Whether you just need a quick rental or are planning a big road trip, getting the best deal on a rental car can feel like a full-time job, comparing rates between the big-box companies and scouring for better deals through countless other sites.

One site will do much of the work for you: Autoslash.

Autoslash compiles quotes from the major (and even some minor) car rental agencies, automatically applying any discount codes from credit cards or memberships like AAA or Costco to your rental. It gets better: Whether you initially book through them or punch in an existing reservation through another company, Autoslash will track rental prices … and alert you when prices drop so you can snag an even better deal. Just this week, I got an email that the price of an upcoming rental had dropped … and saved $35 within a few clicks. I've saved more than $200 on a single rental in the past.

It's incredibly easy and completely free to use, too. And that's why it should always be part of your car rental process … well, at least if you want to save money.
 

 

What is Autoslash?

Autoslash is a lesser-known car rental search engine that definitely deserves far more popularity for two main reasons:

  • It finds the best coupons for your rental based on credit card benefits and various membership discounts.
  • More importantly, it will track your car reservation after booking and alert you to rebook if the rate drops!

 

autoslash homepage with entry field for airport pickup 

The company behind Autoslash recently launched a similar service for booking hotels called – you guessed it – HotelSlash.
 

How to Use It to Get a Rental Car Quote

If you haven't booked a rental car yet, you can get a quote directly through Autoslash.

Just head to Autoslash.com and enter your pickup and drop-off destinations, the duration of your rental, and set your preferences for what kind of vehicle you need – whether the cheapest option will do or if you need an SUV or a van.
 

autoslash car rental search for edinburgh, scotland

 

The important difference with the Autoslash search is that they take memberships into account. If you have an association membership, one of the credit cards listed below, warehouse membership, or are part of frequent flyer or renter programs, you may be eligible for rental discounts. It will find those for you and automatically apply them to your final price. Yes, that even includes fan-favorite Costco travel discounts when booking with your membership!
 

discounts for credit card options

 

Once you've submitted your information, you'll receive a quote via email within a few minutes – sometimes a bit later. This email will include a link to a list of rates that vary by car type and agency, among other factors.

 

auto rental quotes from autoslash for Avis and Budget
 

You might still want to first search through a site like Priceline, KayakHotwire, or directly with rental agencies like Hertz, Avis, National, and others – once you've done your research and have an average price in mind, head to Autoslash to see if you can get it lower. But honestly, Autoslash has become my first stop any time I need to rent a car these days. 

 

Track Your Car Rental Price, Too!

Already booked a rental car elsewhere, or found a cheaper option on another site? Don't worry, you can still use the best feature of Autoslash: price tracking.

Head to Autoslash's site, click “Track a Rental” in the main menu bar, and enter the rental company's name you booked with and your confirmation number. That's right, Autoslash will track the price of your current rental in case it can find you something even cheaper after booking. 
 

autoslash track a rental field 

One important thing to keep in mind: Your original booking must be a refundable car rental. Autoslash will automatically check your rental reservation for price drops. If and when it does, you'll receive an email, alerting you to rebook at the lower rate.

There's no extra work on your end once you enter your rental information. Our team has saved more than $200 on recent rentals just by using Autoslash, like this alert when prices had dropped substantially for my rental car on the Big Island of Hawaii a few years back. Just a few clicks later, I saved more than $220!
 

autoslash price drop alert email for Hawaii saving $220 

It happened again just this week, helping me save an easy $32 for an upcoming rental in the U.K.

 

autoslash email showing a price drop of more than $30 usd on a rental

 

It's not just me. We spread the word on our @thriftytraveler Instagram account and got this message:
 

instagram message about a price drop on a rental car 

The hype is real. These alerts can help you save a ton of money on your next rental car.

 

Bottom Line

We know, we know: It seems too good to be true. But rental car prices fluctuate frequently, and that means just a few days could mean hundreds in savings.

If you're looking for a cheap rental quote, see what your memberships can get you with an Autoslash quote. And if you've already booked a car, trust us: Track that reservation with Autoslash and let it track your rental for price drops.