DiscoverCars.com Review: Is it legit and safe to book with?

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 is a screenshot of the homepage of DiscoverCars.com. There are options to choose from such as the rental time period and the pick-up and drop-off locations.

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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.

Dan and Lucy sit on the hood of their hired car. They are parked on a sandy beach under the shade of palm trees. The awning is set up and there is a camping table and chairs ready for breakfast outside. — On DiscoverCars.com, you can hire cars all around the world

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.

Browse cars on DiscoverCars.com

A selection of cars are available at Discover Cars. This is a screenshot of the available car types for a selected time period. — DiscoverCars.com is an easy-to-use booking platform

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.

Dan leans against the side of a car that is parked facing the camera. The surrounding landscape is black lava rock. — DiscoverCars.com offer cheap 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.

This screenshot is of an example of a selected vehicle for a certain time period just before a purchase is made. — You can browse all sorts of cars on DiscoverCars.com

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.

A black car, parked by a beach, is surrounded by tropical greenery. — DiscoverCars.com offer rental cars in nearly 150 countries

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

Cheap prices.
Ability to pay in your chosen currency.
Easy-to-use platform.
Free cancellation until 48 hours before.
Full transparency and no hidden fees.
Large variety of reliable car rental agencies.
Good amount of filterable specifications.
Partial prepayment or full prepayment options.
Low-cost full insurance option.
24/7 customer support service.

Cons

There is no option to amend or extend your rental as this would need to be done directly by the rental agency.
There’s a rigid grace period of two hours at pick-up before you might lose the rental, and if you’re late to drop-off you may be charged for an extra day. These are terms set by the car rental companies and cannot be changed by DiscoverCars.com.
Refunds are in the form of booking credit unless you specify otherwise.
Levels of customer support can vary as the platform is an aggregator for rental agencies. Having said that, customer support directly from rental agencies can vary drastically too.
If you choose the ‘Let DiscoverCars.com choose for me’ option, it’s hard to know the actual rental agency you’re booking with until you’ve paid (although you can still see their rating beforehand and can kind of work it out by comparing it to the results list).
Age restrictions for potential renters/drivers.
No loyalty scheme like some agencies offer.
The DiscoverCars.com app, like many apps, gets reviews for being glitchy. It’s easier to just use their web platform.

Rental conditions are shown in theis screenshot including the driver's age requirements and the fuel policy. — You can see a summary of terms and conditions on DiscoverCars.com

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.

Look at rental cars on DiscoverCars.com

A screenshot of the Discover Cars website. This shows what is included with the price of the rental including 'theft protection', 'VAT' and 'unlimited mileage'. — Full terms and conditions depend on the rental agency

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:

Vehicle damage to the exterior (undercarriage, tyres, wheels, roof, windshield, windows, mirrors, locks, hubcaps, etc.)
Theft (with a police report)
Lost keys or lockout fees
Administrative & supplier fees (excluding when it’s your fault, e.g. for traffic violations)
Taxi and towing expenses

In the event of an accident or breakdown, you should receive compensation within 48 hours and can be reimbursed up to $3,300.

A breakdown of the full insurance option can be seen in this DIscoverCars.com screenshot. — It’s always a smart idea to get full insurance

What does DiscoverCars.com Insurance not cover?

Interior damage
Any damage due to breaking the law, driving dangerously, or due to unforeseen events (e.g. off-roading, drunk driving, severe weather)
Any damages when complying with the terms of the rental agreement (e.g. putting the wrong fuel in the car)
Personal possessions
Cleaning costs
Third-party damages
Extras/ additional services (e.g. child seats, GPS, etc.)
Bank fees or any differences in currency exchange rates

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.

Some details about the full coverage can be seen in this screenshot from DiscoverCars.com — Full insurance covers you for accidental damage

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.

A bird's eye view of a car driving down a dirt road. — DiscoverCars.com has many positive reviews online

Tips for booking with DiscoverCars.com

When booking your car, be sure to check:

if your payment is upfront or at the airport.
what is included in your rental.
what you are expected to pay on pick-up and how much the pre-authorisation is.
if the card presented at pick-up needs to be in the driver’s name and if it needs to be a credit card.
who the hire car company are and reviews of the company.
where the pick-up location is and how to get there.
what you need to do when you return the car.

Be prepared for your pick-up. Bring with you:

a valid driver’s license.
an International Driver’s Permit (if necessary).
a second form of ID (passport) if a non-citizen.
a credit card (which you must know the PIN to).
your DiscoverCars.com booking voucher and confirmation number.
your DiscoverCars.com insurance details if you added a policy.

We’d also recommend to:

choose a car rental company with at least an 8/10 rating.
choose all-inclusive insurance and have it printed out.
have a credit card in the main driver’s name.
be sure you can drive in your destination on your home country’s license.
leave room in your itinerary to be sure you can arrive on time.

A view from the front of a car driving down an open road. — Renting a car is safe with DiscoverCars.com

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.

Browse cars on DiscoverCars.com