Car rental rewards programs: Maximizing your benefits

Many rental companies offer rewards programs that allow you to earn extra perks. But not all of these programs are the same. Here’s what to look for in order to find the best rewards program that actually gives you worthwhile benefits. 

1. Qualify for a free second driver 

Some rental car rewards programs provide the extra perk of adding a second driver to your reservation for free. Without this fee waived, you could end up paying as much as $13 per day in order to have your spouse, family member or friend share driving responsibilities with you. There may be a maximum fee per reservation, but it can be as high as $189 depending on the rental company. 

By enrolling in a rewards program, you may be able to qualify for a free second driver. However, you typically have to reach a certain number of rentals before you get access to this benefit. With Avail, on the other hand, you don’t have to enroll in a rental car rewards program at all to get a free second driver. It’s automatically included in every single reservation. Just make sure you chat or email our customer service team ahead of time to make it official. 

2. Get priority service

You can pay extra to skip the line at Disney World, and many car rental rewards programs are following suit. Check your program’s list of benefits to see if you get prioritized service when checking in. This benefit helps you in two different ways. First, it saves you time, especially when you’re picking up your rental car at an airport arrivals gate. After a full flight, there could be a long line.

Additionally, getting priority service gives you the first pick of available cars. Rental car companies can only confirm the class of vehicle you’ll receive when you make your reservation. From there, it’s the luck of the draw in terms of what cars are present on the lot. The closer you are to the front of the line, the better selection of vehicles you’ll have to choose from. 

3. Use travel credit card reward points

Some rental car companies partner with credit card travel rewards programs. Chase Rewards rental car benefits, for instance, allow you to browse discounts on a variety of rental car companies as long as you book with your Chase credit card. Other cards may offer rental car-related discounts, such as earning extra rewards points on every car reservation. This is an easy way to both accumulate and cash in your earnings. 

4. Avoid paying extra for insurance coverage

Another important consideration when analyzing all of your rewards programs is how extensive your car rental insurance policy is. Most credit cards have some built-in coverage, with a limit of how much the credit card company will cover for damages or theft. In most cases, the better the card, the better the insurance coverage. It’s important to understand your policy in full before heading to the rental counter and turning down the optional coverage they offer. 

Alternatively, Avail car sharing offers Allstate insurance protection with every trip. If you don’t have a personal auto policy or you’re not confident in your credit card’s rental car coverage, you can opt for this insurance through a trusted name. Avail also covers the cost to repair damage done to the Avail vehicle over $3,000, which can come in handy if there is severe damage! If you’re not comfortable with paying up to $3,000, you can select an alternative protection plan to limit your potential out-of-pocket cost to either $1,000 or $500. This protection is not insurance and only covers damage done to the Avail car. Additional fees may apply.

5. Get free cancellation service

A final benefit you may be able to find with a rental rewards program is free cancellations. This perk varies greatly among companies. In some cases, you may not even need to enroll in a rewards program. Instead, you may simply choose between two prices: a higher fee that comes with free cancellations or a lower, non-refundable reservation. With Avail, you don’t need to choose. You’ll receive just one low price that automatically comes with free cancellations. 

6. Skip traditional rental car agencies

Instead of booking with a traditional rental car company, try car sharing through Avail. You don’t even need to enroll in a rental car rewards program to get worthwhile perks. Instead, enjoy built-in benefits simply by being a customer, like no fees for a second driver or to modify or cancel a reservation. 24/7 roadside assistance is available for every trip. Book a car with Avail today!