DiscoverCars Review: Is it legit?
Is it safe to book through DiscoverCars.com? We tested it to find out if we could really save money on our car rental.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission on anything purchased through these links at no extra cost to you. Learn more on our disclaimer page.
Disclaimer: we received a discount on a rental so that we could test DiscoverCars.com’s services. All opinions in this review are honest and our own.
You may have heard of DiscoverCars.com and be wondering if it’s legit. The website is free to use with no membership or login required and claims to be able to offer competitively low prices for car rentals. We all know the saying “if something looks too good to be true it probably is”. So we put DiscoverCars.com to the test on our last two trips to see if it was safe to book through, if we’d get scammed, and if it really could save us money on car hire.
What is DiscoverCars.com?
DiscoverCars.com is an award-winning aggregator of vehicle rental services. Let’s be clear, this means DiscoverCars.com is not a car rental company, it is a third-party platform. Like Booking.com for hotels or Get Your Guide and Viator for tours.
Founded in 2013 in Europe, DiscoverCars.com provides a reliable online booking platform for over 10,000 rental locations in over 145 countries. Car rental agencies on the platform include brands you’ll recognise like Enterprise, Hertz, Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Sixt along with local providers. You can use the platform to search for vehicles, compare prices, and book your rental.
Our experience with DiscoverCars.com
We used DiscoverCars.com to book our most recent car rentals in Fiji and Italy. We were intrigued to see if the experience really would be smooth or if it would be one of those nightmare third-party booking experiences we’ve heard so much about in threads on the internet.
Well, we’re happy to report we had an absolutely amazing experience booking through DiscoverCars.com. Here’s how our experience went:
- DiscoverCars.com were able to secure us a much cheaper rate than the direct rate with the same company in Fiji.
- DiscoverCars.com were also able to secure us a last-minute deal on car hire in Europe in summer that was a third of the price we paid for a similar rental the year before.
- Purchasing insurance through DiscoverCars.com meant we were fully covered for any accidental damage.
- The terms on DiscoverCars.com meant we didn’t need to worry about a pre-authorisation as the hold on our card was $0.
- Pick up and drop off with both companies was easy, smooth, and fast.
Overall, we really enjoyed using DiscoverCars.com and definitely saved money. We’ll absolutely be using them in the future for our car rentals.
Is DiscoverCars.com legit?
Usually, a company that is offering really low prices is a super red flag. So how do DiscoverCars.com do it? Obviously, prices vary depending on your rental location, dates, vehicle preference, payment option, insurance policy, and any extras you may add. DiscoverCars.com work directly with thousands of rental companies to offer lower prices to customers as part of an agreement that results in more overall sales. Essentially, you pay less for the same service you’d get if booking directly.
DiscoverCars.com rental reviews get 4.6/5 stars on Trustpilot where it has over 177,500 reviews. 91% of these reviews are 4 and 5 stars.
DiscoverCars.com is a totally legit third-party booking platform that allows you to compare multiple car hire agencies and book a rental car for an affordable rate.
Is DiscoverCars.com a scam?
If DiscoverCars.com is legit, why have so many people complained it’s a scam?
People who think DiscoverCars.com is a scam simply didn’t read the terms and conditions or don’t understand how third-party booking platforms work.
Hiring a car abroad can be very overwhelming, even if you are a seasoned traveller. We’ve had our fair share of anxiety about renting a car abroad and always meticulously check the terms and conditions to ensure we’re not getting ‘scammed’.
When you delve deeper into reviews by people claiming they got scammed, the issue is almost always user error or an issue with the actual rental agency rather than something underhanded from the DiscoverCars.com platform.
General complaints in negative reviews include:
- missing the two-hour pick-up window, meaning the car is given away.
- not having a credit card in the driver’s name.
- extra fees.
- mandatory insurance added at pick-up.
All of these criteria are clearly detailed on the website and in the terms and conditions and are very normal conditions when hiring a car.
DiscoverCars.com are a third party which means that, while you book with them, you’re still liable to the terms and conditions of the actual rental agency. Which is why we recommend you always read the terms and conditions before confirming your purchase.
Is it safe to book through DiscoverCars.com?
Yes, it’s totally safe to book through DiscoverCars.com.
All payments on the website and app are secure. DiscoverCars.com accept a variety of payment methods including most major credit and debit cards, as well as PayPal for bookings with partial prepayment.
Pros and cons of booking with DiscoverCars.com
So you know DiscoverCars.com is legit. But why book with them? We’ve broken down the pros and cons below:
Pros
Cons
How to Book a Car on DiscoverCars.com
The DiscoverCars.com platform is easy to use, but here’s a quick step-by-step guide to using the website.
1) Enter your pick-up and drop-off location and dates
On the home screen, enter your pick-up city. A drop-down will likely appear with options for pick-up including the airport, train station, or downtown. You can choose ‘all locations’ to compare the prices of these locations if you don’t have a preference. If you’d like to return the car to a different location than the one you’re picking up in, unclick ‘Return the car in the same location’ and enter a different location. While this may be more convenient, it can incur extra one-way fees.
Choose the dates you’d like to pick up and drop off the vehicle. Then click on the ‘Search now’ button.
2) Compare vehicles
DiscoverCars.com will return results based on your search parameters. You can filter further using the menu on the left-hand side, for example, you can specify locations, payment options, offers, manual or automatic transmission, and other car specifications. You can also sort the list of results by price or review rating.
Now you can compare the different vehicle options, see more details about the rental, and read reviews of the agencies.
3) Choose your car
You’ll likely see a variety of results, including standard cars, SUVs, Vans, premium vehicles and electric cars.
Once you’ve made your decision, choose the vehicle you want by clicking on the ‘view button’. Review your car, pick-up and drop-off location, dates, price, and what is included (and excluded). Always be sure to review the terms and conditions thoroughly so there are no surprises later down the line. Then scroll down to the insurance section.
4) Decide on the level of insurance you want
Now choose your preferred insurance policy. Many travellers think they can save money by not including insurance, but it’s going to cost a lot more later on if the car is damaged or stolen and you have to pay out of pocket. We always recommend getting full insurance, but the decision is yours to make.
5) Select your extras
It’s important to check any extras you may need to add, as well as check for anything you might wish to have, which might include:
- An extra driver fee
- A young driver’s fee
- GPS
- Gadgets like portable chargers
DiscoverCars.com also provides country-specific information, for example, if you plan to cross over a border, and details of fees in this section.
Note: DiscoverCars.com might show you the price of certain fees, but won’t take payment for them. For example, the fee for an extra driver needs to be paid at the car rental pick-up desk, even though DiscoverCars.com shows how much it will be. This is detailed in the terms and conditions.
6) Enter your driver details
After checking the details in your summary are correct, it’s time to pay. Review the total cost of your rental (and what’s included, being sure you know what you’ll need to pay for later).
Enter your driver details, name, email, phone number, date of birth, and country of residence. Americans and non-Europeans can put their passport number where it asks for ID. Be sure the driver details match the credit card if specified by the rental agency.
You can add extra information like your flight number or any other requests you may have.
You can also tick to receive promotional emails from DiscoverCars.com, which might be useful if you’re a frequent traveller.
7) Pay for your rental
Then, click the ‘Book now’ button, add your payment details, do one final review, click ‘confirm booking’, and you’re done!
Don’t worry if your circumstances change, you have free cancellation until 48 hours before your pick-up date.
After booking, it’s important to review your confirmation email and PDF rental voucher. It’s useful to print this and the DiscoverCars.com insurance policy if you opted in for this, or at least keep it handy on your phone to show your agency when you pick up the car.
DiscoverCars.com Rental Insurance
One of the advantages of booking through DiscoverCars.com is you can add their insurance coverage when you’re booking.
The rental agencies listed in DiscoverCars.com must accept insurance purchased through the platform. You must have it printed out and ready to show the rental agency in the event they tell you to purchase insurance directly through them at the pick-up desk. If they do not accept it, you need to call DiscoverCars.com immediately and they’ll sort it out.
How the DiscoverCars.com insurance works: you pay the rental company for damage and DiscoverCars.com insurance coverage reimburses you.
What does DiscoverCars.com insurance cover?
For a flat-rate insurance option, you’ll pay $9 per day no matter where you travel. This covers the following:
In the event of an accident or breakdown, you should receive compensation within 48 hours and can be reimbursed up to $3,300.
What does DiscoverCars.com Insurance not cover?
If you extend your rental through the car rental agency, you must extend your DiscoverCars.com insurance policy otherwise, you may be liable when uninsured.
Basically, anything beyond the platform’s or the car agency’s control, for example, being unable to make the pickup time because your flight is delayed is not covered. It’s a good idea to have the contact details of the agency in case something like this happens. But it’s also important to have your own travel insurance to cover instances that car insurance doesn’t.
Read next: Let’s Talk About Travel Insurance: The 6 Best Travel Insurance Companies
DiscoverCars.com Deposit
Every rental agency will require you to provide a deposit, also known as a hold or pre-authorisation. This is an amount that is charged to your card but the money is simply ‘held’ rather than actually taken. If there is any damage or fees (for example, admin fees to process a speeding ticket), the amount will be taken from this pre-authorised amount. The amount of money of this deposit is will vary by agency, so be sure to check the amount for your booking, as well as payment methods that are accepted – debit cards, contactless accounts like Wise, and international cards like Revolut are often not accepted.
Tips for booking with DiscoverCars.com
When booking your car, be sure to check:
Be prepared for your pick-up. Bring with you:
We’d also recommend to:
DiscoverCars.com FAQs
Is renting cars with DiscoverCars.com affordable?
Renting cars with DiscoverCars.com will likely be more affordable than booking directly through the rental company. Be sure to compare the prices and what’s included to make sure you are getting the best deal.
What types of vehicles can you rent on DiscoverCars.com?
Using DiscoverCars.com, you can hire many different types of vehicles, from small compact cars to people carriers and sports cars. The selection of available cars depends on what each rental dealership offers.
How long can you hire a car with DiscoverCars.com rental?
Rental contracts are usually restricted to a maximum of 28 days or a full calendar month. However, some rental companies will allow you to pick up a second car on a new contract after you have returned your first vehicle.
Is a security deposit required when renting from DiscoverCars.com?
A security deposit is only necessary when booking if it is required by the rental company themselves. We have found that more companies on DiscoverCars.com have a $0 deposit than if you were booking directly, but it is specific to each car rental company.
Can I get a refund if I cancel my DiscoverCars.com reservation?
Yes, you can get a full refund if you cancel up to 48 hours before the scheduled pick-up. If you would rather cancel your booking and make a new one, you can take a “Booking Credit” and apply it towards a new booking.
Does DiscoverCars.com work in the United States?
Yes! The U.S. is one of the many countries in which DiscoverCars.com can offer rental cars.
What countries is DiscoverCars.com available in?
DiscoverCars.com operates in nearly 150 countries around the world. Some of the most popular destinations that DiscoverCars offers vehicles in include:
Albania, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sardinia, Spain, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, and the UAE, UK, USA.
Are Discover Car Hire and Discovery Cars the same company?
Yes, Discover Car Hire and Discovery Cars refer to the same company. The company ‘Discover Car Hire’ was founded in 2013, and in 2019 the company rebranded itself as DiscoverCars.com due to its international growth. The address ‘DiscoveryCars.com’ will also redirect you to DiscoverCars.com.
Read next:
Let’s Talk About Tour Companies: The Pros and Cons of Booking with a Travel Agency
Let’s Talk About Travel Insurance: The 6 Best Travel Insurance Companies
The 20 Best Gifts for Travellers from Eco-conscious Brands
Check us out on social media!
