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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Andrew Kunesh is TPG's Points & Miles editor. He has been active in the points and miles space since 2014, using them to travel far and wide around the world. He is originally from Chicago but moved to New York City after graduating from DePaul University. His work is featured on Credit Karma, UpgradedPoints, ValuePenguin and various other travel and finance publications. He currently holds Delta Diamond Medallion and Marriott Titanium status, and 20+ credit cards that each have a special place in Andrew's wallet.
May 2, 2021 • 8 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Uber Rent allows users to book rental cars from major companies directly through the Uber app, streamlining the process.
The service offers features like Uber Valet, which delivers rental cars to your location in select cities, and plans to expand this option.
A current promotion provides 10% back in Uber Cash on U.S. rentals through September 1, plus a $10 ride credit for transportation to your rental pickup.
Prices for rentals through Uber are generally consistent with booking directly, but added perks may make Uber Rent more appealing.
What to consider
The Uber Cash promotion and $10 ride credit are limited to U.S. rentals and the ride credit can only be used once per month.
Booking through Uber may prevent you from earning rental car loyalty points or using elite status benefits from rental companies.
Always compare Uber Rent prices with direct bookings and available discounts, such as corporate codes or third-party platforms.
What you'll miss from the article
Step-by-step instructions for booking with Uber Rent and a detailed comparison of perks versus booking directly with rental car companies.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Following Lyft's lead, Uber recently started offering rental cars in the Uber app through its new service called Uber Rent. The company doesn't rent cars directly but instead lets you book cars with major rental car companies like Hertz and Budget. In some cities, Uber will even deliver your rental car to your door.
Here, I'll show you how to use Uber Rent to rent a car through the Uber app. I'll also discuss why you might want to rent with Uber instead of renting direct with a rental car company.
Let's get started!
Why you might want to rent a car with Uber
(Photo by Sundry Photography/Shutterstock)
So, you can rent a car with Uber, but why would you want to? After all, you're essentially using Uber as a broker to link you with a local rental car company that will actually rent you the car. That said, there are a few benefits with renting through Uber — let's take a closer look.
Easier rental experience
Frankly, renting a car is a confusing experience. Rental car companies aren't known for having the best websites, so Uber attempts to fix this through its app. As you'll see in the next section, renting a car with Uber is nearly as simple as requesting an Uber ride. Just input your pickup and drop-off locations, and you can rent a car with a few taps.
Uber Cash promotion
Through September 1, you'll earn 10% back on all rental cars in the form of Uber Cash. You can use this credit toward Uber rides and Uber Eats deliveries, so it can be more valuable than rental car points in many cases.
(Screenshot courtesy of Uber)
Further, Uber will give you a $10 ride credit to help you get to your rental. Uber states that this promotion is for a "limited time" but doesn't specify an end date for the promotion. Just note that this is limited to rentals in the U.S., and you're only eligible for the $10 credit once per month. This is a nice touch, especially if you need to go to a local airport to pick up your rental.
(Screenshot courtesy of Uber)
Ability to pay with Uber Cash coming soon
Currently, you can book your rental through the Uber app but must pay for most rentals at the rental counter. The company told TPG that it plans to add the ability to pay for rentals with Uber Cash by the summer, which can be a great way to use Uber Cash offered by select American Express cards.
Uber Valet in Washington D.C., more cities soon
Uber also launched a new feature called Uber Valet that will drop off and pick up your rental car at your home, hotel room or wherever else you need a car. This lets you completely skip the rental car counter and makes the rental process more seamless than ever. The Uber Valet feature is launching in Washington D.C. this May and will expand to other cities throughout the year.
(Photo by Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
To rent with Uber, launch your Uber app and click the Rent button at the center of the homepage. This will take you to the booking screen.
(Screenshot courtesy of Uber)
From here, enter your pick up and drop off locations and when you want to pick up and drop off your car. Then, tap the Find cars button at the bottom of the screen.
(Screenshot courtesy of Uber)
You can see all rental options at the center of the screen. There are filtering options at the top of the screen that you can use to sort rentals by price and distance.
(Screenshot courtesy of Uber)
Tap on a car to view rental details. You can see car specs, cancellation policy and equip your rental with add-ons like a booster seat or a ski rack. When you're ready to book, read and agree to the terms and conditions and tap the Reserve button. Uber will then confirm your rental with the rental car company.
I've found that prices in the Uber app are largely consistent with booking directly with the fulfilling rental company. For example, a Sixt SUV weekend rental near New York-JFK costs $382.74 in late May when booked through the Uber app. I found that Sixt charges the same price if you choose to pay for your rental at pick up.
(Screenshot courtesy of Sixt)
The same goes for a week-long rental near Miami (MIA). Uber quotes $569.43 for a mystery rental through Thrifty, which is the same price as booking directly with Thrifty if you pay at the airport.
(Screenshot courtesy of Thrifty)
Don't forget that your rental also includes a $10 Uber ride credit and — through September — 10% back in Uber Cash. These perks actually make it beneficial to book through Uber instead of directly with the rental car company. That said, a downside is that you may not be eligible to earn rental car points or use your rental car elite status benefits if you book with Uber.
Another thing to keep in mind is corporate and university codes. If you're eligible, you may be able to reduce the cost of your rental when you add one of these codes at booking. Further, you may be able to score a discount by using Autoslash to find a better rate. Always cross-compare the price in the Uber app with the cost of renting direct and using any available discounts.
Can I use my credit card's rental car damage waiver?
Many credit cards will cover damage incurred to your rental car so long as you pay for the rental with said card. According to Uber, this coverage is available on rentals booked through the Uber app. This makes sense since you still need to pay at the rental car counter for most rental cars booked through Uber.
If you're in the market for a credit card that offers a rental car damage waiver, consider applying for one of these Chase cards:
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card – Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Reserve – Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
It's great to see Uber add new features to the Uber app — especially when travel needs are changing and rental cars are harder to find. I'm excited to see how Uber changes the rental car business for the better with Uber Valet. These days, rental car lines are long, so the ability to have a car delivered to your home or hotel will be a gamechanger for frequent renters.
That said, always cross-compare pricing with booking direct and with services like AutoSlash. You may be able to get a better deal this way, especially if you can use a corporate or university code to reduce the cost of a rental. That said, the current Uber Cash promotions may make booking with Uber more cost-effective if you can use the credit for rides or Uber Eats deliveries.
Feature photo by Fahroni / Shutterstock.com
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
