Discover Cars is a fast-growing car rental search engine that has some of the most competitive prices we’ve found online. We’ve also read many Discover Cars reviews and saw them recommended by many bloggers and travel agents online.
But for some reason, we still found ourselves feeling a little apprehensive. We’ve had terrible experiences using 3rd party sites for booking travel and try to avoid it whenever possible.
But we decided to give Discover Cars a try and booked a cheap car rental with them for our trip to Madeira.
It ended up being a great decision. They were so helpful, and when we blew out a tire near Sao Vicente, the reimbursement was sent to us within a few days.
Now Discover Cars is our go-to third-party rental car agency.
But in case you’re feeling nervous, we’ve pulled together an easy-to-read breakdown of everything you should know before booking with them, from our experience with their customer service to the coverage options, selection of cars, price points, user-friendliness, and more.
Get ready for the most comprehensive review you’ll find anywhere online, answering every question you could have about renting a car with Discover Cars.
What is Discover Cars?
Discover Cars is a third-party car rental company that started in 2013 to create a seamless rental car experience that helps people find the best deal possible within their travel preferences.
When a business is classified as a ‘third-party company,’ it means it compares the prices of other companies and makes the booking for you—sort of like an online travel agent.
You never have to make a booking with the actual company, and you can choose to pay either when you pick up the car or pay through Discover Cars, which just shows the voucher on arrival.
Their website has cars available from over 10,000 locations across 145 countries. These cars are from several rental agencies, both local companies and major suppliers such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, Sixt, and Europcar.
Pros of Renting a Car with Discover Cars
We rent a car anytime we travel outside of major cities, including places all over the world, like Greece, Madiera, Puerto Rico, and South Korea.
We love the flexibility it gives us. We can create our own itineraries each day, leaving as early or late as we want, and visit off-the-beaten-path locations that tours rarely make it to. It’s also often cheaper than using public transportation all day!
While there are plenty of advantages to renting a car during your adventures, there are even more benefits to using Discover Cars to reserve your vehicle.
The comparison tool is easy to Use
Discover Cars’ comparison tool is straightforward to use. It is located at the top of their homepage, and you can easily plug in your travel dates and pick-up location to see a list of cars available with user ratings!
The list of the available cars is sorted by price (lowest first) by default.
They also have a user-friendly app, so you can make bookings directly from your phone or tablet if you travel without your computer. This is awesome for last-minute bookings.
Very few Hidden Fees
If you find a booking that seems too good to be true, it usually is.
We have booked these “last-minute deals” or “secret offers on other websites before, only to find out on arrival that we must pay for mandatory insurance, prepaid tolls, taxes, and other fees not included in the original payment.
Discover Cars does not play this game. They guarantee zero hidden fees and seem to take pride in offering customers an honest, transparent car rental experience.
Excellent Cancellation Policy
Discover Cars has a fantastic cancellation policy, too. On all bookings through their website, you can cancel your booking for free up to 48 hours before the pick-up date. You can make these changes or cancellations by calling customer service or directly on the website or mobile app.
Note: If you cancel past the 48-hour free cancellation mark, there are some fees, but you should not be charged the full amount of the vehicle.
They have Full Coverage Insurance
Another major pro of booking with Discover Cars is that they offer full coverage insurance for your rental vehicle, covering damages and expenses up to $3000 for less than $10/day.
We’ve always had to do this with the agency directly, but having insurance connected to your booking is so much easier. This way, if something goes wrong with the car, it’s not just you vs. the agency. Discover Cars will handle the negotiation and make sure you are treated fairly.
24/7 Support
Discover Cars offers its customers 24/7 support to help with any questions or concerns they may have during the car rental process. Customers can reach Discover Cars via instant message, phone call, or email. The company is known for its fast response times and helpful customer service representatives.
Generally Affordable
Discover Cars offers customers an affordable car rental experience compared to other 3rd party sites. They are not the cheapest on the surface, but that’s because their rental cars have no added fees. What you see is what you will actually pay in full for the car rental.
In our experience, Discover Cars is about $20 cheaper (per day) than booking directly with the companies or other 3rd party sites (even if it appears to be cheaper at face value).
Ratings and reviews for each car
When you are making a booking, you are able to scroll down and click on the ratings and reviews for each car. These reviews are from actual customers and let you get an honest opinion of renting with the agency and driving that particular car.
It’s a great way to make sure that your experience really will be what you expect. Our advice is to look for a car/agency that has a rating of 7/10 or higher. Anything less is a little risky.
Cons of Renting a Car with Discover Cars
As with anything, Discover Cars does have some negative reviews.
Most of these negative experiences have come from either the customer not understanding the necessary documents required to show on arrival, finding “cheaper” options on other sites, or not finding their favorite agency as an option for booking.
These are some of the common complaints from customers who have used Discover Cars.
Short Term Rentals are expensive
Short-term car rentals (less than 3 days) are much more expensive than long-term rentals. This is true with any agency, but Discover Cars is no better.
For example, if you’re in Rome, renting a small car is $180 for a week ($25/day). That same car for a one-day rental is $65 (literally 3 times the price per day!)
So, you may want to think twice before renting a car for just a day or two.
It may be cheaper and more sensible to use public transportation or take a tour of the area instead of renting a car.
They have a Minimal Grace Period
If you will be late for your pick-up or if plans change, there is no guarantee that the car will be held for you after the scheduled pick-up time, and your reservation could be canceled.
If you will be late or your travel plans change, even by just a few hours, contact the agency or Discover Cars to make them aware so they can make adjustments.
You won’t find “secret Deals”
Discover Cars is a popular car rental agency, but it does not offer the same special deals and discounts that you would get from other third-party websites. Personally, this can be a good thing because you won’t get suckered into any bad deals.
One thing we always see on booking sites is a “secret deal.” This is where the company’s name is not revealed until the booking is complete, which is super risky. 9/10 times, it’s a terrible company, and you don’t want to do it.
Discover Cars doesn’t have these ‘special deals’ or ‘secret bookings.’
They also do not have any memberships or loyalty programs to give customers additional savings.
Premium Cost for Drivers under 25
Drivers under 25 may end up paying a premium for their rental. It costs extra because extra liability insurance is needed to cover drivers under 25, and even more if the driver is under 21.
But this is standard practice with the vast majority of car rental companies. If you plan on renting with someone under 25, you should expect to pay an additional fee of $10-25 per day for the rental car.
You won’t see all major companies
Discover Cars partners with thousands of companies, but only a few larger multinational companies are available for each destination. You might see familiar names like Avis, Budget, and Thrifty, but we see far more local companies.
There is nothing risky about using a local company. Just read the customer reviews; as long as they seem relatively good, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about!
Rentals Cannot Be Extended
You cannot extend your rental after the booking is complete. If you decide that you need to rent the car for longer, then you will have to go directly to the agency where you picked up the car and change the reservation there.
If you would rather cancel your booking and make a new one, you can receive “Booking Credit” toward your next day’s slot.
How Much Does it Cost to Rent a car?
The average cost of renting a car with Discover Cars varies greatly. It highly depends on where you are traveling and what type of car you will need. A trip with your partner to Greece looks much different than a family trip to Costa Rica.
Here are the average costs for one week with each type of vehicle. These prices are based on the average price across Mexico, the U.S., and Europe.
- A standard economy Car (4-5 seats) – $100-300
- SUV/Minivan (5-7 seats) – $400-500
- Heavy Duty Vehicles / Special Vehicles (4-15 seats) – $700- $4000
No matter what type of car you choose for the trip, we have some tips for getting the most value for your dollar! There are also some things you can avoid to save money on your car rental.
These tips work for Discover Cars but apply to any car rental agency/website.
How to Find a Cheap Rental Car
Using a comparison tool like Discover Cars already ensures that you are finding the cheapest companies to book with. But here are some more insider tips to help you save more money.
Look for Cars with High Gas Mileage
Renting a car with fuel efficiently saves a lot of money. Gas is never included in the rental car, and most companies have a full-to-full policy with each car hire. It’s also important to book your rental car early so that you can get access to the cheapest cars before they sell out.
Longer Rentals Have Better Deals
Check longer rentals, too. You may be spending a couple of weeks in Madeira, and while you only need a Madeira rental car for 7 days, a 10-14-day rental may be about the same price as the week-long rental. It’s always worth looking at!
Pick-up and Drop-off in the Same Location
The biggest thing that will increase the cost of your rental car is dropping it off in a different location. This sucks because sometimes it bottlenecks your itinerary.
No matter where you are, this dramatically raises the cost.
Travel During Low Season
Another way to avoid high rental car prices is to travel during the low season when lower demand drives prices down.
Only Select 1 Authorized Driver
The last thing to be aware of is that additional drivers cost extra. It’s a small fee (about 4.50) for each additional driver, but it adds up if multiple people are planning to share the vehicle.
What Types of Vehicles are Available?
Typically, when you book a car, you are booking a general style of car, not the exact vehicle.
It will say something like ‘Toyota Aygo or similar.’ So, the car in the picture is an example of the style of car you will get, not the exact make and model.
Most people are fine with any car, but if you want a specific vehicle, one strategy is to call the company ahead of time and ask if the vehicle is available for these dates. Then, after you make the booking, you can call back and request that type of car.
Economy Cars
This refers to small cars and mid-size sedans. These are the most affordable cars you can hire, and they are perfect for couples or small groups of 3 people since there is minimal space to store your luggage.
Note: In Europe, expect these to have a manual transmission. At least, that was always our experience renting a car in Greece, Madeira, and the Azores. Automatic transmissions are more common in the U.S., Mexico, and Australia.
SUVs & Minivans
Compact and large SUVs are great if you need a 4WD vehicle for mountain roads or rain and snow, as they offer increased control in all weather conditions. Because of the extra space, they are also the best option for a large family traveling together.
Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Large Trucks or off-road vehicles, like a Jeep Wrangler, are a little more expensive but could be exactly what you need for navigating rocky roads or going on an extended camping trip with lots of equipment.
Special Vehicles (Sportscars, Luxury Vehicles, and Passenger Vans)
If you are looking to rent a sportscar (i.e., Dodge Charger) or a luxury vehicle (i.e., Mercedes C-class) during your trip, these are available on Discover Cars, but you will pay a premium.
Passenger Vans are also quite expensive, but they are necessary for large groups of 7-14 people. However, it will be the most expensive option, at around $150-200/day.
How Long can you rent a car with Discover Cars?
With Discover Cars, you can rent a car for one day or an entire year. There are very few limitations to this length of time.
Short-term rentals are most expensive, even if you return the car the same day it was rented.
For instance, if your rental starts at 9:00 AM on March 2 and you return the car at 10:00 AM on March 3, you will be charged for a 2-day rental, even though it was only 1 hour extra.
What Does the Discover Cars Insurance Cover?
Discover Cars offers a flat-rate insurance option of less than $9.99 (8.85€)/day. Some places are a little cheaper, but I’ve never seen anything over $10.
This insurance covers a number of damages and issues, including:
- Any damage to the exterior (mirrors, wheels, tires, undercarriage, roof, locks, hubcaps, & bodywork)
- A refund for any theft/damage deductible incurred by the rental car company.
- Lost keys and lockout fees
- Taxi expenses related to problems with your rental car
- Towing charges (up to about $100)
- Administrative fees
Discover Cars’ insurance is one of the best we’ve ever seen, not only because of the comprehensive coverage but also because of the quick compensation payouts.
You will still be responsible for covering the cost of damages with the rental company, but Discover Cars will reimburse you once you submit the necessary documents.
These documents include your rental agreement, the rental company’s assessment of the car’s condition at pick-up and drop-off, the invoice charging you fees and/or damages, receipts or a statement showing that you paid for the damages or fees, a detailed description of what happened, any related police reports.
While driving in Madeira, we hit a fallen rock on the road, blowing out our tire and costing us over $300. We filed the claim with Discover Cars and had the money in our Paypal after just a few days!
You will be reimbursed via Paypal or direct Bank transfer (you submit this information with your claim for the amount of the deductible and any excess costs covered by the insurance.
Discover Cars’ comprehensive insurance is outstanding, but there are still some situations in which it is not covered by the insurance.
Discover Cars’ insurance DOES NOT cover:
- Damage to personal possessions
- Damage that occurred while breaking any laws or traffic violations
- Any damage to the car’s interior
- Damages from weather events like hail or hurricanes
- Damage for off-roading
Does the insurance have Theft Protection?
As long as you can provide the police report and keys, Discover Cars will cover the cost of any theft or damages incurred up to the amount covered by your insurance policy.
You can read more about the terms and conditions in the Discover Cars Rental Agreement.
What do you need to bring to Pick up the Rental Car?
The rental car pick-up process is simple, but you should come prepared with all the necessary documentation and I.D.
Things toI.D.sing for rental pick-up:
- A valid driver’s license (and International Driver’s Permit if driving in a foreign country).
- A second form of identification (like a passport) if a non-citizen
- credit or debit card – alwasy double-check that the company accepts debit cards.
- The Discover Cars booking voucher (paper or mobile is fine)
More Things to Know
The website has a place to check all the information about the rental company, including driver requirements, security deposit, accepted payments, geographical restrictions, rental conditions, protection, and more.
You can find all this information for the specific vehicles at the bottom left corner of each rental option under the agency logo.
Security Deposit
A security deposit is generally required when renting a car through Discover Cars to cover any damages that could occur during the rental period. The deposit can range from a few hundred dollars to $1000, depending on the duration of your rental and the company you choose.
Discover Cars is very transparent about the security deposit, so you know exactly what to expect.
Age Minimum
Although renting a car can typically be done at 18 in many European countries, some U.S. states, such as New York and Michigan, have a minimum age of 21 to rent a car. In some cases, you may also need to have held your driver’s license for a full calendar year before being allowed to rent a vehicle.
Discover Cars has an age filter where you can select your age and only see cars available to customers under 25 or under 21.
Do not lie on this part. It will not work, and you won’t be refunded.
Geographical Restrictions
Discover Cars does not determine where you can drive your rental car. This is different for every rental agency, but usually, you are not allowed to drive over national borders and sometimes are not even allowed to leave state lines (this is the case in Florida).
If you do, the insurance will be void, and you will be responsible for paying additional fees and toll tickets for breaking the contract.
It even applies to ferries. Some rental car agencies do not allow you to take your car onto a ferry. We experienced this in Puerto Rico when we wanted to take the ferry to the island of Vieques but were not allowed to bring our rental car with us.
How to Avoid Scams and Added Fees
Renting a car can be an exciting and convenient way to explore new places, but it’s important to research beforehand to avoid any scams or hidden fees. Before you book a rental car
Here are several steps you should take to make sure everything runs smoothly during your trip.
Do Extra research
The first step in staying safe is researching the company from which you plan on renting a vehicle. You’ll want to make sure that they have good reviews and that their pricing is transparent and fair.
It’s also important to read through all of their terms and conditions to know exactly what type of coverage is included in your rental agreement. Additionally, ask about any grace period for returns and what payment methods the company accepts before booking your reservation.
Book Your Rental Car with Complete Coverage
Another key factor when renting a car is making sure you purchase insurance for yourself and anyone else driving the vehicle during its rental period. Without proper insurance coverage, if something happens while using the car, it could become very costly for all parties involved — including yourself!
Be sure to add everyone who will potentially drive onto the booking so they’ll be covered under the policy, too.
Take a picture/video of the car before and after (ALWAYS)
Take pictures or videos of the vehicle before you leave the rental agency. This way, if something were to happen, you’d have proof that there was no damage before using the vehicle
Be sure to inspect the car once more when you return it to make sure that everything is in order, and take additional pictures to show that there was nothing wrong with the car during the return.
Use the Car Responsibly
Perhaps the most important thing that will keep you safe is a reminder to use the car responsibly. Don’t smoke, keep pets out of the vehicle, and avoid eating in the car.
The car is never insured for reckless driving or interior damage.
Real Discover Cars Reviews
Car rentals are honestly one of the most intimidating parts of traveling, at least for us.
We have heard so many horror stories and even been subject to terrible experiences ourselves.
Our worst experience was while traveling to Florida, USA, through a different third-party website.
The company assured us that the booking was with a decent car rental agency, but we could not see the exact company before we booked. So, we went ahead with the booking for just $150 per week (about $17/day).
After arriving at the airport, we found that we had to take a shuttle to the rental car agency, about 15 minutes away. After that, we were informed that we needed to prepay for tolls ($95) and that buying their insurance ($150) was mandatory.
This was super frustrating because nothing was disclosed to us by the company or the booking agency beforehand.
Then, to top it all off, we received a notice on our bank statement after returning the vehicle that this company had determined that the car was returned with a crack in the windshield (it wasn’t) and charged us $1,300!
We were forced to file a claim with our credit card company to have the charge removed from our statement.
We could have avoided this hassle by using a more transparent platform like Discover Cars.
You can see ratings and reviews of each agency before you book, and you will be made aware of every fee upfront. Plus, you get 24/7 customer service and can purchase great insurance that will cover you from any inflated charges like this.
Here are some more reviews from people who have used Discover Cars in the past:
TrustPilot – 4.5/5 stars (88,567 Discover Cars reviews)
“We found this company very, very easy to do business with- we had one of their cars for almost three months. They easily let us keep the same car when it came time to renew the rental, very simple to check the car for damage as opposed to some agencies that put you through a major hassle returning the car. I also forgot some expensive sunglasses that Carlos in customer service helped me locate” – J Garner.
“DiscoverCars offered me some conditions, all of them were true, and I didn’t have to pay anything extra. The price was cheaper than other companies, and the communication with them and the car renting company was perfect. The full insurance was covered without any other extra cost. TOTALLY RECOMMENDED” – J Luciano.
Google Reviews – 4.4/5 (14,200 Discover Car reviews)
“As a frequent traveller we have rented cars through various companies and this was by far the best experience. Friendly & efficient staff, quick service for both pick up and drop off. Car was new which was great. Definitely recommend and will use this company again. Excellent, friendly, quick and efficient service from all staff members that we encountered at both pick up and drop off – Sandy S.
Review Centre – 4.1/5 (2,591 Discover Car reviews)
“Great experience. Rented a car in Morocco from a local supplier using Discovercars. Phoned them couple of times regarding insurance policy, they were responsive and very helpful. Customer service is 5/5. Gonna use it in the future and recommend it to anyone” – Mehki
Conclusion: Is Discover Cars Legit?
Overall, Discover Cars is not only a legitimate car rental service, but they are one of the most accessible and reliable 3rd-party agencies to use. They offer cars in over 150 counties and work with some of the most trusted local and multinational car rental companies.
They have impressive reviews across the board, and we have personally had great experiences with them, too.
But it’s important to remember that they are just an aggregate. You should still research the company you select, buy insurance, take pictures/videos before and after your rental, and use the car responsibly during your rental period.
We trust that this has covered absolutely everything you could wonder about renting a car with the third-party platform and that our honest review helps assure you that Discover Cars is a reputable, reliable, and legit company.
