For ordinary folks, membership in certain clubs and organizations—in particular, AAA, AARP and Costco—can help save a bundle on a car rental. Likewise, members of the military and their family members can take advantage of deep car rental discounts through USAA membership.
In short, the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) is a really big deal. This organization with over 13 million members offers a number of financial services to people who are currently serving, or have served, in the military plus their family members.
Membership is restricted to past and present members of the armed forces, spouses and children.
USAA members can take advantage of car rental discounts of up to 25 percent through partnerships with Enterprise, Hertz, Avis and Budget. These discount rates are some of the best around. For example, they often beat even Costco member discounts, which is the gold standard for discounts for civilians.
Cheap car rental rates are not the only benefit of USAA membership at participating locations. Additional perks include:
no additional driver fees for spouses and other USAA members (saving up to $14 per day)
no young driver surcharge (saving up to $30 per day)
unlimited mileage (on most car classes)
enhanced liability insurance coverage