On a hunt for an affiliate marketing vertical that is not comparatively too competitive as compared to others?
Well, car rental affiliate programs offer a fantastic opportunity to earn commissions while helping others find the perfect rental for their adventures. Later, we’ll explore some of the best car rental affiliate programs available, highlighting their benefits and how they can help you monetize your travel-related content effortlessly.
The programs that I have listed here range from a 4% commission rate to an impressive 70% on car rental profits.
So, let's hop into these high-paying car rental affiliate programs!
The global car rental market will reach $220 billion by 2029, with over 602 million expected users by 2026.
What to Look for in Car Rental Affiliate Programs?
High Commission Car Rental Affiliate Programs
| Company | Commission Rate | Cookie Duration | Network | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discover Cars | 70% of profit on rentals, 30% on Full Coverage | 365 days | ShareASale | High commission, long cookie, global coverage |
| RentalCars.com | 6% per booking | 30 days | Travelpayouts | Large inventory, 46,000+ locations worldwide |
| Welcome Pickups | 10% | 45 days | In-house | Airport transfers, personalized travel experiences |
| Enterprise Car | Up to 4% | 7 days | CJ Affiliate | Well-known brand, wide US coverage |
| Outdoorsy | 4-10% | 30 days | AvantLink, CJ Affiliate | RV rentals, peer-to-peer platform |
| National Car Rental | Up to 4% | 14 days | CJ Affiliate | Premium brand, airport locations |
| Alamo | Up to 4% | 7 days | CJ Affiliate | Budget-friendly options, international presence |
| Auto Europe | 5% on completed rentals | 7 days | CJ Affiliate | Comparison site, 20,000+ locations |
| Budget Car Rental | 3-4% | 30 days | CJ Affiliate | Value-oriented brand, global presence |
| Avis | 3-4% | 30 days | CJ Affiliate | Premium brand, extensive fleet |
| Hertz | Up to 5.5% | 7 days | CJ Affiliate | Well-established brand, worldwide locations |
| Thrifty Car Rental | 1% on consumed rentals | 14 days | Rakuten Advertising | Budget-friendly options, part of Hertz |
1. Discover Cars
Discover Cars offers a high-paying Car Rental Affiliate Program, allowing affiliates to earn up to 70% commission on car rental profits and 30% on Full Coverage sales. With a 365-day cookie duration and diverse promotional tools like banners, text links, widgets, and landing pages, affiliates can effectively monetize their travel content.
The program accepts affiliates worldwide, with payouts via PayPal, wire transfer, or direct deposit after reaching a $200 threshold. Affiliates can leverage multiple traffic sources, including websites, social media, email campaigns, and influencer marketing, to drive bookings and maximize earnings from Discover Cars' extensive global car rental inventory.
2. RentalCars.com
RentalCars.com is a renowned car rental affiliate program that offers a profitable opportunity for travel bloggers and website owners. Affiliates can earn substantial income with a 30-day cookie duration and a 6% commission on every completed car rental booking. The program accepts many traffic sources, including link and banner advertisements, social media promotions, and more.
Affiliates can utilize RentalCars.com's extensive global inventory of over 900 car rental companies across 60,000 locations worldwide. The program has a user-friendly platform, multilingual support, and seamless integration options, making it an attractive choice for affiliates seeking a high-converting car rental solution with a proven track record of success.
3. Welcome Pickups
Welcome Pickups offers a lucrative Car Rental Affiliate Program, enabling affiliates to earn commissions by promoting airport transfer and sightseeing services. With a generous 45-day cookie duration, affiliates can earn up to 10% of the total price on sightseeing rides, making it an effective way to monetize travel-related traffic.
Welcome Pickups affiliate program operates globally, serving over 60 cities worldwide, ensuring a broad reach and diverse audience. This extensive coverage, combined with high commission rates, makes Welcome Pickups an attractive option for affiliates looking to capitalize on the growing demand for personalized travel experiences and convenient airport transfers.
4. Enterprise Car
Enterprise's Car Rental Affiliate Program allows partners to earn up to 2.5% commission on qualifying revenue from car rentals. With a 180-day cookie duration, affiliates can leverage Enterprise's extensive network of over 6,900 locations worldwide. To drive conversions, the program provides promotional materials like logos, banners, and text links.
Partners can access detailed reporting and receive payouts via PayPal, check, or direct deposit with a low $10 payout threshold. Enterprise caters to diverse audiences, from business travelers to vacationers, making it an attractive option for travel affiliates. Its reputation for superior customer service and competitive pricing models further enhance the program's appeal.
5. Outdoorsy
Outdoorsy is a peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace offering a car rental affiliate program. Affiliates earn commissions by referring renters ($75 per first rental) and RV owners ($100 credit when their RV is rented). The program runs on AvantLink and CJ Affiliate networks and is 30-day cookie-long.
Outdoorsy provides dedicated account managers, API integration, and affiliate widgets to drive conversions across travel, outdoor, and RV niches. With over 60,000 RVs listed, Outdoorsy's unique inventory attracts RV enthusiasts worldwide. The program pays out via automated payments once affiliates reach the $100 threshold, offering a high-earning potential in the growing RV rental market.
6. National Car Rental
The National Car Rental affiliate program is an excellent opportunity for affiliates to earn commissions by promoting a premium, internationally recognized brand. This program offers a 14-day cookie duration and pays a flat 3% commission on all sales, making it a reliable source of income for travel-related content creators.
National Car Rental serves over 1,500 locations worldwide, including the US, Canada, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Australia. Affiliates can leverage the brand's strong reputation and extensive global presence to attract frequent airport travelers and business clients.
7. Alamo
The Alamo Affiliate Program allows partners to earn up to 6% commission on every car rental referral. With over 190 countries, Alamo provides a seamless and hassle-free car rental experience through its user-friendly online platform. The program offers advanced tracking and marketing tools, allowing affiliates to create targeted campaigns and track their success.
Affiliates can promote Alamo across various channels, including websites, social media, and email marketing. The program features a 30-day cookie duration and provides detailed performance reports through an affiliate panel. Partners can join for free and benefit from promoting Alamo's reputation for affordable rates and quality service.
8. Auto Europe
Auto Europe is a renowned car rental affiliate program that offers a competitive 5% commission on completed car rentals with a 7-day cookie duration. Their program has flexible payment methods, including direct deposit, check, or Payoneer, and a low $50 payout threshold. Auto Europe partners with top brands like Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise, providing access to over 20,000 pickup locations across 180+ countries.
To drive bookings, affiliates can leverage various traffic sources, from travel blogs to social media. With user-friendly advertising materials and dedicated support, Auto Europe's car rental affiliate program presents an attractive opportunity for travel affiliates to monetize their audience effectively.
9. Budget Car Rental
Budget's Car Rental Affiliate Program offers a 4% commission on completed rentals, with higher rates negotiable for top performers. Affiliates earn by promoting Budget's services through approved links, banners, and creative assets. The program is free to join and allows multiple traffic sources, including websites, email lists, and search engines (except bidding on “Budget” keywords).
The budget provides customer support, tracking, and payout processing via the Partnerize network. With a vast global presence of over 3,000 locations across 120+ countries, Budget's program appeals to travel affiliates seeking a reputable brand with competitive payouts (minimum payout threshold is $50) and flexible promotion options.
10. Avis
Avis, a renowned car rental company, offers an enticing Car Rental Affiliate Program for website owners and bloggers. With a commission rate of up to 4% per sale, affiliates can monetize their traffic by promoting Avis's extensive fleet across 165 countries. The program boasts a 30-day cookie duration, ensuring affiliates earn from every qualified rental.
Avis provides regularly updated creatives, banners, and brand information to facilitate effective promotion. Affiliates can access a user-friendly dashboard to track performance and earnings. The program has a low payout threshold of $30, making it accessible to affiliates of all levels. Avis prioritizes aesthetically pleasing, brand-aligned sites and offers technical support, catering to diverse advertising verticals and traffic sources.
11. Hertz
Hertz, a renowned car rental company, offers an enticing affiliate program for publishers and influencers. With a 3% commission on completed car rentals in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, affiliates can monetize their travel content effectively. The program has a 24-hour cookie duration, ensuring commissions are tracked accurately. Affiliates gain access to dedicated support, timely payouts, and various promotional materials, including banners and newsletters featuring special offers.
Hertz's extensive global presence, with over 10,000 locations across 145 countries, serves diverse audiences. The affiliate program is ideal for travel bloggers, automotive enthusiasts, and anyone with an audience interested in car rentals. By partnering with Hertz, affiliates can leverage a trusted brand while earning commissions through engaging content.
12. Thrifty Car Rental
Thrifty Car Rental's affiliate program, powered by Rakuten Marketing, offers an opportunity to earn commissions by promoting its car rental services. As a subsidiary of Hertz, Thrifty operates over 4,000 locations globally, catering to cost-conscious travellers. The program allows affiliates to place Thrifty.com links on their websites and earn a commission for every booking made through their referrals.
With a 14-day cookie duration and a standard 1% commission on consumed rentals, affiliates can monetize their travel-focused websites and blogs. Thrifty's extensive fleet, competitive pricing, and rewards program make it an attractive option for affiliates in the car rental niche.
Key Trends Shaping the Car Rental Industry
Have Any Questions? Got You Covered
How Much Can I Earn from Car Rental Affiliate Programs?
Commission rates for car rental affiliate programs vary, but many offer competitive payouts ranging from 4% to 70% of the rental profit or revenue. Some top-paying programs include Discover Cars (70% of rental profit, 30% on insurance) and RentalCars.com (40% of their cut).
How do I Join a Car Rental Affiliate Program?
You can join by signing up on the car rental company's affiliate page or through affiliate networks like CJ Affiliate or ShareASale.
What Marketing Strategies Work Best for Promoting Car Rentals?
Effective strategies include SEO-optimized blog posts, social media promotions, email marketing, and travel-related content that integrates affiliate links naturally.
Do I Need a Website to Join an Affiliate Program?
While having a website helps, some programs also accept social media influencers and content creators with substantial followings.
Driving It Home
As we have seen it through, the car rental industry presents an attractive opportunity to diversify your income streams.
Car rental affiliate programs offer a fantastic way to monetize your travel-related content while providing valuable services to your audience. From generous commission rates to extensive global coverage, these programs are designed to help you maximize your earnings with minimal effort.
With a projected market size of $220.10 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of over 10.75%, the potential for earning substantial commissions is immense.
Well, the options are plentiful, now it's your time to choose the best affiliate program for yourself.
