Priceline Car Rental Review

If you’ve ever searched for a good deal on a rental car, there’s a good chance you’ve come across Priceline.

Known for its “Name Your Own Price” legacy (though, sadly, that feature is now long gone), Priceline was launched in 1997 by Jay Walker. It is not actually a car rental company per se, rather an online travel agency which enables customers to easily find flights, hotels, and, of course, car rentals.

The company is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut and is wholly owned by Booking Holdings, which also owns other sites such as Booking.com and Kayak.com. Brett Keller is the present CEO.

It currently operates in over 200 countries and territories worldwide and has strategic partnerships with over 300,000 hotels, 400 airlines, and 40 car rental companies.

If you are planning a last-minute road trip or organizing a business journey, Priceline claims to offer discounted rates from all of these businesses.

When Doesn’t It Make Sense to Use Priceline

If you want to use Priceline specifically for car rentals, it perhaps makes the most sense to do that when you’re looking to compare multiple options.

Priceline does a solid job of aggregating deals from top rental car companies like Hertz, Avis, Budget, Turo, Thrifty, and Enterprise, without having to visit all of those websites separately.

It’s especially handy for last-minute trips, particularly if you are flexible with what you are after, as you can often find same-day rentals at a very reduced discount price.

The site can also be an attractive option if you are open to different pickup locations, car types, or rental providers. For instance, if you’re not set on a specific brand, the platform’s “Express Deals” can offer lower prices in exchange for fewer upfront details, which can be ideal for budget-conscious travelers who are looking to save money.

It’s also a fantastic option if you want to bundle your rental car with a hotel and/or a flight. Priceline often gives users additional discounts when booking travel packages, which can shave a decent chunk off the total cost.

Overall, Priceline works best for travelers who are a little bit flexible in what they are after and want a simple process that can save them money.

When Doesn’t It Make Sense to Use Priceline

While Priceline can be a great tool for scoring a deal, it is not the perfect fit for every traveler.

If you’re someone who likes full control over the car rental experience, such as picking the exact make and model of vehicle and knowing which company you will be hiring from in advance, their “Express Deals” might not sit well with you.

These deals are cheaper for a reason, and you won’t know the rental company or specific car details until after you’ve booked. For some people, such a lack of transparency can be frustrating, especially if you are a detail-oriented individual.

Additionally, Priceline might not be ideal if you’re trying to earn loyalty rewards or use points with a specific rental car company. Since the booking goes through Priceline and not directly with the rental agency, customers often miss out on those perks.

Priceline might also not be the best option for you if you like flexible policies because some of their deals are non-refundable or have stricter policies compared to booking directly with car rental companies. If you want to make changes to your booking or cancel it, that can also be problematic.

Therefore, if your travel plans are prone to change, it probably doesn’t make sense to book with Priceline if you need to keep things flexible.

Pros and Cons of Booking with Priceline

Like any travel platform or car rental company, Priceline has its upsides and downsides. So, it is good to familiarise yourself with them to help you decide whether using the online travel agency is a viable option for you.

Here are some of the pros and cons of booking with Priceline:

Pros

Priceline’s biggest selling point is that it often shows lower rates than the actual rental company’s website, especially if you’re booking last-minute or using “Express Deals.”

It allows you to compare prices from multiple rental companies in one place, and enables you to potentially save a substantial amount of money through bundles and deals with flights and accommodation.

The Priceline website is also easy to navigate, even for those who aren’t particularly tech savvy and booking through it is usually quick and painless.

Cons

It is worth noting that while their bookings tend to be cheaper, many come with strict cancellation policies. So, you might not be able to change your reservation if you need to.

Additionally, there is a general lack of transparency with their process as their Express Deals hide the rental agency and specific car details until after you book, which can be off-putting for some patrons.

Moreover, if you usually earn loyalty points with a car rental agency, those might not apply when booking through Priceline.

The company has also been accused of inconsistent customer service, so you should be aware that if something goes wrong, resolving it through Priceline’s customer service can be hit or miss. Essentially, you’re dealing with a middleman, which can often complicate things.

Therefore, while Priceline is a solid choice for bargain hunters and those with flexible travel arrangements, it’s not always the best option if you want total control over your booking or need wiggle room with your plans.

Priceline Booking Experience

Booking a car through Priceline is pretty straightforward, even if you’ve never used the platform before.

The website and app are both easy to navigate, and simply involve entering your pickup and drop-off locations, travel dates, and clicking search.

Within seconds, you’ll see a range of rental options from all major brands like Hertz, Budget, and Avis, along with estimated total costs, vehicle types, and pickup times.

Priceline’s “Express Deals” pop up too, which might be useful if you’re trying to save some cash. But remember, they don’t tell you the rental company until after you’ve booked.

The checkout process is simple, and you can filter results by car type, price, and rental agency. There’s even an option to prepay or pay later, depending on the deal.

Important Things to Note Before Renting with Priceline

Before committing to a rental with Priceline, there are a few aspects of their offering that you should make yourself aware of. They include:

Pricing & Hidden Fees

While Priceline advertises low daily rates, the final cost can creep up quickly once taxes, fees, and optional add-ons have been included. For this reason, you should always read the fine print before making a booking with them.

Some customers report being hit with unexpected charges, such as airport concession fees or young driver surcharges. So, it is a good idea to make sure you know what’s included and what’s not in your booking.

Insurance & Deposit Policies

Priceline offers rental car insurance during checkout, but it’s third-party coverage and not directly from the rental company you are hiring the car from, which can make it a bit tricky if you need to make a claim.

Also, the rental agency will usually place a security deposit on your card (above and beyond what you have paid for it), which varies by provider. Therefore, you will need to make sure there are enough funds on your card to cover it.

Vehicle Condition & Inspection

You should always take photos and video of the vehicle thoroughly before driving off the car lot because even though you booked through Priceline, your rental is still handled by a third-party provider.

Doing this will better protect you in the event of a dispute.

Cancellation & Refund Policies

Not all Priceline bookings are flexible, and most of the cheaper deals, including Express Deals, are non-refundable. If your travel plans aren’t set in stone, it might be worth paying a little extra for the peace of mind a refundable option will give you.

Customer Service

Since Priceline acts as the middleman, customer service can be a mixed bag.

If issues arise, it can be unclear if Priceline or the rental agency should handle it, which may involve some back-and-forth that can be quite frustrating.

Alternatives to Priceline

If Priceline doesn’t quite meet your needs, sites like Expedia, Kayak, and Hotwire offer similar price comparison tools, and often feature the same rental companies.

You can, of course, choose to book directly with a car rental company, particularly if you want to benefit from their loyalty rewards program or better cancellation policies.

However, another alternative to consider is Turo, which offers peer-to-peer rentals, which can be more flexible and personal than dealing with a car rental company.

Final Verdict: Should You Rent from Priceline?

All things considered, Priceline is a solid choice if you are looking to hire a car at a very competitive price.

In particular, it offers a great way to compare multiple rental car deals quickly and can save you a decent chunk of change through their Express Deals or bundled bookings.

That said, it’s not ideal if you want full control over your reservation, to earn loyalty points on it, or need flexibility in case your plans change.

With that in mind, it’s a safe bet to say that Priceline is best for budget-conscious renters who are prepared to make a few compromises in exchange for decent savings.