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AARP Member Benefits · Avis · Budget · Payless · Zipcar · Senior Travel Tips
The discounts are real — but most people only scratch the surface of what their membership covers. Here’s the honest breakdown: which companies, exactly how much off, the fine print that changes your savings, and the situations where skipping AARP altogether beats using it.
💡 Before you book — read this first
AARP’s car rental partnerships run through three companies directly: Avis, Budget, and Payless. At Avis and Budget, members can save up to 35% off the base rate — but only if you pay at the time of booking. Wait and pay at the counter and the discount drops to 30%. That’s a real difference on a week-long rental. Also important: the discount applies only to the base rate, not to taxes, airport fees, or optional coverages. A $70/day car doesn’t become a $45.50 car — it becomes a $45.50 base with $25–$35 worth of airport fees and taxes on top, same as everyone else.
💡 AARP membership cost — the number most people forget to factor in
An AARP membership runs $15 for the first year when you sign up with automatic renewal, then $20 per year after that. You also receive a second membership free — meaning a spouse or household member can use the same membership number at the rental counter. That free second membership alone often makes the math work on a single trip if two people are traveling. AARP membership is open to anyone age 50 and older. You don’t have to be retired, and there’s no income requirement.
📋 Questions most people have — tap for answers
The things that actually matter before you book, and the ones that cost money when people find out at the counter instead of beforehand.
1How much can I realistically save with the AARP car rental discount?▼
On a $350 week-long Avis or Budget rental paid upfront: up to $122 off the base rate · On a $200 weekend rental: up to $70 off · AARP itself estimates members can save up to $105 per rental on a typical one-week booking · The $15–$20 annual membership fee pays itself back on a single week-long rental through Avis or Budget
The math is straightforward but has a wrinkle: the 35% discount applies only to what the rental company calls the “base rate” — the daily time-and-mileage charge. Taxes, government surcharges, airport concession fees, and optional extras like GPS or collision coverage are not discounted. At major airports, those non-discountable add-ons can run $25–$45 per day, which is worth knowing when you’re comparing the AARP price to what you see on a comparison site. The actual savings still tend to be substantial — a $70 base rate dropping to $45.50 is real money, especially over five or seven days. Just don’t assume the entire final bill drops by a third.
2Does AARP have a discount at Enterprise, Hertz, or National?▼
No direct partnership — AARP’s confirmed car rental partners are Avis, Budget, and Payless only · Enterprise, Hertz, National, Dollar, Alamo, and Thrifty have no direct AARP discount code · You can book those companies through the AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia, but you’re using portal pricing, not a named AARP discount
This trips up a lot of people. Searching online for “AARP discount code Hertz” or “AARP Enterprise promo” produces a lot of results — most of them are either affiliate sites guessing, or outdated information from years when those partnerships existed. The current confirmed picture: Avis and Budget are the primary partners (they’re owned by the same parent company, Avis Budget Group), Payless offers a smaller 5% savings, and Zipcar offers a membership fee reduction for car sharing. For the others, the AARP Travel Center portal powered by Expedia lets you compare prices including those brands, but what you’re getting is Expedia’s comparison pricing, which may or may not beat what you’d find booking direct with your AAA membership, loyalty rewards program, or a coupon code from a different source.
3Is there a maximum age to rent a car in the United States?▼
No maximum age for car rentals in the United States · Major rental companies rent to licensed drivers of any age — including those in their 80s and 90s — as long as you have a valid driver’s license and a qualifying credit card · No age-related surcharge for seniors in the U.S. (unlike the under-25 young driver fee) · International travel is different — some countries impose cutoffs ranging from 65 to 80 depending on location
Many older drivers worry about this unnecessarily. In the fifty U.S. states, age caps on the upper end simply don’t exist for the major national brands. You will not pay an extra daily fee because you’re 72 or 78 the way a 22-year-old pays a young driver surcharge. You rent at the same base rate. The caveat that matters most is your valid driver’s license — rental companies check that it’s current and not restricted. If your state has placed any license restrictions due to a medical evaluation (vision requirements, daylight-only driving, etc.), the rental company can see those and may ask questions. Outside the U.S. is genuinely different territory: some European and Caribbean destinations cap rentals at 70, 75, or even 65 for certain vehicle classes. Always call ahead when renting abroad if you’re over 65.
4Does my spouse or partner also get the AARP car rental discount?▼
Yes, and in two ways · First: AARP membership includes a free second membership for a household member — they can use the member number themselves · Second: Avis and Budget waive the additional driver fee for AARP members, so a spouse on the same rental is added at no extra cost · The additional driver waiver alone can save $13–$18 per day at standard rates, which adds up quickly on a week-long trip
The free second membership is something AARP promotes, but many people don’t realize the practical implication for car rentals: your spouse can book a car separately using their own AARP card and member number, applying the same discounts as the primary cardholder. The additional driver fee waiver is perhaps more immediately useful on any single rental — it removes a fee that most rental companies charge when a second driver is listed on the agreement. At rates typically running $10–$18 per day for an additional driver, waiving that fee over seven days is $70–$126 in additional savings that doesn’t get counted in the headline “35% off” figure.
5Should I buy the rental company’s collision coverage, or is it a waste?▼
It depends entirely on what coverage you already have · If your personal auto insurance policy includes collision coverage, it almost certainly extends to rental cars driven for personal use — buying the rental company’s coverage is usually redundant · If you have no personal auto insurance (because you don’t own a car), you genuinely need coverage · If you paid with a credit card that includes rental car protection, that may also serve as secondary coverage · The rental counter staff are trained to sell this — understanding your existing coverage before you arrive is how you avoid paying $20–$45 per day for something you already have
Call your auto insurance company before your trip and ask specifically: “Does my collision coverage extend to rental cars I rent for personal use within the United States?” The answer is almost always yes if you carry collision on your own vehicle. If it does, decline the rental company’s Loss Damage Waiver or Collision Damage Waiver at the counter — it’s a contractual add-on, not insurance, and it typically costs $15–$42 per day. On a seven-day trip, that’s $105–$294 for coverage you may already have. One real exception: if you’re renting internationally, your U.S. auto insurance often stops at the border, and the calculation changes significantly.
6Can I get a free upgrade with my AARP discount?▼
Yes — at Avis and Budget · AARP members receive a complimentary one-car-class upgrade, subject to availability, on compact through full-size car bookings · This means a compact reservation might hand you a mid-size or full-size vehicle at no extra charge · “Subject to availability” is real — it’s more likely on weekdays and at less-busy locations than at a packed airport on Friday afternoon
The upgrade benefit is genuinely useful for anyone who wants a bit more comfort on a longer road trip but doesn’t want to pay full price for a larger car. Book the smallest class you could live with — a compact or mid-size — and let the upgrade benefit do the work. The practical strategy: if the upgrade matters to you, call Avis or Budget directly to confirm availability rather than discovering at the counter that no larger vehicles are in the lot. Weekend travel to popular destinations tends to have less inventory available for complimentary upgrades, while a Tuesday morning business-district rental often means plenty of options sitting unused.
7What’s the difference between booking through AARP’s website vs. calling the rental company directly?▼
The discount is the same either way — AARP member pricing is applied automatically when you use the AARP link or enter your member number · Booking through AARP.org sends you to the rental company’s own site with the discount pre-applied · Calling the company directly (Avis: 1-800-331-1800 · Budget: 1-800-733-9092) and giving your AARP member number achieves the same result · The AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia is a separate portal that lets you compare across multiple brands — though the discount structure there is different from the direct Avis/Budget partnership
The AARP Travel Center portal is genuinely useful for comparing prices across brands at a glance, but understand what you’re seeing: when you book Hertz or Enterprise through the portal, you’re getting Expedia’s comparison pricing — not an AARP-negotiated corporate rate. For Avis and Budget specifically, booking through the AARP link or calling direct with your member number gives you the same results — the discount code is applied automatically. One advantage of calling direct: if a location runs short on inventory, speaking to a person can sometimes surface options that the online booking system doesn’t show.
8What other senior discounts compete with AARP for car rentals — and sometimes beat it?▼
Always compare: AAA membership offers similar discounts at Hertz and Enterprise that AARP doesn’t cover directly · Sixt has offered standalone senior discounts for drivers 50 and older at select locations with no membership required · Many credit cards provide discount codes through their travel portals · Loyalty programs at Hertz, Enterprise, and National sometimes offer member rates that exceed what any discount card delivers
AARP is not always the best deal, even for people who have the membership card in their wallet. Before booking any rental, run the same dates and location through at least three paths: the AARP-linked Avis or Budget rate, a comparison on a site like AutoSlash (which tracks price drops and applies coupon codes automatically), and your rental loyalty program member rate if you have one. AAA is worth checking specifically at Hertz and Enterprise — two major brands with no direct AARP partnership — because AAA does have negotiated rates at both. If you belong to both organizations, use whichever produces the lower final price on a case-by-case basis rather than assuming one is always better.
💰 Every AARP Car Rental Discount — Full Details
The complete picture of what AARP members can access, including what the discount applies to, how to actually get it, and the fine print that changes your math.
Best AARP Discount
Avis Car Rental
Up to 35%
Pay Now at booking: 35% off base rates. Pay Later at counter: 30% off. Free one-class upgrade (compact–full-size, availability permitting). Additional driver fee waived. Unlimited mileage on most rentals.
📞 1-800-331-1800
💳 Member number required
🌐 avis.com
Same Discount, Different Brand
Budget Car Rental
Up to 35%
Same ownership as Avis — identical discount structure. Pay Now: 35% off. Pay Later: 30% off. Free upgrade, additional driver waived, plus a 3% credit toward your next Budget rental that Avis doesn’t offer.
📞 1-800-733-9092
💳 3% future rental credit
🌐 budget.com
Smaller Savings
Payless Car Rental
5% off
Five percent off leisure daily, weekly, weekend, and monthly base rates. Available at U.S. and Canada locations. No guest upgrades or additional perks — this is a baseline rate reduction only. Use promo code A057400.
🔢 Code: A057400
🇺🇸 U.S. & Canada locations
⚠️ Leisure rates only
Car Sharing Option
Zipcar
$40 off
$40 off an annual Zipcar membership (previously $20 off — the current benefit improved). Useful for city residents who need a car for a few hours rather than days. No rental counter, no paperwork — app-based access by the hour or day.
🌆 Urban car sharing
📱 App-based, hourly rates
🌐 zipcar.com
💡 Budget vs Avis — which one to choose
Avis and Budget are operated by the same company and offer identical AARP discount percentages. The practical difference for AARP members: Budget adds a 3% credit toward your next Budget rental on top of the standard discount, which Avis does not. If you rent frequently and don’t mind sticking with one brand, that 3% accumulates meaningfully over a year of travel. If you’re a one-time or occasional renter, pick whichever location is more convenient at your departure point — the base savings are the same.
🚫 No direct AARP discount at these major brands
Enterprise, Hertz, National, Dollar, Alamo, and Thrifty have no direct partnership with AARP. You can see prices for those brands through the AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia portal, but that’s comparison pricing, not a named AARP corporate rate. If you prefer one of these brands, check whether AAA membership covers them — both Hertz and Enterprise have AAA discount programs — or use the brand’s own loyalty rewards program.
🎁 Benefits Most AARP Members Don’t Know They Have
The percentage off gets all the attention. These benefits are often worth as much — and some people discover them at the counter when they’ve already paid for the thing they didn’t need to.
✅ Free additional driver — worth $70–$126 on a week-long trip
Rental companies charge $10–$18 per day to add a second driver to the agreement. Avis and Budget waive this fee entirely for AARP members. If you and a spouse or travel companion both plan to drive on a road trip, this benefit is automatic — you don’t need to ask or show anything extra beyond your AARP membership. Just list the additional driver at booking, and the fee disappears. On a seven-day rental, that’s up to $126 in savings that never gets included when people calculate how much their AARP discount saves them.
✅ Budget’s 3% future rental credit — quietly valuable for repeat renters
Budget gives AARP members a 3% credit toward a future rental on every booking. This credit accumulates if you rent through Budget more than once a year. For someone who rents three times per year at $300 per week, that’s roughly $27 in credits coming back — which sounds small until you combine it with the 35% base discount, the free upgrade, and the additional driver waiver. Budget is the only AARP partner to offer this credit, which gives it a meaningful edge over Avis for travelers who rent more than once.
✅ Free vehicle upgrade — book small, drive bigger
When you book a compact through full-size car under the AARP rate at Avis or Budget, you’re entitled to one complimentary upgrade to the next car class when available. The strategy: book a compact (the cheapest category) and rely on the upgrade to move you into something more comfortable. This works best at less-crowded locations or on weekday pickups when there’s more inventory available. At a busy Friday airport counter, upgrades may not be available — but on a Tuesday, there’s often a larger vehicle sitting in the lot that becomes yours at the compact price.
✅ AARP Travel Center — compare brands in one place
The AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia isn’t just for car rentals. It covers hotels, vacation packages, cruises, and flights. For car rentals specifically, it lets you see prices across multiple brands simultaneously — including Enterprise, Hertz, and National, which have no direct AARP partnership but appear in the comparison results. When you’re flexible on brand and want the lowest price across all options at a given airport, starting here and then double-checking the Avis and Budget direct rates gives you a comprehensive picture of what the market looks like on your dates.
✅ Avis AARP damage liability limit
One benefit buried in the Avis AARP agreement that deserves more attention: in the event of damage to a rental vehicle, Avis limits an AARP member’s liability to the first $5,000 of damage without purchasing a Loss Damage Waiver. This doesn’t eliminate your exposure, but it does cap it — which matters if your personal auto insurance carries a high deductible. It’s not a complete replacement for your own insurance or the LDW, but it’s a genuine backstop that non-AARP renters don’t automatically receive.
🙋 Your Situation — Which Path Actually Saves You Most
I’m renting a car for a week-long vacation with my spouse
VACATION ROAD TRIP
This is the scenario where the AARP discount delivers the most concentrated value. Book through Avis or Budget using your AARP number, choose Pay Now for the 35% discount, list your spouse as an additional driver (no charge under AARP), and book a compact or mid-size to let the complimentary upgrade work in your favor. What to do before you go: call your auto insurance company and ask whether your collision coverage extends to rental cars — if yes, decline the rental company’s daily damage waiver at the counter and save $15–$42 per day. On a seven-day trip, that decision alone can save more than the percentage discount itself. Bring your AARP membership card plus your member number to the pickup counter — some locations scan the card, others just enter the number manually.
✅ Avis or Budget — best discount for trips
💳 Pay Now: 35% off vs Pay Later: 30%
👥 Spouse added free as additional driver
I don’t own a car and need a rental for errands or a short trip
NON-CAR OWNER
This situation has a critical difference from car owners: if you have no personal auto insurance policy, none of the “your existing insurance probably covers this” advice applies to you. You genuinely need to purchase coverage when you rent. The collision damage waiver (usually called LDW at Avis and Budget) runs $15–$42 per day and covers damage to the rental vehicle. Supplemental liability insurance (SLI) adds another $10–$15 per day and covers damage you cause to other people and their property. Budget without any auto insurance is real exposure. The rental desk staff are not exaggerating this risk. The cost-smart alternative for city residents who just need a car occasionally: Zipcar, which bundles the insurance into the hourly or daily rate — your AARP discount takes $40 off the annual membership fee. For short urban errands, Zipcar’s all-in pricing often beats a traditional rental once you add the mandatory coverage a non-car-owner needs.
⚠️ No personal auto insurance — you need the LDW
🌆 Zipcar: coverage included in rate
💳 $40 off Zipcar annual membership with AARP
I’m flying into an airport and need a car — which counter do I go to?
AIRPORT RENTAL
Airport car rental costs more than off-airport locations because of concession fees that airports charge rental companies — and those fees get passed directly to you in the non-discountable portion of the bill. The AARP discount applies to the base rate regardless of location, but the total cost at an airport counter will always be higher than the same car rented from a neighborhood location because of those fees. If you’re traveling to a city where you have a hotel outside the immediate airport area, consider requesting a shuttle to an off-airport Avis or Budget location — the savings can be $15–$30 per day in fee reductions. Also worth knowing: budget by comparing the AARP Avis rate against the AARP Budget rate for the same location and dates. Despite identical percentage discounts, available inventory means one company may quote a lower base rate on any given day.
🏢 Off-airport locations: lower fees than terminal counters
📊 Compare Avis vs Budget even with same discount
🚌 Airport shuttle to off-airport can save $15–$30/day
I’m over 75 and worried about whether I can even rent
SENIOR DRIVER CONCERN
Within the United States, age alone is not a barrier to renting a car. Major national rental companies — including Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National — rent to licensed drivers of any age without maximum age limits and without adding surcharges for being older. What they do check: a valid, current driver’s license without restrictions that would affect the rental. If your license has been restricted by your state’s DMV due to a medical evaluation (such as a requirement for corrective lenses or a daylight-only restriction), that restriction will be on your license and visible to the rental agent. A license in good standing with no problematic restrictions and a valid credit card is all you need. Planning international travel? That’s a different calculation. Some Caribbean islands cap senior rentals at 65 or 70, and parts of Europe have varying rules by company and vehicle class. Always call the specific location at your destination before booking international travel if you’re over 65.
✅ U.S. rentals: no maximum age limit at major brands
✅ No senior surcharge — unlike young driver fees
⚠️ International: call specific location if 65+
I rented through AARP but ended up paying more than I expected — what happened?
BILLING SURPRISE
This is the most common frustration — and it almost always comes down to two things. First, the AARP discount only applies to the base rate. Every line item below that — airport concession recovery fees, state taxes, vehicle license fees, tourism surcharges, and any optional add-ons — is charged at full price. At a major airport, these extra charges can easily total $25–$45 per day. Second, counter staff are trained to sell additional coverages (damage waivers, liability supplements, GPS, prepaid fuel). Each of those adds to the bill independently of the AARP rate. The prevention strategy: print or screenshot your total estimated bill from the booking confirmation before you travel, and compare it line-by-line to what the counter agent quotes. If a new line appears that wasn’t in your booking, ask what it is before signing anything. The fastest way to resolve a billing dispute after the fact is through AARP’s member services or the rental company’s customer relations line — not the counter or the return lane, where staff can’t typically override charges.
⚠️ Discount applies to base rate only — not taxes or fees
📋 Compare booking estimate to counter quote before signing
📞 Billing dispute: call Avis or Budget customer relations directly
🛡️ Insurance & Coverage — What Seniors Often Get Wrong
The rental counter offers several optional coverages at check-in. Understanding what you already have prevents paying for the same protection twice — a common mistake that can add $30–$60 per day to a rental.
✅ The single most important call to make before any rental
Call your auto insurance company and ask specifically: “Does my collision and comprehensive coverage extend to rental cars I drive for personal use in the United States?” If yes, decline the rental company’s Loss Damage Waiver at the counter. If you pay for your rental with a credit card that includes rental car protection, ask whether it acts as primary or secondary coverage — primary is more useful, but secondary still helps with your deductible. Get the answer before you travel, not while standing at the counter with a line of people behind you.
- Collision Damage Waiver (CDW/LDW): Costs $15–$42/day. Waives the rental company’s right to charge you for damage to their vehicle. Redundant if you carry collision coverage on your own auto insurance. Skip it if your insurer confirms rental coverage — but get that confirmation in writing or note the name of who told you.
- Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI): Costs $10–$15/day. Covers damage you cause to other people and their property. Your personal auto insurance liability coverage typically extends to rentals — verify this separately from collision coverage, as they’re different items on your policy.
- Personal Accident Insurance (PAI): Costs $4–$8/day. Covers medical costs for you and your passengers after an accident. Almost always redundant if you carry health insurance — your health plan covers accident injuries regardless of what vehicle you were in.
- Personal Effects Coverage (PEC): Costs $3–$5/day. Covers theft of belongings from the rental car. Homeowners and renters insurance policies generally cover personal property theft away from home — check your policy limit and deductible before deciding whether this makes sense.
- The Avis AARP liability cap: AARP members renting from Avis have their damage liability automatically limited to the first $5,000 without purchasing LDW. This doesn’t eliminate your exposure but creates a ceiling — something non-AARP renters don’t have at the same tier.
⚠️ Medicare does not cover car rental incidents
Medicare Part A and Part B cover hospital and medical services — they do not provide any vehicle damage or liability coverage related to driving a rental car. Supplemental Medigap plans also don’t include any auto-related coverage. The question of whether to buy rental insurance has no connection to your Medicare status. It depends entirely on whether you have personal auto insurance with collision coverage and/or a credit card with rental car protection — two things Medicare is unrelated to.
This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal, financial, or insurance advice. AARP member benefit terms, discount percentages, participating locations, and partner programs are subject to change at any time. Always verify current discounts and eligibility directly with AARP and the rental company before booking. Insurance advice on this page reflects general principles — consult your personal auto insurance provider to confirm how your specific policy applies to rental vehicles. AARP membership benefits are provided by third parties who pay royalty fees to AARP; contact each provider directly for full terms and conditions. Content on this page is original and does not reproduce any third-party source material.
