This year, our family has two trips planned that require rental cars. Like many families, we’re always looking for ways to stretch our travel budget without sacrificing convenience. One of our favorite travel hacks is using Costco Travel for rental cars.

If you’re a Costco member and haven’t explored Costco Travel yet, you’re missing out.

While we haven’t tried their vacation packages, hotels, or cruise options yet, their rental car program has become our go-to whenever we need a vehicle.

Why We Love Costco Travel for Rental Cars

One of the biggest benefits is the ability to compare rates from multiple major rental car companies all in one place. Even better, most reservations include a second driver at no additional charge.

However, my favorite feature is simple: no money is required upfront, and there are no cancellation penalties.

That flexibility allows us to book early and continue monitoring prices as our travel dates approach.

Rental Car Prices Change Constantly

Before using Costco Travel, I had no idea how dramatically rental car prices could fluctuate. Sometimes prices change daily—and the differences can be shocking.

For our upcoming 10-day trip in October, we booked a Standard Elite SUV (Ford Explorer) through Avis for just $393.63, including all taxes and fees.

I checked the exact same vehicle and travel dates today. The current price?

$1,290.55.

That’s nearly $900 more for the same reservation.

Don’t Be Afraid to Rebook

Our July long-weekend trip is another perfect example.

We originally reserved a standard car for $251. A few days later, the price dropped to $209, so we canceled and rebooked.

Then, last week, I found an intermediate SUV for $193.12 less money for a larger vehicle.

So far, I’ve canceled and rebooked that reservation three times, and I’ll continue checking until it’s time to travel.

A Simple Travel Tip That Can Save Big

I realize constantly checking prices isn’t everyone’s idea of fun, but for me, it’s become a game. I love finding a good bargain and getting the best value possible.

The lesson is simple: book early, monitor pricing, and don’t hesitate to cancel and rebook when rates drop.

The swings in rental car pricing can be enormous, and spending a few minutes checking rates every couple of weeks could save you hundreds of dollars.

For our family, it’s one of the easiest travel savings strategies we’ve found.

Have you used Costco Travel for rental cars? We’d love to hear your favorite travel money-saving tips in the comments.

Happy Traveling,

The Ruch Route