AARP’s car rental discounts are among the most valuable travel benefits tied to the membership — but most members never use them correctly. The 35% discount at Avis and Budget drops to 30% if you pay at the counter instead of at booking. Hertz has no direct AARP deal but does have its own 50+ program. Enterprise’s AARP deal is partial and small. This guide covers exactly what each company offers, the codes to enter, and the traps that cost seniors money they should have kept.
These are the questions seniors ask most — before they book, at the counter when something’s wrong, and after they realize they left money behind. Answered directly.
Here is the honest breakdown for each company, including the fine print that changes your real savings and the alternative for companies where AARP has no direct deal.
Avis is the flagship AARP car rental partner. Pay Now at booking and you receive up to 35% off the base time-and-mileage rate. Choose Pay Later (pay at counter) and the discount is 30%. Both options include a complimentary one-car-class upgrade and unlimited mileage — extras that add genuine value beyond the percentage discount. Book online at avis.com by entering AWD code A359824 in the “AWD / Coupon / Discount Code” field before selecting dates — entering the code first ensures it’s applied correctly. Alternatively, call Avis directly at 1-800-331-1800 and provide your AARP membership number. Show your AARP card at pickup. The discount applies to base rates only — taxes, airport fees, and optional coverages are full price.
Budget and Avis are owned by the same company — Avis Budget Group — and the AARP discount structure is identical: up to 35% off the base rate when you pay at booking, 30% off when you pay at pickup. Same complimentary one-car-class upgrade and unlimited mileage. Book at budget.com using BCD code Y508539, or call Budget directly at 1-800-733-9092. The AARP member portal page for Budget has automatic code application if you click through from aarp.org, but verifying the BCD appears in your booking confirmation is worthwhile before completing the reservation. Like Avis, the discount applies to the base rate only — mandatory fees and optional add-ons are charged separately.
Payless is the third AARP direct partner, offering 5% off qualifying rentals for AARP members. The discount is smaller than Avis and Budget, but Payless operates with lower base rates — often $30–$50 per day at locations where Avis might charge $60–$80. The result is that the AARP discount plus the lower base rate can occasionally produce a lower total than 35% off at Avis. Payless is worth checking for shorter rentals at locations where Payless has a presence. Book through the AARP Travel Center or payless.com and confirm your AARP member number is applied. Payless has fewer locations than Avis and Budget, so check availability at your pickup airport or city first.
Hertz has no direct AARP car rental partnership — but Hertz runs its own independent 50 Plus Program for drivers age 50 and older that does not require AARP membership at all. The discount is up to 20% off base rates. To access it, enter CDP code 2007815 in the “Discount/CDP/Club Code” field during online booking at hertz.com, or mention it when calling 1-800-654-3131. The code must be entered before or during booking — Hertz cannot add it retroactively at the counter. AAA members can also access up to 20% off Hertz through AAA’s separate partnership, which sometimes stacks with Hertz coupons for additional savings. If you hold both AARP and AAA, compare the AAA-Hertz rate against the AARP-Avis rate for your specific dates and location — the winner varies.
The AARP Travel Center is a booking portal powered by Expedia that lets AARP members compare rental prices across multiple brands — including Hertz, Enterprise, National, and Alamo alongside Avis and Budget. When you book Hertz or Enterprise through this portal, you’re getting Expedia’s comparison pricing, not an AARP-negotiated corporate rate. For Avis and Budget, the portal caps the discount at approximately 30% — less than the 35% available by booking direct with the correct codes. The Travel Center is most useful when you’re undecided on brand and want to compare prices in one screen. For committed Avis or Budget bookings, booking direct with the AWD or BCD code gives you a better rate. Phone support for the AARP Travel Center: 1-800-675-4318.
Enterprise has no direct AARP car rental partnership and no senior discount program of its own. National and Alamo, both Enterprise Holdings brands, are similarly without a direct AARP deal. For Enterprise specifically: AAA does have a negotiated rate at Enterprise. If you hold a AAA membership, that is your best discount path at Enterprise. Alternatively, Enterprise Plus, Enterprise’s free loyalty program, earns points toward free rental days and occasionally surfaces member-rate pricing that competes with discount codes. For price comparison across all brands including Enterprise and National, use the AARP Travel Center portal — you’re getting Expedia’s rates, but at least you can see how they compare before booking.
These codes are the mechanism that actually unlocks your discount. They must be entered during booking — not at the counter, not after the reservation is made. Without the code in your reservation, no discount applies regardless of what you say to the agent at pickup.
Always verify current discount codes at aarp.org/membership/benefits/carrental before you book. The codes confirmed here have been publicly listed on AARP.org and partner sites as of mid-2026, but codes occasionally change or are updated by Avis Budget Group. A five-second check before booking ensures you’re using the current valid code. If you arrive at the counter with a reservation that has no discount code in it, the agent typically cannot add it — the price you paid or agreed to at booking is the price you pay at pickup.
The AWD (Avis Worldwide Discount) number for AARP members is A359824. At avis.com, look for the “AWD, Coupon or Discount Code” field on the booking start page — it appears before you select dates or a vehicle. Enter the code there first, then proceed. Entering the code after selecting dates sometimes fails to apply the AARP rate correctly. You must also provide your AARP membership number at some point during checkout. At pickup, show your physical or digital AARP card. If booking by phone: call 1-800-331-1800 and mention your AARP number along with AWD code A359824.
The BCD (Budget Corporate Discount) number for AARP members is Y508539. At budget.com, enter the BCD in the appropriate discount field before completing your search — the same front-of-process entry rule applies here as with Avis. If you click through from the AARP member benefits page at aarp.org, the code may be pre-applied automatically — verify it appears in your booking confirmation before finalizing. If booking by phone, call 1-800-733-9092 and provide the BCD number along with your AARP membership number. Show your AARP card at pickup. Budget also has a Budget Fastbreak loyalty program worth joining for counter-skip pickup at enrolled locations.
Hertz has no AARP discount code — but the Hertz 50 Plus Program uses CDP code 2007815, available to any driver age 50 or older without AARP membership. Enter it in the “Discount/CDP/Club Code” field at hertz.com. This code provides up to 20% off base rates. Like all discount codes at rental companies, it must be entered at booking — not requested at the counter. The discount is age-verified at pickup when you present a driver’s license. AAA members can alternatively use the AAA CDP at Hertz for a comparable discount. If you have both memberships, AAA’s Hertz rate may sometimes stack with Hertz promotional coupons for additional savings.
Avis Preferred and Budget Fastbreak are free loyalty programs that let enrolled members skip the counter, go directly to their reserved car, and drive away. Both work alongside the AARP discount code — the loyalty program and the AWD/BCD code are entered together in the same reservation. For seniors who find counter waits tiring or who travel frequently, enrolling in these programs costs nothing and removes the longest friction point in the rental experience. Both programs earn points toward free rental days and upgrades. Your AARP discount still applies when your loyalty number and AWD/BCD code are both in the same reservation.
Quick reference comparing every major rental company on discount percentage, minimum age, whether AARP membership is required, and what extras are included. Green indicates an advantage.
| Company | Discount | Code / Program | Min Age | AARP Required? | Extras Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avis | Up to 35% (Pay Now) 30% (Pay Later) |
AWD A359824 | 50 (AARP age) | Yes — AARP membership | Free 1-class upgrade · unlimited miles |
| Budget | Up to 35% (Pay Now) 30% (Pay Later) |
BCD Y508539 | 50 (AARP age) | Yes — AARP membership | Free 1-class upgrade · unlimited miles |
| Hertz | Up to 20% (50+ Program) | CDP 2007815 | 50 — no AARP needed | No — age only | Standard Hertz Gold+ perks |
| Payless | 5% off qualifying rentals | Via AARP portal | 50 (AARP age) | Yes — AARP membership | Lower base rates at most locations |
| Enterprise | Up to 5% (small indirect) | Via AARP Travel Center | 50 (AARP age) | Yes — small portal discount | No special extras · AAA rate often better |
| National / Alamo | No direct senior deal | Portal pricing only | No program | No direct AARP deal | Compare via AARP Travel Center |
| Sixt | Variable senior rates 50+ | Select “50+” at booking | 50 — no membership needed | No — age only | Standalone program · no AARP needed |
Discount percentages apply to base time-and-mileage rate only. Taxes, airport fees, and optional add-ons are excluded. Always verify codes at aarp.org before booking.
The AARP code is your starting point, not your finish line. These are the moves that experienced senior travelers use to get the best final price — including some that work even when the AARP rate isn’t the cheapest option on the day you book.
A 35% discount on a $500 base rate saves $175. A 20% discount on a $300 base rate saves $60. The percentage matters less than the full invoice total including fees. Before finalizing any reservation, compare the complete out-of-pocket amount — base rate after discount, plus mandatory taxes and airport fees — across at least two booking paths. At major urban airports, taxes and fees can add $30–$60 per day regardless of which discount you use. Use the AARP Travel Center to compare brands side by side on final total pricing, then go direct to Avis or Budget with the AWD/BCD code if those companies win on total cost.
Rental car companies charge airport concession recovery fees that add 10–15% to your total bill at every airport location — a mandatory fee that has nothing to do with your discount code. The same Avis or Budget location six blocks from the terminal has no airport concession fee and typically lower base rates. If you can arrange a pickup at a neighborhood branch rather than the terminal counter, the total price difference often exceeds the value of the AARP discount by itself. Most rental apps and websites let you filter by “off-airport” locations when searching. Factor in any taxi or rideshare cost to get there when comparing the total savings.
Rental car prices fluctuate daily based on demand. If you booked Pay Now at 35% off but a week later the base rate at the same location dropped significantly, you may be locked into a higher total than if you’d booked at the lower base rate with a smaller percentage discount. Pay Later bookings allow free cancellation and rebooking — meaning you can rebook at a lower price whenever you find one, up until pickup. If you booked Pay Now (to get 35% vs. 30%), keep an eye on prices and judge whether canceling and rebooking at Pay Later’s 30% on a new lower base rate produces a better total. AutoSlash, a free service that tracks rental price drops and applies coupon codes automatically, can do this monitoring for you.
The collision damage waiver (CDW/LDW) offered at the rental counter typically runs $25–$40 per day — one of the rental industry’s highest-margin products and one that most seniors don’t need to buy. Many major credit cards — Visa Signature, Mastercard World Elite, Chase Sapphire, American Express Gold and Platinum — provide primary or secondary rental car collision coverage when you pay for the rental with that card and decline the counter CDW. Call the number on the back of your credit card before your trip and ask specifically: “Does my card provide rental car collision coverage, and is it primary or secondary?” Primary coverage means you don’t involve your personal auto insurance. Secondary means you do. Knowing this before you reach the counter saves $25–$40 per day without any reduction in protection.
Rental car inventory and pricing are dynamic — the same location at the same dates will show different prices depending on when you look. Historically, booking three to six weeks before pickup produces consistently competitive rates. Very last-minute bookings (same week or same day) often show higher prices at the most popular locations. Early bookings (more than two months out) can sometimes be beaten as inventory fills and flash deals appear. For AARP members on a flexible schedule: book Pay Later at whatever rate you see three to four weeks out, then check weekly for price drops and rebook free of charge if something lower appears. Pay Now only when the savings between 35% and 30% is large enough to justify locking in the reservation.
The car rental discount is what brings many seniors to AARP, but the rest of the travel benefit portfolio is what makes the membership genuinely valuable across a full trip. Here are the categories most members underuse.
AARP members save 5–25% at major hotel brands including Hilton, Best Western, Choice Hotels (Comfort Inn, Clarion, Sleep Inn), Radisson, Marriott, Crowne Plaza, and Wyndham. The discount applies to the best available rate and is accessed by selecting the AARP rate at booking or entering the AARP rate code. Some properties offer additional perks for AARP members — late checkout, room upgrades when available — that don’t appear in the posted discount. Always ask at check-in: “Do you have any AARP-specific perks available today?” Hotel loyalty points typically stack with the AARP rate at most brands.
The AARP Travel Center powered by Expedia provides AARP members access to cruise deals with onboard credits up to $200, and savings on vacation packages combining flights and hotels. A 5% rebate — up to $350 — is available on eligible group hotel bookings of five or more rooms. For seniors planning family reunions or group travel, the group booking rebate can significantly offset the cost of organizing accommodations. The AARP Travel Center phone line at 1-800-675-4318 is staffed by agents who can compare cruise options and apply member pricing — worth calling for itineraries where you’re not certain which booking path is best.
For seniors who don’t own a car or who need occasional transportation without renting a full-day or multi-day rental, Zipcar offers an AARP member discount of $20 off annual membership. Zipcar charges by the hour or day and includes gas and insurance in the price — creating all-in pricing that beats a traditional rental plus fuel for short local trips. Zipcar is most useful for urban seniors who want on-demand access to a car without ownership costs or for situations where you need a car for two to four hours and a full-day rental from Avis or Budget isn’t cost-effective. Available in most major U.S. cities.
Cost: $15 for the first year with auto-renewal · $20/year standard · no price difference for how much you use it
Age: Must be 50 or older to join · you don’t have to be retired
Second member: One additional household adult added free — both get their own card and member number
Join by phone: 1-888-687-2277 · Monday–Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET
Digital card: Available immediately through the AARP website or mobile app after joining · physical card arrives within a few weeks
Longest term: Five years — AARP no longer offers lifetime membership
Three steps in order. First: go to aarp.org/membership/benefits/carrental and click through to Avis. Enter AWD code A359824, select Pay Now for the 35% discount, and check the full total including fees for your pickup location. Second: do the same at budget.com with BCD code Y508539. Third: open the AARP Travel Center and run the same dates to compare Hertz and Enterprise. If Avis or Budget wins on total price including fees, book there. If another company surprises you with a lower final number, book that. For a week-long rental, the Pay Now 35% at Avis or Budget almost always wins — but compare before assuming. The 5-minute comparison has saved seniors $80–$150 on a single week-long booking.
Airport concession recovery fees are charged at every on-airport rental counter and add 10–15% to your bill before any other fee — they cannot be discounted or waived. The practical workaround: take the free shuttle to a nearby off-airport branch of Avis or Budget, pick up your rental there, and drive it off at the same discounted rate with no airport fee. At some airports, this saves $15–$30 per day. Check avis.com or budget.com for nearby non-airport locations when searching for pickup options. Uber or Lyft to the off-airport branch typically costs $8–$15 and is recovered within the first day of the lower rate. For rentals of three or more days, this approach almost always saves more than any discount code.
This is one of the most common and costly pressure points at rental counters. The collision damage waiver (CDW/LDW) at $25–$40 per day is optional — not required — and is one of the rental industry’s highest-margin products. Before your rental: call the number on the back of the credit card you plan to use to pay for the rental, and ask specifically whether that card provides rental car collision coverage and whether it’s primary or secondary coverage. If your card provides primary coverage, you can decline the CDW at the counter with confidence. If it provides secondary coverage, you’d need to file with your personal auto insurance first before the card coverage kicks in. Many seniors discover their card has covered them for years and they’ve been buying redundant CDW coverage they didn’t need. Five minutes before you travel saves $25–$40 per day on every rental going forward.
Three parallel options for Hertz. First: the Hertz 50 Plus Program at CDP code 2007815 gives you up to 20% off directly with no membership required — enter it at hertz.com during booking. Second: if you have AAA membership, AAA has a direct Hertz partnership with comparable discounts that sometimes stacks with Hertz promotional coupons. Third: run your Hertz dates on both the AARP Travel Center (Expedia pricing) and hertz.com directly to see which path returns the lower final total. Also worth knowing: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards is free to join and earns points toward free rental days — worth adding your loyalty number to every reservation regardless of which discount code you use.
If you paid upfront (Pay Now) for the 35% discount and the base rate has since dropped at the same location, you may be locked in unless you cancel and rebook — which means losing the prepaid reservation. Before booking Pay Now, check the cancellation policy for that specific reservation — some Avis and Budget Pay Now rates allow free cancellation within 24–48 hours of booking. If you’re beyond the cancellation window, note the current price for reference and contact Avis or Budget customer service to ask whether a price adjustment or credit is available — outcomes vary but it costs nothing to ask. For future bookings: consider Pay Later (30%) for flexibility, and switch to Pay Now only when your plans are fully confirmed and the 5-point discount difference justifies losing the cancellation option.
The math typically works in your favor on a single rental. AARP costs $15 for the first year — the same as roughly 25–30 minutes of rental time at typical rates. One two-day rental at $50/day with 35% off saves you $35 on the base rate, more than double the first-year membership fee. A single week-long rental saves you $100–$150 on the base rate depending on the daily rate — covering seven to ten years of membership cost on one trip. The membership also includes a free second household member, hotel discounts, dining savings, prescription programs, and access to the AARP Travel Center — none of which require any additional cost beyond the annual fee. For anyone 50 or older who rents a car at least once per year, joining before that rental pays for itself immediately.
This guide provides general educational information about AARP car rental discounts, partner programs, discount codes, and member benefits. All discount percentages, codes, prices, and program terms are set by AARP and its partners and are subject to change without notice. AARP discount codes (AWD A359824 for Avis, BCD Y508539 for Budget, CDP 2007815 for Hertz 50 Plus) were publicly confirmed on official partner and AARP.org pages as of mid-2026 — always verify current active codes at aarp.org/membership/benefits/carrental before booking. Discounts apply to base time-and-mileage rates only and do not include taxes, fees, or optional add-ons. This content is independently produced and is not affiliated with or endorsed by AARP, Avis, Budget, Hertz, Enterprise, or any rental company or travel organization listed.