Finding a cheap rental car can be surprisingly difficult. Prices can vary considerably between rental companies, while deposits, insurance, mileage limits and fuel policies can make two apparently similar deals very different.
This is why we recommend using a car rental comparison site before booking rather than searching individual rental companies one by one.
What Is the Best Car Rental Comparison Site?
Our top choice is DiscoverCars.
DiscoverCars compares rental cars from more than 1,000 partners across over 50,000 locations in 164 countries, bringing offers from both international and local rental companies into a single search.
Rather than automatically choosing the cheapest car, you can compare the rental company, customer ratings, deposit requirements, mileage, fuel policy and other important conditions before booking.
For most trips, this is where we would start our search.
Compare Car Rental Prices
Search your destination and travel dates to compare available rental cars from multiple suppliers.
👉 Compare Car Rental Deals with DiscoverCars
Best Car Rental Websites at a Glance
| Option | Best For | Our Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| DiscoverCars | Comparing multiple rental companies | Our top choice |
| Rentalcars.com | Comparing major rental brands | Worth comparing |
| Booking Direct | Checking a specific rental company | Always worth checking |
| Local Rental Companies | Destination-specific deals | Research carefully |
We don’t believe there is one website that will be the cheapest for every car, destination and travel date.
Instead, we recommend using a comparison website to establish what is available and how much you should expect to pay before making your decision.
Why We Recommend DiscoverCars
The biggest advantage of DiscoverCars is simple: choice.
Instead of opening the websites of Hertz, Avis, Budget, Sixt and numerous local rental companies individually, you can search once and compare available offers.
DiscoverCars currently works with more than 1,000 partners and operates across 164 countries.
The search results also provide considerably more information than just the headline rental price. Depending on the offer, you can check details such as:
- Rental company
- Supplier rating
- Security deposit
- Fuel policy
- Mileage allowance
- Pick-up location
- Rental conditions
- Cancellation terms
- Driver requirements
This matters because the cheapest rental car isn’t necessarily the best deal.
A slightly more expensive car from a highly rated supplier with a smaller deposit and better rental conditions could be a much better choice than the absolute cheapest result.
Check Prices for Your Trip
It only takes a few minutes to see what’s available. Enter your destination and dates below to compare current rental prices.
👉 Compare Car Rental Deals with DiscoverCars
Is DiscoverCars Legit?
Yes. DiscoverCars is a legitimate international car rental comparison and booking platform.
It is important, however, to understand how the service works.
DiscoverCars usually isn’t the company physically providing your vehicle. Instead, you make the reservation through DiscoverCars and collect the vehicle from the rental supplier shown on your booking.
This could be a major international brand or a smaller local rental company.
That’s why we recommend looking beyond the price and checking which company is actually supplying the car before completing your reservation.
How Does DiscoverCars Work?
Using DiscoverCars is straightforward.
Enter your pick-up location, rental dates and driver’s details to see available cars. You can then compare offers and use the filters to narrow the results.
Once you’ve found a suitable vehicle, read the Rental Conditions before paying.
These are particularly important because conditions aren’t identical across every vehicle on DiscoverCars. Deposit requirements, accepted payment methods, fuel policies, mileage limits and driver requirements are determined by the individual rental supplier.
After booking, you’ll receive a voucher containing the details you’ll need when collecting your vehicle.
Don’t Just Choose the Cheapest Rental Car
It’s tempting to sort the results by price and book the first car you see.
We wouldn’t recommend doing that.
Imagine one car costs £120 for the week while another costs £145.
The £120 option might appear to be the obvious winner, but what if it has a large security deposit, limited mileage and poor supplier reviews?
The £145 rental might have unlimited mileage, a better-rated supplier and much more favourable rental conditions.
For us, the additional £25 could easily be worth paying.
When comparing rental cars, we look at the overall deal rather than just the headline price.
What Should You Check Before Booking a Rental Car?
Before paying, we’d recommend checking the following:
Rental company: Who is actually providing the vehicle?
Supplier reviews: A very cheap rental isn’t much of a bargain if the company has consistently poor customer feedback.
Security deposit: Check how much money will be held on your card.
Payment requirements: Some rental companies require a physical credit card in the main driver’s name.
Excess: Understand how much you could potentially be responsible for following damage or theft.
Mileage: Ideally, look for unlimited mileage if you’re planning a road trip.
Fuel policy: Full-to-full is generally the policy we prefer.
Pick-up location: “Airport” doesn’t necessarily mean the desk is inside the terminal. Check whether a shuttle is required.
Additional drivers: Find out whether adding another driver costs extra.
Age restrictions: Younger and sometimes older drivers can face additional fees or restrictions.
Cross-border travel: If you’re planning to drive into another country, check that your rental agreement allows it.
Spending five minutes checking these details can prevent a cheap rental becoming an expensive one.
What Is DiscoverCars Full Coverage?
When booking, you may be offered DiscoverCars Full Coverage.
It is important to understand that this works differently from simply purchasing an excess waiver directly from the rental company.
DiscoverCars describes Full Coverage as a reimbursement service. If an eligible incident occurs, the rental company may charge you first and you then submit the necessary documentation to DiscoverCars to request reimbursement for eligible costs, subject to its terms and coverage limits.
Purchasing Full Coverage also doesn’t automatically remove the rental company’s security deposit requirement.
We therefore recommend reading exactly what is and isn’t covered before adding it to your booking.
Is DiscoverCars Cheaper Than Booking Direct?
Sometimes – but not necessarily every time.
Car rental prices change constantly according to destination, availability, vehicle type and travel dates.
That’s why we’d use DiscoverCars as a comparison tool rather than assuming any website is automatically cheapest.
Our preferred approach is:
- Search DiscoverCars.
- Find a suitable vehicle and rental company.
- Check the complete rental conditions.
- If you want to be thorough, compare the price with booking directly.
- Choose the option offering the best overall value.
This takes a little longer but gives you much more confidence that you’re getting a good deal.
How to Find Cheap Car Rentals
There are several simple ways to avoid paying more than necessary.
Book early. Rental car prices can rise significantly when availability becomes limited, particularly during peak travel periods.
Compare suppliers. Don’t assume the biggest international brand will be cheapest.
Consider different car sizes. A compact car may be significantly cheaper and easier to park.
Check airport and nearby locations. Prices can sometimes vary between collection points.
Compare automatic and manual cars. In destinations where manual cars are common, automatics can carry a substantial premium.
Avoid unnecessary extras. Sat-navs, additional drivers, child seats and other extras can quickly increase the final price.
Most importantly, compare the total rental cost and conditions, not simply whichever company advertises the lowest daily rate.
Find the Cheapest Cars for Your Dates
Rental prices vary depending on destination and availability, so the easiest way to find out what you’ll pay is to run a search for your actual travel dates.
👉 Compare Car Rental Deals with DiscoverCars
Picking Up Your Rental Car
There are a few things we recommend doing whenever you collect a rental car.
Before leaving the car park, walk around the entire vehicle and take photographs or a video showing its condition.
Pay particular attention to:
- Wheels and alloys
- Bumpers
- Doors
- Windscreen
- Mirrors
- Roof
- Existing scratches and dents
Make sure any existing damage has been recorded by the rental company.
We’d also photograph the fuel gauge and mileage.
It takes a couple of minutes and gives you a record of the vehicle’s condition when you received it.
Do the same when returning the car.
Car Rental Comparison Site vs Booking Direct
There are advantages to both.
A comparison site is particularly useful at the beginning of your search because you can see offers from numerous rental companies without visiting each website individually.
Booking directly can still be worth checking once you’ve identified the rental company and vehicle you want.
For this reason, we don’t view the two approaches as mutually exclusive.
Compare first. Then book whichever option offers the best combination of price, conditions and convenience.
What Is the Best Website for Car Rentals?
For comparing rental cars across multiple companies, our first choice is DiscoverCars.
We like being able to search numerous international and local suppliers in one place while comparing more than just the headline price.
However, no comparison website can guarantee that one particular offer will always be the cheapest or best option.
The most important thing is to check the company providing the vehicle, security deposit, insurance/excess, fuel policy, mileage and rental conditions before booking.
If everything looks good, you’re ready to book.
Compare Car Rental Prices
Enter your destination and dates to compare available vehicles, suppliers and current rental prices.
👉 Search Rental Cars with DiscoverCars
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best car rental comparison site?
Our preferred starting point is DiscoverCars because it allows travellers to compare offers from more than 1,000 rental partners across 164 countries. However, we’d still compare the complete rental conditions rather than automatically booking the cheapest vehicle.
Is DiscoverCars legitimate?
Yes. DiscoverCars is an established car rental comparison and booking platform. Your actual vehicle will generally be supplied by the rental company identified on your reservation, so always check the individual supplier before booking.
Is DiscoverCars a car rental company?
DiscoverCars is primarily a car rental comparison and booking platform rather than the company physically providing most rental vehicles. It connects travellers with international and local rental suppliers.
Is DiscoverCars always the cheapest?
No car rental website can realistically guarantee it will always have the cheapest deal. Prices vary by destination, dates, availability and rental company. We recommend comparing DiscoverCars with other available options before making an expensive booking.
Is it cheaper to book a rental car in advance?
Booking earlier can provide a wider choice of vehicles and may result in lower prices, particularly during busy travel periods. Leaving your booking until shortly before travelling can mean cheaper vehicle categories are no longer available.
What should I check when comparing rental cars?
Look beyond the headline price. Check the rental supplier, customer reviews, security deposit, excess, insurance, fuel policy, mileage allowance, pick-up location, driver requirements and cancellation conditions.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car?
It depends on the rental company. Many suppliers require a physical credit card in the main driver’s name for the security deposit, while others accept debit cards. Always check the specific Rental Conditions before booking.
Does DiscoverCars Full Coverage remove the security deposit?
Generally, no. DiscoverCars Full Coverage operates as a reimbursement service and does not normally remove the rental supplier’s security deposit requirement. Check the conditions of your individual booking.
Should I choose the cheapest rental car?
Not necessarily. A slightly more expensive rental from a better-rated supplier with favourable conditions and a smaller deposit can offer much better overall value.
What is the best fuel policy for a rental car?
We generally prefer full-to-full. You collect the vehicle with a full tank and return it full, meaning you’re primarily paying for the fuel you actually use.
Should I photograph a rental car before driving it?
Yes. We recommend taking clear photographs or a video of the vehicle before leaving the collection point and again when returning it. Make sure any existing damage is also recorded on the rental company’s documentation.
How can I get the cheapest rental car?
Compare several suppliers, book before availability becomes limited, consider different vehicle categories and check the total cost rather than the advertised daily rate. A comparison site such as DiscoverCars makes it easier to see multiple rental options in one search.
Related Reads