Navigating the world of car rentals can be overwhelming, especially when trying to decipher the various loyalty programs available. If you’re considering Dollar Car Rental for your next trip, you might be asking, “Does Dollar Car Rental have a program?” The answer is yes! Dollar Car Rental offers Dollar Express Rewards, a program designed to make your rental experience faster and more rewarding. While new enrollments are currently paused as Dollar evaluates program adjustments, understanding its features and benefits is still valuable, especially for future travel planning. Let’s dive into the details of the Dollar Express Rewards program and explore what it offers to renters.
Understanding Dollar Express Rewards
Dollar Express Rewards is designed to streamline your car rental process and provide valuable perks. Unlike traditional loyalty programs with tiered elite statuses, Dollar Express Rewards focuses on immediate benefits for all members. Joining is free, and once enrolled, members can enjoy a range of advantages that enhance each rental experience.
Here are the core benefits of the Dollar Express Rewards program:
- Skip the Counter: One of the most significant advantages is the ability to bypass the often-long queues at the rental counter. As a member, you can head directly to the car lot, choose your vehicle (based on your booking class), and get on the road faster. This is a huge time-saver, particularly after a long flight or when you’re eager to start your trip.
- E-Return: Returning your rental car is also expedited with E-Return. Instead of waiting in line at the return counter, you can simply drop off your keys and go, making the end of your rental just as seamless as the beginning.
- Free Authorized Additional Driver: Traveling with a spouse or domestic partner? Dollar Express Rewards allows you to add them as an authorized driver at no extra cost. This can save you money and provide flexibility during your trip, allowing for shared driving responsibilities.
- Priority Counter Service: While the goal is to skip the counter, sometimes you might need assistance with your reservation or have questions. As a Dollar Express Rewards member, you receive priority service at the counter, ensuring that if you do need help, you’ll be assisted quickly.
- Earn Free Rental Days: Loyalty is rewarded through points accumulation. For every dollar you spend on qualifying Dollar car rentals, you earn 1 rewards point. These points can be redeemed for free rental days, making your future travels more affordable.
Accumulating Rewards Points
The earning structure for Dollar Express Rewards is straightforward: you earn 1 point for every qualifying dollar spent on Dollar car rentals. These points accumulate quickly and can be redeemed for free rental days. Specifically, 500 points can be exchanged for a free weekend rental, while 625 points will get you a free weekday rental.
Image: Dollar Car Rental online search interface, showcasing the initial steps for booking a rental car, emphasizing ease of use.
A significant advantage of Dollar Express Rewards points is that they do not expire, provided you maintain account activity. To keep your points active, you simply need to have at least one qualifying Dollar rental every 24 months. This generous policy ensures that your hard-earned points remain valuable for your future travels.
It’s important to note the redemption limitations. Points can be redeemed for rentals of compact, mid-size, standard, full-size, or SUV vehicles. Additionally, point redemptions are currently limited to rentals within the United States and Canada.
Maximize Rewards with Credit Card Points
To amplify your rewards earnings, consider using a credit card that offers bonus points on car rental purchases. Earning both Dollar Express Rewards points and credit card rewards can significantly boost your overall travel benefits. If you’re looking for a credit card to maximize car rental rewards, several options provide bonus points for these transactions.
Here are credit cards that offer bonus rewards on car rentals:
- Cards Earning 2x Points/Miles: (List specific card examples here – research current cards offering 2x on travel or car rentals)
- Cards Earning 3x Points/Miles: (List specific card examples here – research current cards offering 3x on travel or car rentals)
Hot Tip: Beyond points, selecting a credit card with robust car rental insurance coverage is crucial. This added protection can save you from potential financial liabilities in case of accidents or damage to your rental vehicle.
Joining Dollar Express Rewards (Enrollment Currently Paused)
While new enrollments for Dollar Express Rewards are currently on hold, the typical sign-up process is usually straightforward. Historically, you could enroll through the Dollar website. The process involved filling out an online form with your personal details. Upon completion, you would receive your Express ID number, which you would use for all future bookings to access your member benefits. Keep an eye on the Dollar Car Rental website for updates on when new enrollments might resume.
Renting a Car with Dollar
Even without immediate program enrollment, understanding the Dollar car rental process is beneficial. Renting a car from Dollar is generally user-friendly. The first step is to visit the Dollar Car Rental website and enter your rental criteria. This includes:
- Pick-up and Drop-off Locations: Specify where you’ll be picking up and returning the vehicle.
- Rental Dates and Times: Enter the start and end dates and times for your rental period.
- Discount Codes (if applicable): Input any promotional or corporate discount codes you may have.
- Dollar Express ID (for existing members): Enter your Express ID to ensure your membership is linked to the booking.
After entering this information and clicking “Continue,” Dollar will display the available car options and prices.
Image: Dollar Car Rental search results page, displaying various car options with pricing details, allowing users to compare and select their preferred vehicle.
Search results are typically presented in order of daily rental price, from highest to lowest. Dollar’s website interface is designed for ease of use, though it currently lacks filtering options. You’ll need to scroll through the results to find the car that best suits your needs and budget.
One unique offering from Dollar is the Manager’s Special. This option is usually priced competitively and offers a lower daily rate. However, with the Manager’s Special, you won’t know the exact car type until you arrive to pick it up. While it could technically be anything from an economy car to a more premium model, it’s generally an economy or compact vehicle.
When selecting your vehicle, you’ll typically see Pay Now and Pay Later options. The Pay Now option often provides a discounted rate for upfront payment, but reservations are usually non-refundable. The Pay Later option offers more flexibility, usually at a slightly higher price, allowing cancellations before the check-in time if your plans change.
Once you’ve chosen your car and payment option, you’ll be presented with options to add extras to your rental. These can include various insurance and protection packages, GPS navigation systems, fuel service plans, and child safety seats.
Image: Dollar Car Rental add-ons page, illustrating the options for supplemental insurance, GPS devices, and other extras that customers can include with their rental.
The final step is to review your rental details, enter your payment information, and finalize your reservation.
» Related: 15 Things To Know About Booking Rental Cars (And What To Avoid)
Navigating Rental Car Insurance
A common question when renting a car is whether to purchase extra insurance offered by the rental company. The necessity of additional insurance largely depends on your existing car insurance coverage and the credit card you use for the rental.
Understanding primary and secondary rental car insurance is key. Secondary rental car insurance typically covers costs not covered by your personal auto insurance. This means you would still need to file a claim with your personal insurer and pay your deductible before secondary coverage kicks in. This could potentially lead to increased premiums on your personal auto insurance.
Primary rental car insurance, on the other hand, provides coverage before your personal insurance. If you use a credit card that offers primary rental insurance and an incident occurs, you generally do not need to involve your personal auto insurance company. Primary coverage is often more comprehensive and can cover the full cost of the rental car in cases of theft or significant damage.
Many travel rewards credit cards offer primary rental car insurance as a benefit. (List examples of cards with primary rental insurance – research current cards)
Bottom Line: If your credit card offers primary rental car coverage, declining the rental company’s insurance can save you money. However, if you only have secondary coverage, or no personal auto insurance, purchasing additional insurance from Dollar might be a prudent choice.
Dollar Car Rental Locations
Dollar has an extensive network of approximately 570 rental locations across 61 countries worldwide. To find a Dollar location, you can use the “Locations” finder on their website. Simply enter a zip code, city, or state to search for nearby rental offices.
Partnering for Miles and Points
If you prefer to earn airline miles or hotel points instead of Dollar Express Rewards points, Dollar partners with various travel programs. They offer options to earn miles or points with 12 different partners.
| Partner | Miles Earned | Partner | Miles Earned | Partner | Miles Earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | Earn 50 miles per qualifying rental day | Delta Air Lines | Earn 500 miles per qualifying rental | Japan Airlines | Earn 300 miles per qualifying rental |
| All Nippon Airways | Earn 300 miles per qualifying rental | Emirates Airline | Earn 500 miles per qualifying rental | Southwest Airlines | Earn 600 miles per qualifying rental |
| American Airlines | Earn 50 miles per qualifying rental day | Frontier Airlines | Earn 50 miles per day on 1-4 day rentals and 500 miles on rentals of 5 days or more | Spirit Airlines | Earn 50 miles per day on 1-4 day rentals and 500 miles on rentals of 5 days or more |
| Avianca Airlines | Earn 50 miles per qualifying rental day | IHG One Rewards | Earn 125 points per qualifying rental day | United Airlines | Earn 50 miles per day on 1 to 4-day rentals and 500 miles on rentals of 5 days or more |
Understanding Frequent Flyer Taxes and Fees
When choosing to earn airline or hotel points instead of Dollar Express Rewards, be aware that some partner programs may impose a frequent flyer fee. These fees vary and can impact the overall value of earning partner points.
Here’s a breakdown of potential fees associated with earning miles or points:
- Alaska Airlines: $0.95 per day
- All Nippon Airways: No extra charge
- American Airlines: $0.06 per day
- Avianca Airlines: No extra charge
- Delta Air Lines: 7.5% excise tax on the cost of the miles
- Emirates Airline: No extra charge
- Frontier Airlines: $0.75 per day
- IHG One Rewards: No extra charge
- Japan Airlines: No extra charge
- Southwest Airlines: $1.50 per day, up to $8 per rental
- Spirit Airlines: $0.75 per day
- United Airlines: $0.75 per day
Hot Tip: Even if you opt to earn airline miles, you can still enjoy the other benefits of the Dollar Express program, such as skipping the counter and the free additional driver.
Dollar Deals and Discounts
Dollar frequently offers various deals and discounts to help you save on your rental. Their “Deals” page on their website is a valuable resource for finding current promotions. Recurring specials often include discounts for:
- AAA Members: Typically a 10% discount
- Renters Under 25: Often a 10% discount
- Weekend Rentals: 10% or more off weekend rates
- Partner Specials: Discounts through partnerships with various organizations
Always check the Dollar Deals page before finalizing your booking to see if any applicable discounts can lower your rental cost.
» Related: The 12 Best Websites for Finding Cheap Car Rentals [2024]
Dollar 4Business Program for Small Businesses
For small business owners, Dollar offers the Dollar 4Business program, designed to provide savings and benefits for business-related car rentals. Key benefits include:
- 7% Discount: Off the base rate of all business rentals booked with your Corporate Account (CDP) number.
- Waived Young Renter Fee: For drivers aged 20-24.
- Free Additional Driver: Add an extra driver at no cost.
- Flexible Rental Terms: No fees for early returns, late returns (within reason), or minor reservation changes.
- Unlimited Mileage: Drive freely without mileage restrictions.
Extended Business Rentals
For businesses needing vehicles for longer periods, Dollar provides multi-month rental options, up to 11 months. Long-term business renters can access competitive daily rates and discounted loss damage waivers, making it a cost-effective solution for extended vehicle needs.
Programs for Government and Military Personnel
Dollar Car Rental offers special programs for U.S. government employees and military personnel, providing discounted rates and benefits for both official and leisure travel.
Official Government Travel Benefits:
- Competitive government rates
- Free car class upgrades (subject to availability)
- Unlimited mileage
- No fees for additional or underage drivers
Leisure Travel Benefits for Government and Military:
- Preferential government leisure rates
- Bonus 5% discount off retail rates
- Free car class upgrades (subject to availability)
- Unlimited mileage
Military veterans, active-duty personnel, and National Guard/Reserve members who are VetRewards members through Veterans Advantage can also receive:
- 5% discount on car rentals
- Fee waiver for additional or underage drivers
» Related: Best Credit Cards for Military Veterans
Customer Support
Dollar Car Rental provides customer support resources to assist with any inquiries or issues. The “Customer Support” section on their website offers various self-service options and contact information. You can find help with:
- Reservations
- Receipt requests
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For direct assistance, you can contact Dollar via phone:
- Reservations: 800-800-4000
- International Reservations: 800-800-6000
- 24-hour Roadside Assistance: 800-235-9393
- Dollar 4Business Support: 800-331-3550
Price Comparison with Competitors
To gauge Dollar’s competitiveness, let’s compare rental costs against other major car rental companies like Avis, Hertz, National, and Enterprise. A sample comparison for a long weekend rental in Las Vegas (excluding membership discounts) reveals the following approximate total quotes:
| Rental Car | Dollar | National | Avis | Hertz | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact | $133 | $194 | $194 | $200 | $122 |
| Mid-Size | $137 | $266 | $260 | $201 | $129 |
| SUV | $162 | $273 | $276 | $209 | $170 |
In this specific comparison, Enterprise offered slightly lower prices for compact and mid-size cars, while Dollar had the lowest SUV rate. Dollar’s prices were generally competitive, outperforming Avis, Hertz, and National in the compact and mid-size categories, and closely matching Enterprise. Remember that these prices are before any potential discounts, so always factor in memberships, credit card benefits, and corporate codes when comparing.
Hot Tip: For more strategies to save money, consult our guide on saving money on car rentals.
Final Verdict on Dollar Car Rental Program
Dollar Car Rental stands out as a solid option for budget-conscious travelers seeking competitive prices and a straightforward rewards program. While new enrollments in Dollar Express Rewards are temporarily paused, the program’s benefits, including skip-the-counter service and free additional drivers, offer genuine value.
Before making a rental decision, always conduct your own price comparisons and evaluate different car rental programs to ensure you secure the best deal for your specific needs and travel plans.
