While 5% off might not seem as much as the other rental companies, Payless offers economy cars for as low as $10 a day.
This is a great price and should be considered when deciding which car rental company you should drive with.
Zipcar Car Sharing
Spending most of your time traveling in different rental cars? Zipcar Car Sharing might be the best option for you to consider. AARP members can join Zipcar for $40, plus a $25 application fee, and get $40 in free driving credit. The process of obtaining a Zipcar and renting one is a little different than traditional rental car companies. Still, it’s a great, contactless option for individuals in different cities and not interested in taking long road trips.
Car sharing might seem like a foreign concept to most, so let’s hit the brakes and see what it’s all about.
Zipcars can be found everywhere, from your local neighborhoods to cities around the globe. They give another option to people that don’t want to own a car or who are constantly traveling and don’t want to secure a single-vehicle.
You can reserve your wheels by the hour and day and only pay for the time you drive.
How Zipcar Works
Your smartphone does everything. You can reserve the car, unlock, and drive a Zipcar all by using the app.
When you pick your car up, just drive around and explore like normal. When you’re all done, park it in a Zipcar location and lock it back up with the app.
This non-traditional way of rental cars might be different, but it can be a great option if you only need a rental car for a few hours. If you’re tech-savvy, you might want to try Zipcar Car Sharing out.
AMAC
The Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC) is a membership for people 50 years and older. A person can join at different rates depending on the length they join. A 1-year membership is $16, and a 5-year is $59.95. When you join, there are a ton of different discounts you get, including car rentals.
With AMAC, members can get a discounted rate, price matching, upgrade their car class, and have access to priority booking. Unlike AARP, AMAC members don’t need to remember promo codes and can use their service like a travel agency website.
It’s an excellent way for their members to search across many platforms in one place. If you do end up finding a better price, you can price match and make sure you get the lowest prices. For the most part, members save up to 25% on car rentals.
AMAC partners with Car Rental 8 who contacts one of these suppliers:
- Hertz
- Advantage Rent A Car
- Dollar Rent A Car
- Fox Rent A Car
- National Car Rental
- Thrifty
- Europcar
- Alamo
- E-Z Rent A Car
- Sixt Rent A Car
By doing this, you’re bound to get a great deal!
They also offer discounts with car rental companies too. Like AARP, AMAC has partnered with Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car. They offer the same deals as AARP, so no matter where you’re a member, you’ll be getting the same deals here.
Non-Members
If you aren’t a member of one of these two groups, you can still find great senior discounts for rental cars. Many individual companies offer senior rates that will help you save. Here are the top three you should check out.
Hertz
Don’t speed by the deals Hertz has to offer. For their 50 and over customers, they offer up to 20% off base rates. This is the best discount for individuals who don’t have an AARP or AMAC membership.
The kicker to even more significant savings with Hertz is you can combine discounts. If you have the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program, you can use both the senior discount and anything else they’re offering at the time.
This is a great deal that’s going to save you a bunch of money.
Sixt Car Rental
There’s no better stop for luxury rental cars than Sixt.
Anyone older than 50 can choose from their fleet of:
- Audi
- BMW
- Cadillac
- Land Rover
- Mercedes-Benz
You’ll have a premium experience in style no matter where you’re going in the United States.
Sixt offers a 5% discount for seniors, and it will be automatically applied. All you have to do is show proof of your age when you pick up your rental car.
Thrifty Car Rental
Thrifty has a Silver Club for senior renters 50 years and older. Seniors can save 5% on time and mileage charges. Their website is straightforward and easy to manage for all ages.
Getting the Best Deal
How do you know you’re getting the best deal?
I think we all ask ourselves this question, but especially when we know, there are great senior rates out there.
Just like you should check the oil in a car, you have to check to make sure you’re doing what’s best for your wallet. This might take a lot of time, but figuring out the least expensive option or the one that fits best with your lifestyle is important for your trip and well-being.
AARP Has a Travel Center
AARP members should take advantage of the AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia.
Using this tool will provide a range of prices and benefits from all the rental car companies you can access. The service can narrow down:
- What type of car you want
- How much you want to spend
- The length you need your rental
You’re able to contact a representative by calling or only any time of the day and week. Although the other membership options are great choices, this will guarantee you’re getting the best deals your membership has to offer.
AMAC’s Travel Service
AMAC members should also take advantage of their own service on the AMAC’s website, which works like Expedia.
