TRAVEL & LEISURE COMPARISONS

5 car hire booking services.
More freedom to explore.

Compare Rentalcars.com, DiscoverCars.com, KAYAK, Skyscanner and TravelSupermarket before arranging your next hire car.

Find a car that suits your journey, then check the collection arrangements and rental conditions. The right booking brings together a suitable vehicle, a convenient location and a clear total price.

See the Comparison ↗ Explore the Five Options
Illustrative hire car and luggage outside an airport

A useful comparison goes beyond the daily rate

Hiring a car can make a holiday more flexible, whether you want to explore villages, reach a quieter beach or travel between several stops. The booking needs to suit that itinerary. A convenient collection point and enough room for passengers and luggage can matter more than a small difference in the advertised daily price.

This guide compares published service information and practical booking considerations. It is a five-option shortlist rather than a tested ranking or live price comparison. Offers vary by supplier, location, driver and dates. The image is illustrative and does not represent a guaranteed vehicle from any listed service.

AT A GLANCE

Car hire booking services compared

Compare how you find and book the rental, then inspect the conditions of the offer you select.

Five car hire booking and comparison services, with practical checks before reserving.
Service Starting point Search or booking approach Consider when Check before booking
Rentalcars.com A dedicated car rental search Rental offers from different car hire companies You want to explore supplier options for your chosen location Actual supplier, collection point, deposit, card requirements and rental conditions
DiscoverCars.com Car rental comparison and booking Supplier offers with booking-specific rental conditions and optional extras You want another booking route for your destination and dates Supplier terms, payment schedule, deposit and any optional coverage conditions
KAYAK Searching across travel sites A comparison search drawing on other travel websites You want to compare offers across different booking sources Final booking website, supplier, price and included services
Skyscanner Travel search with car hire comparison Car hire offers to explore alongside your wider travel planning You want another comparison point while arranging your trip Selected provider, cancellation terms, pick-up location and any one-way fee
TravelSupermarket A UK-facing travel comparison site Compares offers and directs you to the selected company to book You want to browse car hire options through a travel comparison service Final provider price, fuel policy, mileage and collection arrangements

On smaller screens, scroll across the table. The booking website and the company supplying the car may be different. Confirm both names and read the selected rental conditions before paying.

OPTION 01 · DEDICATED RENTAL SEARCH

1. Rentalcars.com

Rentalcars.com offers access to rentals from different car hire companies. It provides a dedicated starting point when you know where and when you want to collect a vehicle.

Once you find a suitable offer, focus on the company supplying the car and its collection arrangements. A terminal desk, shuttle service or city branch can lead to quite different arrival experiences. Check the rental conditions for the selected supplier, including payment-card requirements and any deposit, then make sure the vehicle category suits your group and luggage.

Explore Rentalcars.com car hire ↗

OPTION 02 · COMPARE SUPPLIER OFFERS

2. DiscoverCars.com

DiscoverCars.com provides a car rental search and booking route with supplier-specific rental conditions. It is another starting point for comparing vehicles and booking arrangements for your destination.

Keep the rental supplier’s requirements separate from any optional product added through the booking service. DiscoverCars.com explains that its Full Coverage product is separate from the supplier’s arrangements and does not itself remove a standard deposit requirement. Specifically labelled No Deposit offers have their own terms. Read the exact offer and voucher so that payment, deposit and collection requirements are clear.

Explore DiscoverCars.com rentals ↗

OPTION 03 · SEARCH ACROSS TRAVEL SITES

3. KAYAK

KAYAK searches car hire prices across other travel sites, giving you a way to compare booking sources for the same destination. It can be useful when you want to broaden your search before selecting an offer.

Treat the search result as a starting point and check the final offer carefully. Identify the booking provider and rental supplier, then compare the same collection times, vehicle category and included services. Similar-looking results may have different mileage limits, fuel arrangements or extras. Confirm the total and conditions at the point of booking rather than relying only on the initial search price.

Explore KAYAK car hire comparisons ↗

OPTION 04 · CAR HIRE WITH TRAVEL SEARCH

4. Skyscanner

Skyscanner includes car hire comparison within its travel search offering. It provides another way to explore rentals while planning the transport for your trip.

Use the same itinerary when comparing results. Enter realistic collection and return times, and check whether the vehicle will be returned to the original location. A one-way journey can involve an additional fee depending on the provider. Before confirming an offer, check the selected company’s conditions and make sure the collection arrangements suit your arrival plans, including any late-night requirements.

Explore Skyscanner car hire ↗

OPTION 05 · TRAVEL COMPARISON STARTING POINT

5. TravelSupermarket

TravelSupermarket compares car hire offers and directs visitors to their selected company to complete the booking. It offers another way to browse rental options through a UK-facing travel comparison website.

Check the final provider’s price and terms after choosing a result. Pay particular attention to fuel policy, mileage and where you will collect the car. The best practical fit may be an offer that gives you enough mileage and a straightforward return process, especially if you plan several days of exploring. Compare those details alongside the price rather than treating them as afterthoughts.

Explore TravelSupermarket car hire ↗

BUILD A PRACTICAL SHORTLIST

Three checks before booking your hire car

Choose a suitable vehicle

Consider passengers, luggage and the roads you expect to use. Confirm transmission type, seating and any essential equipment. Check whether the offer guarantees a particular model or describes a category with an equivalent vehicle.

Plan collection and return

Check desk location, opening hours and any shuttle arrangements. Allow time between landing and collection, then plan the return around your onward journey. Read any instructions for out-of-hours collection or drop-off.

Read the rental conditions

Confirm accepted payment cards, any deposit, mileage allowance and fuel policy. Include the extras you need, such as another driver or child seats, and check any one-way or cross-border arrangements before paying.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Car hire booking comparison FAQs

Which car hire booking website is cheapest?

There is no single cheapest website for every location and date. Compare the same vehicle category, driver details, collection times and extras. Check the final total and supplier conditions before deciding.

Is the booking website the company supplying the car?

Not necessarily. A comparison engine can direct you to a booking provider, while a separate rental company supplies the vehicle. Your confirmation should identify the relevant companies and collection arrangements.

Will I receive the exact car shown in the photograph?

Check the selected offer. Many rentals describe a vehicle category and show an example model. Look for wording such as “or similar” and confirm any feature that is essential to your trip before booking.

What should I check about deposits and payment cards?

Read the selected supplier’s requirements, including the deposit amount, accepted card types and whose name must appear on the card. If anything is unclear, ask the booking provider or supplier to confirm before making the reservation.