10 Things to Know About Costco Car Rental

Most people know that Costco has a range of services beyond bulk buys for your home and kitchen, but one that's not well known is its car rental service through the Costco Travel website. The big-box retailer works with a few different rental companies to offer its members discounted car rentals, and there are a number of other perks as well. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about Costco's car rental program. 

Related: Costco by the Numbers: 22 Surprising Stats

As with all Costco programs, you must be a member to use the car rental service. This means you'll need to provide your membership number when you book the car online or by phone. The service's FAQ page notes that "at the time of car pick up the rental car agent may ask to see the primary driver’s Costco membership card." Bonus: Executive members receive a 2% annual reward on Costco travel purchases. 

Not a Costco member yet? You can sign up here for both the Gold Star Membership and the Gold Star Executive Membership

The easiest way to book a Costco car rental is through the Costco Travel website, but you can also reserve by calling (866) 921-7925. 

​​Related: Don't Miss These Perks of Costco and Sam's Club Membership

The Costco Car Rental Program works with Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise. The travel website's search engine will find you the best deal among the brands, but if you have loyalty to one in particular, you can also shop by brand by clicking "rental cars" in the topmost menu here. 

Avis, Budget, and Enterprise all have loyalty programs, and you can enter those numbers on Costco Travel’s website before finalizing your reservation.

Related: I Shopped at Costco for the First Time and This Is What I Learned

While there is no age limit to rent a car through the Costco program, customers under the age of 25 will pay an underage driver fee that can vary and that could offset the Costco member discount. They also must book by phone by calling (866) 921-7925 then selecting Option 1. 

Rentals are offered in the U.S. — including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands — and also Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, and the U.K. 

Related: 11 Ways Costco Can Save You Money on Your Car

The additional driver fee is waived for Alamo and Enterprise rentals in the U.S., Canada, U.K., France, Germany, Ireland, and Spain. For Avis and Budget, the fee is waived for rentals in the U.S. Additional drivers must meet all vendor requirements and be present at the time of rental. They must also present a valid driver's license and a major credit card at the time of rental (but they do not need a Costco membership card).

If you find a better deal elsewhere or have to change your plans, it's easy to cancel your reservation on the Costco Travel website (or by phone). Just log in, click on Current bookings, click the "cancel" button, and confirm. The program will send you an email with a confirmation of your cancelation, and there is no fee involved.  

Related: 22 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Costco

If you use your Costco Anywhere Visa credit card to book your rental, you also receive free car rental insurance (up to $50,000 toward the cost of repairs or cash value of the car), 24/7 roadside assistance in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, and travel and emergency assistance. 

While the Costco rental car program does offer some great deals and discounts, it's not always the cheapest option. Be sure to shop around, and in particular check out competitor sites like AutoSlash, Kayak, and AAA. 

Related: 24 Tips and Tricks to Save You Money on Car Rental