AARP Car Rental Discounts in 2024

AARP Car Rental Discounts

The chart below gives a general overview of all of AARP’s car rental discounts. Most of the companies provide 5 percent to 35 percent off base rates, but Zipcar offers annual or monthly memberships.

Expedia AARP Discount

You can save up to 30 percent on select car rentals by booking your rental car through the AARP Travel Center, which is powered by Expedia. Through the platform, you could save up to 30 percent on base rates at Budget or Avis rental cars or 5 percent at Payless Car Rental. You also will be able to get free upgrades, insurance, and an additional driver for free by either calling 1-800-675-4318 or booking online on the AARP Travel Center website.

Avis AARP Discount

You can access the AARP Avis discount either through the AARP Travel Center line, or by dealing with Avis directly by calling 1-800-331-1800 or going on the Avis website. By booking through Avis instead of AARP, you’ll save up to 35 percent on base rates if you pay for your reservation up front or up to 30 percent if you pay at the pickup counter. AARP members also receive:

• A free upgrade on compact to full-size car bookings, if they’re available
• A free additional driver
• 3 percent credit on future rentals

Budget AARP Discount

You can book your Budget car rental through AARP or through Budget directly by visiting the Budget website or calling 1-800-733-9092. The benefits are the same as car rentals booked through Avis: 30 percent or 35 percent off base rates, depending on if you pay up front or at the pickup counter, plus free upgrades, a free additional driver, and a 3 percent credit on future car rentals.

Budget Truck Rental AARP Discount

Book a truck from Budget Truck Rental, which is separate from Budget, and save 10 percent to 20 percent on local or one-way truck rentals Sundays through Thursday or 10 percent on weekends. You’ll also receive a physical damage waiver for only $10 per day. To save, either call 1-866-470-7374 or go to the Budget Truck Rental website.

Payless Car Rental AARP Discount

The Payless Car Rental discount is not as high as the others on this list — only 5 percent off leisure weekly, daily, weekend, and monthly base rates. You’ll also receive an upgrade on compact through full-size bookings by calling 1-800-729-5377 or going on the Payless Car Rental website.

Zipcar AARP Discount

Zipcar works a bit differently than most car rental companies. Rather than visiting a parking lot with an office and picking up your car from an attendant, you’ll simply book a car that’s parked in your area and open it with the Zipcar app. That beats the hassle of the rental car counter, and when you’re done, you just park the car in the same general area.

Instead of booking individual car rentals, Zipcar is membership-based, on either a monthly or annual basis. Rates differ based on your location and the length of your membership, but your AARP membership will save you $20 on an annual membership. New Zipcar drivers will also get $40 in free driving credit. To get the offer, call Zipcar at 1-866-494-7227 or buy a membership on the Zipcar website.

Is an AARP Membership Worth It?

From May 2023 to May 2024, the cost of car and truck rental in the U.S. has decreased by nearly 8 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s good news, but the base rates of rental cars are still around $50 to $80 per day. You’ll still want to save money on rental cars, and AARP’s car rental discounts are generous and flexible.

An AARP membership costs $12 for the first year, but it could save you up to 35 percent on rental cars. Even if you’re just renting a rental car for a day for $50, you could still save $17.50, which means the membership would pay for itself in a day. That’s not to mention the other AARP discounts on hotels, restaurants, travel, flights, and cruises — basically all the elements of a great vacation. No matter how you slice it, AARP’s affordable membership makes financial sense and can save you money on things you’d buy anyway.

For further discounts, you can see how much you can save on flights with AARP, which is one of the most significant travel expenses. We’ve also compiled a list of AARP discounts on cruises.