Vacations can be expensive. Not only do you have to get there, pay for a place to stay, and get ready for a large restaurant bill, but you also have to consider how you’re going to get around.
And that’s where (for many) a rental car comes into play. It can be pricey, but it’s also the most convenient to get around just about anywhere.
But thankfully, there are ways to get a discount car rental. And one of those ways is with a credit card.
Many credit cards offer discounts when you rent cars by combining the right agency with a discount code. It’s not always much, but it’s easy savings you can use towards something else.
Here’s how these discounts work, and what credit cards offer them.
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How credit card car rental discounts work
Taking advantage of these discounts is quite simple. For the most part, the discount only applies to 1 or maybe 2 rental car agencies. To use it, you’ll have to apply a discount code, and use your credit card to pay for your car rental.
Don’t have the info? No worries, you’ll just need to check out the page from the issuer to get the discount (for most credit cards).
I happen to have a credit card that offers discount car rentals – it’s the
Do I personally have this required info? Probably, but finding it, then reading through everything seems like a hassle.
Instead, I can go to Scotiabank’s page for the Momentum Visa Infinite. And voilà, it was easy to find – under the benefits section.
The expanded “Save on car rentals” section reveals the details I need to know.
I have the info I need to save money on a car rental. It turns out I can:
- get a discount at Avis or Budget.
- I just need to provide the appropriate discount number or click on one of the links.
For some cards, it’s that easy. For others, the information isn’t readily available. For example, the
An important point to note: The discount codes for the cards above are different. Always check your card benefits guide to get the right codes for your credit card.
So what happens next? Here’s the step-by-step guide. I’ll go with Avis here, use the link, and rent a car in Montreal for 3 days, several months from now.
Here’s what the Avis page looks like when I click on the link above.
It points out one other feature – I need to use the “Pay Now Rate”.
I entered in my search, “the Montreal Airport,” and I’ll book this from there:
On the next page is the cost summary.
From here, I can add any extras I may need, like insurance, packages, or others, before proceeding to the checkout.
So that’s fairly straightforward. But what did I actually save? Here’s what Avis would charge without the discount code:
Avis states I can save up to 25% on the base rate, and here we only saved $66 on it, a pretty decent 15%. The total savings works out to $88.55, as the sales taxes are slightly lower. Since Avis is charging us less, you also pay lower taxes. It’s not the full 25%, but it’s easy savings. Avis is also running a promotion right now, which most likely factors into getting a lower discount.
One point to note: there was no price difference if you’re paying later. As Scotiabank states, the discount was only applicable to “Pay Now” rates. Make sure to read all the terms properly, otherwise you won’t be getting a discount.
Summary of car rental discount codes
Our example is just one issuer that offers rental car discounts.
Here’s a summary of the other credit card issuers that offer discounts and what agencies you can get a discount at.
We can’t list the discount codes – some issuers will have separate discount codes for each card that offers them – you’ll have to check your benefits guide to access them.
And, not all credit cards associated with these issuers will offer the discount – you’ll have to check the issuer page to see if yours offers it or not.
Below are the most common discounts we were able to find:
| Bank | Agencies | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| Scotiabank | * Avis * Budget |
Up to 25% |
| BMO | * National * Alamo |
Up to 25% |
| MBNA | * Avis * Budget |
Minimum 10% (Canada & US), 5% internationally |
| TD | * Avis * Budget |
Minimum 10% (Canada & US), 5% internationally |
| CIBC | * Budget | Up to 25% |
Issuers with rental car discounts on their credit cards
Now for the details on each major issuer that offers car rental discounts, and the cards that offer them.
Scotiabank car rental discount
Let’s start with our example. Scotiabank offers discounts at both Avis and Budget.
The maximum you can save is 25% off the base rental cost.
Some of Scotia’s cards have special links to make things easier. For example, if you have the Momentum Visa Infinite, you can click here for Avis, and here for Budget.
Here are some of the better Scotiabank credit cards that offer car rental discounts.
Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card Scotia Momentum Visa Card Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card
BMO credit card rental car discount
BMO offers rental car discounts with National and Alamo. You can save up to 25% on the base rental costs with either agency.
Here are the best BMO credit cards that offer these discounts.
BMO AIR MILES®† Mastercard®* BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®* BMO CashBack® Mastercard®* BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* BMO CashBack® Mastercard®* for students
MBNA credit card rental car discounts
MBNA offers a twist on rental car discounts. They offer a minimum amount you can save on the base rate at both Avis and Budget.
It’s 10% on the base rate on rentals in Canada and the U.S. and 5% anywhere else.
We checked this discount to see if there’s any differences between what we got with Scotiabank, but the prices were exactly the same.
MBNA only uses one code for all their credit cards. You can click on this link for Avis and this one for Budget.
Here are the best MBNA credit cards that offer rental car discounts.
MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard® MBNA Rewards World Elite® Mastercard® MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus® Mastercard®
TD credit card card rental car discount
TD has a rental car discount program with Avis and Budget and it works the same as MBNA. Instead of a maximum amount you can save, they state a minimum amount, which is a minimum of 10% in Canada and the US.
TD doesn’t make the discount codes you need on their website – you’ll have to find the benefits guide for your credit card to find what you need (this page is the place to start to find the guide for your card).
Here are some top TD credit cards with rental car discounts.
TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card TD Cash Back Visa Infinite* Card TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
CIBC credit card car rental discounts
FInally, CIBC also offers credit card rental discounts. You can save up to 25% on rentals from Budget.
This CIBC page lays everything out, including all the eligible credit cards. It includes the majority of their travel credit cards, but no cash back cards.
Best credit cards for discount car rentals
So what are the best credit cards for discount car rentals? Here are some of the better options that were listed above.
| Credit Card | Welcome Bonus | Earn Rates | Annual Fee, Income Requirements | Apply Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard |  $150 GeniusCash + Up to $480 cash back in the first year, first year free (terms) |
* 5% cash back on groceries, up to $500 in monthly spend * 4% cash back on transit, up to $300 in monthly spend * 3% cash back on gas, up to $300 in monthly spend * 2% cash back on recurring bills, up to $500 in monthly spend * 1% cash back on all other purchases |
* $120 * $80K personal/$150K household |
Apply Now |
| MBNA Smart Cash Platinum Plus Mastercard | 5% cash back on gas and groceries for the first 6 months, up to $500 spent per month (terms) | * 2% cash back on gas and groceries, up to $500 in combined spend monthly * 0.5% cash back on all other purchases |
* $0 * None |
Apply Now |
| Scotiabank Gold American Express | $60 GeniusCash + Up to 50,000 bonus points, first year free (terms) |
* 6 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more * 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent on groceries, dining, and entertainment * 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent on gas, select streaming services, and transit * 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases * 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
* $120 * $12K personal |
Apply Now |
| MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard | $150 GC Boost + 30,000 bonus points (terms) |
* 5 points for every $1 spent on restaurants, groceries, and select recurring bills (up to $50,000 spent annually per category) * 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases |
* $120 * $80K personal/$150K household |
Apply Now |
1. Best cash back credit card with a rental car discount
GC: $150
If you want a cash back credit card with a rental car discount, the
Here’s what you’ll earn for your purchases:
- 5% cash back on groceries, up to $500 in monthly spend
- 4% cash back on transit, up to $300 in monthly spend
- 3% cash back on gas, up to $300 in monthly spend
- 2% cash back on recurring bills, up to $500 in monthly spend
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
It also offers these benefits, on top of the 25% rental car savings:
- 13 types of insurance,
- free roadside assistance, and
- Mastercard Airport Experiences membership (no free passes).
One extra bonus this card provides – it’s a rare credit card that includes all 3 types of rental car insurance, which can lead to extra savings on your rental.
Bonus: you'll get $150 on approval through our GeniusCash bonus program.
Want to learn more about credit card rental car insurance? Here’s everything you need to know.
2. Best no annual fee credit card for rental discounts
The
First, it has no annual fee, saving you money that could go towards your vacation.
Second, it has the aforementioned rental car discount at Avis and Budget.
Third, it also offers all 3 types of rental car insurance coverages.
But it doesn’t just excel at car rentals. It has high earn rates on all purchases:
- 2% cash back on gas and groceries, up to $500 in combined spend monthly
- 0.5% cash back on all other purchases
It’s a terrific little no fee credit card package.
3. Best no foreign exchange fee credit card
×1 Award winner GC: $60
1x Award winner
To save on foreign exchange fees while renting cards outside of Canada, the
There’s much more to this card than just those 2 things. Here’s what you’ll earn on purchases:
- 6 Scene+ points per $1 spent at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and more
- 5 Scene+ points per $1 spent on groceries, dining, and entertainment
- 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent on gas, select streaming services, and transit
- 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on foreign currency purchases
- 1 Scene+ point per $1 spent on all other purchases
One more thing to add is that you'll get $60 in GeniusCash on approval. A nice little bonus indeed.
It also comes with 12 types of insurance, for coverage while travelling.
4. Best flexible rewards credit card
×4 Award winner GC: $125 + $25
4x Award winner
The best flexible rewards credit card in Canada makes for an excellent credit card for renting cars – it’s the
First, here’s what you’ll earn on purchases:
- 5 points for every $1 spent on restaurants, groceries, and select recurring bills (up to $50,000 spent annually per category)
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
What makes it a good credit card for rental cars? It has the discounts, but also provides all 3 types of rental car insurance coverage on top of having an additional 9 types of insurance.
Want to know what makes it even better? The $150 GeniusCash bonus. Once you get approved, you'll get a little extra money, and you won't have had to do anything.
Your turn
It may not be much, but every $1 can help.
A a credit card with car rental discounts is easy savings you can use towards something else on your next trip.
Have you ever taken advantage of credit card car rental discounts?
Let us know in the comments below.
FAQ
What banks offer credit card car rental discounts?
The following banks issue credit cards that have car rental discounts:
- BMO,
- Scotiabank,
- MBNA,
- TD, and
- CIBC.
How do you take advantage of credit card car rental discounts?
To use your discount, you have to book with a specified car rental agency. You’ll also need to provide a special discount code, which can be found on your credit card’s website, or in your credit card’s benefits guide.
What’s the best credit card that offers discount car rentals?
The best credit card that offers discount car rentals is the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard, which offers up to 5% cash back on purchases, free roadside assistance, and all 3 types of rental car insurance.
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