can be cheaper per day. |
|
Off-peak travel |
Watch for seasonal sales on the company site. |
The Pay Now versus Pay Later question
Sixt lets you earn Cash Back only on Pay Now, while Hertz, Avis and Budget list prepay offers on their Rakuten pages. Prepaying can lower your price, but it may limit your flexibility if your plans change. Read the cancellation and refund terms before you commit, and pick the option that matches how sure you are about your dates.
Cheaper without the counter upsell
The decisions you make before you pick up your car are where the real rental car savings happen.
- Check your existing coverage. Your own auto policy or a travel-focused credit card may already cover rental damage. Confirm what coverage applies rather than assuming.
- Skip the toll device when you can. Plan your routes to avoid tolls or use your own pass.
- Refuel yourself. Prepaid fuel is convenient, but it’s rarely a bargain.
- Choose the smaller car. Rental counters often offer a free upgrade when the economy class runs out.
- Join the loyalty program. Loyalty programs often offer expedited or skip-the-counter pickup. Faster pickup means fewer chances to be upsold.
- Add drivers carefully. Some programs include an authorized additional driver, so ask before paying a fee.
- Know what Cash Back excludes. Hertz excludes anything you add at the counter at pickup, for example, so the upsells both cost you money and don’t earn Cash Back.
Stacking savings the right way
Here is the safest way to pile savings onto one rental:
- Click through from Rakuten and stay in that same browser session.
- Look for member rates or seasonal sales on the rental company’s site.
- Use a code only if Rakuten lists it on the store page. Outside codes may void Cash Back at Hertz, Avis, Budget and Thrifty.
- Sign in to your loyalty account before you pay.
- Keep your confirmation email until the Cash Back posts.
Common ways Cash Back goes missing
- Booking at a pickup location the terms exclude, such as Avis in Alaska.
- Choosing Pay Later with Sixt.
- Paying with a gift card at Budget.
- Starting a fresh search in a new tab after clicking through.
- Using a discount code Rakuten did not list.
- Adding upsells at the Hertz counter, since those are excluded.
- Booking a Hertz rate that comes from a member program or a negotiated corporate or discount rate.
FAQs about saving on car rentals
When does Cash Back post for a car rental?
After the rental is completed. Hertz has a window of about a month, and Avis, Budget, Thrifty and Sixt are about six weeks.
Can I use my AAA or corporate discount?
Be careful. Hertz excludes corporate negotiated rates, CDP discounts and Hertz Member Program rates; Avis excludes rentals that use the Avis Worldwide Discount; and Sixt excludes corporate rates. Codes not listed on Rakuten can void Cash Back at Hertz, Budget, Thrifty and Avis.
Is Turo eligible?
Yes, Turo is a Rakuten partner and Cash Back posts automatically after the trip is completed.
Do I earn Cash Back on rentals booked through Expedia or Priceline?
Both Expedia and Priceline are Rakuten partners that offer rental cars, but each has its own terms and conditions.
Does Rakuten cover rentals outside the US?
It depends on the provider. Hertz lists the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand; Avis excludes rentals outside the US and Canada; and Sixt lists several countries in Europe along with the US.
What should I do if my Cash Back is missing?
Wait through the posting window listed on the store page, then contact Rakuten support with your rental confirmation.
