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Some credit cards go far beyond simply accumulating reward points to save money by offering specific benefits and discounts for car rentals, often with elite status. These benefits can include car rental insurance, significant discounts, and even premium services, such as free upgrades through higher status with rental agencies, or priority access while others wait to pick up their vehicle.
Indeed, these cards are particularly advantageous for frequent travelers or those looking to improve their car rental experience without paying additional fees. With a high status, you can enjoy services such as higher-end vehicles, expedited rental management, and preferential rates.
Here is an overview of the most popular credit cards offering these benefits.
The American Express Platinum Card®, both the personal version and the Business Platinum Card® from American Express, is one of the most prestigious cards on the market for travelers. It does not just offer reward points to save money; it also gives you privileged access to the most renowned car rental loyalty programs:
Additionally, the American Express Platinum Card® includes comprehensive car rental insurance, covering collision, theft, and civil liability. This can save you considerably on the insurance fees offered by rental agencies.
The American Express® Gold Rewards Card, which is more affordable than its big sister, the American Express Platinum Card®, still offers an interesting benefit: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards status. This status gives you access to discounts, car upgrades when availability permits, and simplified rental management with expedited service. Gold Plus Rewards status is ideal for people looking for a great rental experience at a lower cost.
Scotiabank credit cards offer solid benefits for vehicle rentals through their partnerships with Avis and Budget. These cards not only allow for significant savings but also provide dedicated customer service and access to prestigious loyalty programs.
With the Scotiabank® Scene+™ Visa* Card, saving on car rentals becomes simple and efficient. With this card, you can enjoy a discount of up to 25% off the base rate at participating Avis and Budget rental locations in Canada and the United States. Here is how to proceed:
To rent with Avis:
To rent with Budget:
With the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite*++ Card, you can join the Avis Preferred Plus program for free and enjoy a range of prestigious benefits, such as:
With the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card, you also benefit from interesting discounts on vehicle rentals. Indeed, you can save up to 25% on base rates at participating Avis and Budget locations in Canada and the United States by using your card to pay.
For reservations with Avis:
For reservations with Budget:
With the Scotiabank Momentum® Visa Infinite* Card, you also enjoy attractive discounts on car rentals. You can get up to 25% off base rates at participating Avis and Budget locations in Canada and the United States. The Scotiabank Momentum® VISA* Card version and the Scotia Momentum® No-Fee VISA* Card also offer discounts.
For your reservations with Avis:
For your reservations with Budget:
These various privileges allow you to enhance your rental experience while optimizing your travel budget. Whether through a direct discount on the base rate or through benefits linked to loyalty programs, Scotiabank’s offers stand out for their richness and flexibility.
CIBC credit cards allow you to maximize your rental experience with Budget through several benefits:
Certain CIBC cards also offer complementary services, such as a Garmin GPS, extended roadside assistance, or options for fuel and child safety seats.
All information can be found here.
BMO credit cards offer significant benefits for vehicle rentals with National, Enterprise, and Alamo. In addition to a discount of up to 25% on the base rental rate, some cards offer additional benefits such as more points on this purchase category.
To book, you must use the vehicle rental tool at partners.rentalcar.com/bmo
Here are some examples of cards that offer car rental benefits:
Aeroplan-affiliated credit card holders can access Avis Preferred or Avis President’s Club status, depending on the type of card they hold. These statuses offer the possibility of obtaining a free upgrade when renting a car in Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, subject to availability.
In addition, you earn one Aeroplan point for every dollar spent with Avis. For full details regarding the partnership between Aeroplan and Avis, consult this page.
The TD program works in a specific way by offering a minimum saving:
It should be noted that TD does not directly provide discount codes on its site. To take advantage of these offers, it is necessary to consult the specific benefits guide for each card. Recommended TD cards include:
These cards also include complementary benefits, such as travel insurance and popular loyalty programs, which is very interesting for travelers.
MBNA offers a simplified approach similar to TD for car rentals with the following benefits:
The originality of the MBNA offer lies in the use of a link with a unique code applicable to all their cards, thus simplifying its activation for partner agencies. Click on the following links to go there and benefit from the discounts: Avis and Budget.
Eligible RBC cardholders benefit from attractive advantages for vehicle rentals with Avis, Budget, and Hertz. With your RBC card, you can get up to 20% off car rentals in North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean (domestic rentals excluded). To take advantage of this offer, simply book online:
In addition, RBC Avion Rewards Premium members benefit from exclusive advantages at Hertz, which enhance this international offer. Indeed, as a premium member, you can also enjoy a 10% discount on the price of fuel per liter.
With Desjardins credit cards like the Desjardins Odyssey Gold Visa Card in hand, renting a car becomes much more affordable and pleasant.
Here are the benefits you can enjoy at Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar:
At Hertz:
To take advantage of these offers, contact Hertz at 1-800-263-0678, or visit their website for more details.
At Thrifty and Dollar:
To organize your rental, call Thrifty at 1-800-847-4389 and Dollar at 1-800-800-4000, or take a look at their websites for more info.
Choosing the right credit card can make all the difference when it comes to renting a vehicle; the cards presented in this guide allow you to benefit from price discounts and premium advantages in addition to being able to use your points to reduce the bill even further. From complementary insurance to free upgrades and preferential rates, each card offers assets tailored to different profiles. Before finalizing your reservation, take the time to consult the specific offers linked to your card to maximize your benefits. A small gesture that can greatly improve your comfort on long roads and lighten your budget on your next trips.
Savings this way:
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