Rental Cars in 2026: How to Skip the Counter, Cut Costs, and Avoid Insurance Mistakes

Learn how to skip rental car lines, lower costs, and avoid pricey insurance mistakes on your next trip.

When should you rent at the airport, and when should you skip a car entirely? Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle break down how to rent a car in 2026 without overpaying, wasting time at the counter, or getting tripped up by confusing coverage. But first, they unpack the latest travel headlines, including long TSA lines during the federal partial shutdown, fresh findings from NerdWallet’s 2026 summer travel survey, Hilton’s new Yotel partnership, Citi ending points sharing, and Chase’s new hotel price-match feature.

Then, Sally and Meghan dig into rental car strategy, with tips and tricks on booking early and repricing later, comparing airport and city pickup spots, and deciding when Turo, Uber Rent, Zipcar, or public transit make more sense than a standard rental. They also cover which credit card perks matter most, how rental car elite status can help you skip lines or add drivers, when EV rentals can save money or create hassles, and why their editor Claire and colleague Craig come up in a conversation about portal pricing, rental car dread, and smarter booking choices.

Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews:

• American Express Platinum Review: Top-Notch Lounge Access, Big Credits

• AmEx Business Platinum Card: High Fee Pays Off for Big-Spending Travelers

• AmEx Green Review: Triple Points on Dining and Travel, Plus Credits

• Hilton Honors Aspire Review: Rich Rewards, Luxury Perks for a Price

• Capital One Venture X Review: A Steal of a Deal Among Premium Cards

• Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business Review: Big Perks, Bigger Fee

• Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: A High-End, High-Maintenance Card

• Chase Sapphire Preferred Review: Strong Option for Travel Rewards

• United Club Infinite Review: $695 Fee May Still Lure Lounge Lovers

• 5 Things to Know About the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card

Resources discussed in this episode:

• TSA PreCheck Touchless ID: How It Works, Where It’s Offered

• How to Get Clear for Free

• Citi Transfer Partners: A Complete Guide

• My Favorite Tools for Booking Cheap Travel

Want even more tips and tricks to get the most out of your travel dollars? Subscribe to TravelNerd, our free newsletter designed to help you crack the code on spending less on your travel. 

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