We’ve used DiscoverCars to find car hire across Europe, the USA and Canada, most recently on a trip to Crete.

So, is DiscoverCars legit? Yes – and it’s a website we continue to use ourselves.

We like it because it makes comparing car hire prices incredibly easy, and we’ve found some excellent deals through it over the years. But there is a catch: the cheapest car isn’t always the best deal.

DiscoverCars is a comparison and booking platform, while the car itself is usually provided by a separate rental company. That means we pay just as much attention to the supplier, its reviews, the deposit and rental conditions as we do to the price.

In this review, we’ll show you how we use DiscoverCars, what we check before booking and the things we think you need to know before handing over your money.

Our Verdict on DiscoverCars

We recommend DiscoverCars and would happily use it again.

It’s particularly good for quickly comparing prices from a large number of rental companies without having to search each one individually.

However, we wouldn’t blindly book the cheapest option. Some deals come with large security deposits, less convenient collection points or rental companies we simply wouldn’t choose.

Our advice is simple: use DiscoverCars to find the deals, then spend a few minutes checking the supplier and rental conditions before booking.

👉 Check Car Hire Prices with DiscoverCars

Affiliate disclosure: If you book through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend services we genuinely use or would use ourselves.

What Is DiscoverCars?

DiscoverCars is a car hire comparison and booking website. Enter where you’re travelling and your dates, and it brings together available cars from different rental companies so you can compare them in one place.

One thing that’s important to understand is that DiscoverCars usually isn’t the company handing you the keys.

You make your reservation through DiscoverCars, but you’ll usually collect the vehicle from a separate rental company.

We think this distinction is important when reading DiscoverCars reviews online. If somebody has a terrible experience at the rental desk, the problem may be with the supplier rather than DiscoverCars itself. Equally, if there’s a problem with the booking or how an issue is handled afterwards, DiscoverCars may be the relevant party.

Understanding that difference makes the platform much easier to use – and leads nicely into how we choose which cars to book.

Our Experience Using DiscoverCars

We’ve used DiscoverCars several times when hiring cars abroad, including across Europe and while travelling in the USA and Canada.

Most recently, we used it for a trip to Crete. Having a car there gave us the freedom to explore beyond Chania without relying on organised tours or public transport.

The process we follow is fairly simple. We search our dates and location, narrow down the results and then compare the best options based on price, supplier rating and rental conditions.

We don’t necessarily choose the cheapest.

If spending a little more gets us a better-rated rental company, a smaller deposit or more convenient collection, we’ll usually take that option instead.

That’s probably the main reason we’ve had good experiences using DiscoverCars: we use it as a comparison tool rather than simply chasing the lowest price.

Why We Keep Using DiscoverCars

Convenience is a big part of it.

We could check rental companies individually every time we travel, but DiscoverCars gives us a quick overview of what’s available and what different companies are charging.

We’ve also found the prices competitive enough that we continue going back to it.

That doesn’t mean we assume every deal on DiscoverCars is a good one. We still check who’s supplying the car and read the important conditions before paying.

For us, that’s the best way to use the website.

Don’t Just Choose the Cheapest Car

This is probably our biggest piece of advice when using DiscoverCars.

Once you’ve searched for a car, it’s tempting to sort by price and choose the cheapest option. We don’t.

A slightly more expensive rental can be the better deal once you look at who’s supplying the car and the conditions attached to it.

Check the Rental Company

We always look at the supplier rating before booking.

DiscoverCars lists cars from different rental companies, and the experience can vary considerably between them. If one company is noticeably better reviewed than another, we’re normally happy to pay a little more.

A very cheap rental isn’t much of a bargain if collecting the car turns into a headache.

Check the Security Deposit

This is another big one.

Two similar cars can have very different deposit requirements. One might require a relatively small amount to be held on your credit card, while another could require considerably more.

We check this before booking rather than discovering it at the rental desk.

Read the Rental Conditions

You don’t need to spend an hour reading every line, but there are a few things worth checking:

• Security deposit and accepted payment cards
• Fuel policy
• Mileage allowance
• Collection location and opening hours
• Cancellation terms
• Additional driver fees
• Any restrictions that apply to the rental

It only takes a few minutes and can make the cheapest-looking deal much less attractive.

You can also check DiscoverCars’ guide to finding your rental conditions before booking.

Our approach is simple: find a good price, then make sure it’s actually a good rental.

👉 Compare Car Hire Prices on DiscoverCars

Why Is DiscoverCars Sometimes So Cheap?

One of the first things you might notice when using DiscoverCars is that some prices are much cheaper than booking directly with a rental company.

We’ve seen this ourselves, and it’s one of the reasons we use it.

DiscoverCars compares offers from a large number of rental companies, including smaller local suppliers that you might not find or think to check yourself. Prices can also vary depending on the deal DiscoverCars has with the supplier.

However, make sure you’re comparing like for like.

A cheaper rental might have a larger deposit, different insurance arrangements, limited mileage or less flexible cancellation terms.

If we find a particularly cheap deal, we don’t see the low price as a red flag. We simply check the rental conditions and supplier before booking.

If everything looks good, we’ve got no problem taking the cheaper option.

What Happens When You Collect the Car?

Once you’ve booked through DiscoverCars, you’ll normally collect the vehicle directly from the rental company shown on your booking.

Take your driving licence, identification and the payment card required by the supplier. We always check the card requirements beforehand, particularly because some companies require a credit card in the main driver’s name for the security deposit.

At the desk, you may also be offered additional insurance or upgrades. Don’t feel pressured into deciding on the spot – know what you’ve already booked and what cover you have before you arrive.

Before driving away, we always take photos or a quick video of the car. We photograph the exterior, wheels and windscreen and make sure any existing damage is recorded.

One thing we also do, which isn’t mentioned nearly as often, is take photos of the inside of the car.

If we notice scratches, stains, damaged trim or anything else already wrong with the interior, we’ll photograph it before setting off. It takes seconds and means we have a record showing that the damage was already there when we collected the car.

We also check that the fuel level matches what’s shown on the rental agreement.

We do something similar when returning the vehicle: follow the agreed fuel policy, take another set of photos and keep the paperwork until the deposit has been released.

These are simple precautions we’d take with any hire car, regardless of where we booked it.

DiscoverCars Security Deposits Explained

The security deposit is one of the first things we check before booking a car.

The amount isn’t set by DiscoverCars – it depends on the rental company and the deal you choose. This means two similarly priced cars can have very different deposit requirements.

The deposit is normally held on the main driver’s payment card when you collect the car and released after the vehicle has been returned, assuming there are no additional charges.

Pay particular attention to which cards the rental company accepts. Being able to pay for your booking with a debit card doesn’t necessarily mean the supplier will accept that same card for the security deposit.

This is why we always check the deposit amount and card requirements before booking rather than waiting until we reach the rental desk.

Also worth knowing: buying DiscoverCars Full Coverage doesn’t remove the rental company’s security deposit requirement. DiscoverCars confirms this in its security deposit guidance.

We’ll explain that next.

DiscoverCars Full Coverage: Is It Worth It?

When booking, DiscoverCars gives you the option to add Full Coverage to your rental.

For us, it’s an option worth considering.

Hire cars can pick up damage surprisingly easily. A scratched wheel, chipped windscreen or minor parking damage can quickly turn a cheap rental into an expensive one, particularly when you’re driving somewhere unfamiliar.

Full Coverage is designed to protect you against many of these additional costs if something does go wrong.

There is one important thing to understand before buying it: DiscoverCars Full Coverage generally works on a reimbursement basis.

This means the rental company may charge you for covered damage first. You then submit the required documents to DiscoverCars and make a claim for reimbursement, subject to the Full Coverage terms. You can read exactly how DiscoverCars Full Coverage works before adding it to your booking.

It also doesn’t necessarily remove the security deposit. The rental company can still require a deposit when you collect the vehicle.

Neither of those points would put us off considering Full Coverage. We’d rather understand how the protection works before travelling than discover it at the rental desk.

Full Coverage vs Insurance at the Rental Desk

You’ve probably experienced the sales pitch before.

You arrive to collect the car and are offered additional protection, sometimes at a price that makes your cheap rental suddenly look considerably less cheap.

This is one reason we like having the option to arrange additional protection while making the booking.

You can see the cost beforehand, read what’s covered and make the decision without the pressure of standing at a rental desk after a flight.

Our advice is to compare the cost and cover rather than automatically saying yes or no. Check what protection is already included with your rental, what DiscoverCars Full Coverage adds and whether you have suitable cover elsewhere.

If you want the additional protection, we’d rather make that decision calmly when booking than while collecting the car.

👉 Compare Car Hire & Full Coverage Options on DiscoverCars

Full Coverage is subject to terms, limits and exclusions. Check the current coverage details for your individual booking before purchasing.

Do You Need a Credit Card for DiscoverCars?

Not always, but many rental companies require a credit card in the main driver’s name when you collect the car.

The important distinction is between paying for the booking and leaving the security deposit.

You may be able to book online using a debit card, but that doesn’t automatically mean the rental company will accept it for the deposit when you arrive.

DiscoverCars shows the payment and deposit requirements within the rental conditions, so this is something we always check before booking.

If you don’t have a credit card, use the available filters to look for rentals that accept debit cards and then double-check the conditions before paying.

It’s a small detail that can prevent a very big problem at the rental desk.

Why Are There Bad DiscoverCars Reviews?

Search for DiscoverCars reviews online and you’ll find plenty of happy customers, but you’ll also come across some pretty bad experiences.

We wouldn’t ignore them.

Common complaints include problems with security deposits, additional charges at the rental desk, disagreements over insurance, card requirements, late collection and refunds.

However, there’s an important distinction to make when reading these reviews: DiscoverCars and the company supplying your car aren’t necessarily the same business.

If the rental company provides a poor vehicle, has a long queue or tries to sell additional extras at the desk, that’s primarily an issue with the supplier.

If there’s a problem with the booking itself, Full Coverage claim or how DiscoverCars handles a dispute, that’s much more relevant when judging DiscoverCars.

That doesn’t make a bad experience any less frustrating, but it does explain why we pay so much attention to the individual rental company before booking.

How We Reduce the Risk of Problems

Most of our advice comes down to a few simple checks:

• Choose a well-rated rental company rather than automatically taking the cheapest option.
• Check the security deposit and accepted cards.
• Read the fuel, mileage and cancellation conditions.
• Know what protection you’ve already purchased before reaching the desk.
• Check collection times, particularly if your flight arrives late.
• Photograph the inside and outside of the car before driving away.

You can never guarantee that a car rental will go perfectly, but a few minutes of checking beforehand can prevent many of the problems people complain about.

That’s been our approach when using DiscoverCars, and it’s one we’d recommend to anyone booking through the platform.

What If Your Flight Is Delayed?

If you’re collecting a car after a flight, check how long the rental company will hold your booking if you arrive late.

Where possible, provide your flight number and contact the supplier if you’re significantly delayed. Don’t assume the car will automatically be held until you arrive.

We also check the rental desk’s opening hours before booking, particularly when landing late in the evening.

It’s a simple check that can save a lot of hassle.

DiscoverCars also has useful late arrival guidance explaining what to do if your flight is delayed.

Does DiscoverCars Have Hidden Fees?

We haven’t found DiscoverCars to hide fees from us, but you do need to check exactly what’s included in the price before booking.

Additional costs can depend on the rental company and your booking. These might include an additional driver, young driver fees, one-way rentals, out-of-hours collection, optional extras or additional protection.

The security deposit is also worth checking. It isn’t a fee, but a large amount being held on your credit card can still come as an unpleasant surprise if you weren’t expecting it.

Our advice is simply to open the rental conditions before paying and check anything that could affect the final cost.

If the price still looks good once you’ve done that, you have a much better idea of what you’re actually booking.

DiscoverCars vs Booking Direct

We don’t think there’s anything wrong with checking the rental company’s own website before booking.

In fact, we sometimes do it ourselves.

If we’ve found a car we like on DiscoverCars, we’ll occasionally check the same supplier directly to see how the price and rental conditions compare.

Sometimes booking direct makes sense. You have one company to deal with, and there may be loyalty benefits or different cancellation terms.

However, we often find DiscoverCars more convenient because we can compare several rental companies at once, and we’ve regularly found competitive prices through it.

The important thing is to compare like for like. Check the car, protection, mileage, deposit and cancellation terms rather than looking at the headline price alone.

If the terms are similar and DiscoverCars offers the better price, that’s where we’d book.

👉 Compare Car Hire Prices on DiscoverCars

If you’re still deciding whether to use a comparison website at all, we’ve also explained why we think DiscoverCars is the best car rental comparison site and how we use it to find cheaper car hire.

DiscoverCars Pros and Cons

What We Like

• Competitive prices – we’ve found some excellent car hire deals through DiscoverCars.
• Easy comparison – you can compare different rental companies without opening dozens of websites.
• Supplier ratings – useful for avoiding a cheap deal from a poorly rated company.
• Clear rental conditions – deposits, mileage, fuel policies and other important terms can be checked before booking.
• Full Coverage option – additional protection can be arranged when booking rather than at the rental desk.
• Works well internationally – we’ve used DiscoverCars across Europe, the USA and Canada.

What We Don’t Like

• Quality varies between suppliers – a good price on DiscoverCars doesn’t guarantee a good rental company.
• Deposits can vary considerably – you need to check each deal individually.
• Full Coverage is reimbursement-based – you may have to pay for covered damage first and claim the money back.
• There’s an extra company involved – booking through a comparison platform can add another step if something goes wrong.

None of these drawbacks stop us using DiscoverCars, but they’re worth understanding before you book.

Final Verdict: Is DiscoverCars Worth Using?

Would we use DiscoverCars again? We already do.

We’ve used it to find car hire across Europe, the USA and Canada, most recently in Crete, and it’s become one of the first places we check when we need a rental car abroad.

The prices are often competitive, comparing different suppliers is easy and we like being able to check the important rental conditions before booking.

Our main advice hasn’t changed: don’t automatically choose the cheapest car. Check the supplier, deposit and rental conditions first.

Do that, and we think DiscoverCars is an excellent way to find affordable and reliable car hire.

👉 Compare Car Hire Prices on DiscoverCars

DiscoverCars FAQ

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