Avis and Budget are offering rental car deals and savings for the summer season and beyond — including up to 35% off right now
- As states slowly begin to reopen, many travelers are looking for domestic getaways within driving distance, especially since it's easier to socially distance in a private vehicle than on crowded planes, trains, or buses.
- Rental car companies are looking to draw travelers back with deals and savings for summer and beyond.
- Read more: Are rental cars safe? We talked to 3 leading experts to find out
As many states begin phased reopenings following shutdowns due to the novel coronavirus, travelers are starting to plan easy summer getaways. However, most aren't quite ready to board planes just yet and fly off to far-flung locations.
Recent data from Booking.com showed an increase in users wish-listing domestic locations, and Airbnb also revealed that bookings in popular US locations were up year-over-year. Even travel agents and tour operators are seeing domestic travel options like national parks as a popular summer choice for clients. And now, with a recent EU ban on American travelers entering the country, many international destinations are off the table completely.
As such, a road trip that is close to home is an increasingly attractive option. And for those wondering if travel is safe right now, we turned to experts to weigh in on the risks on everything from driving to flying and staying at Airbnbs vs. hotels.
While there's no guarantee of safety without a vaccine, and we always recommend following guidelines from the CDC and WHO, the good news is that experts say with proper precautions, rental cars are largely safe as they offer a safer way to travel while practicing social distancing since you likely know all the individuals within the car. We also had nine medical and hospitality experts weigh in with advice and tips on how to safely plan and pack for a road trip right now.
If you're thinking of renting a car, be sure to read on our guide to the best rental car companies, some of which are currently offering enticing summer travel deals to lure travelers, which are available right now for a limited time.
Keep in mind that holiday weekends still see surges in price, so for the best savings, try to opt for non-peak days. I did a sample search and found cars starting at $333 over a holiday summer weekend from New York. But for two days mid-week later in the summer prices were as low as $183.
Here are 4 of the best car rental deals right now.
Avis Summer Travel Deal
Now through September 15, 2020, travelers can save up to 30% when reserving a rental car with Avis when they decide to prepay. The deal is sitewide so no discount code is needed to take advantage of this promotion.
Budget Summer Travel Deal
Budget has a similar deal to Avis that also runs through September 15, 2020. When you select Pay Now when reserving a car you can save up to 35%. Book here and no code is needed.
Amazon Account Deal
Amazon customers who book an Avis vehicle here can save up to 30 percent on their rental and get an Amazon Gift Card for 10 percent of the rental price. Just log into the Avis website with your Amazon account to get the discount automatically.
Best Rate Guarantee Deals
Both Avis and Budget are promising the best prices possible. But you don't have to take their word for it. If you book a prepaid rental with either company and then find a better rate on any other site, both rental sites will not only match the better price, but also give you an additional 10% off.