Confirmed: Silvercar closing all airport rental locations by early December
Silvercar was born in 2012 out of frustration with some of the problems common with traditional car rental companies. The company threw out the old car rental playbook and quickly became my family's favorite way to rent cars across the country. It offered an all-Audi fleet, and in some cases, would pick you up and drop you off right at the terminal. The company didn't charge huge fees for tolls or gas refills and didn't charge any extra fees for ski racks and high-quality car seats.
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In 2017, Audi fully acquired Silvercar and since then we've seen an increase in pick-up locations, Audi vehicle types, a vehicle delivery option, the launch of a points-based rewards program and more.
But 2020 appears to bring with it very bad news for travelers who rent from Silvercar. As first reported by AutoSlash and confirmed by TPG, all of Silvercar's airport rental locations will close by Dec. 6
Over the past few months, multiple Silvercar airport locations have closed in traditional leisure hot spots including John Wayne, Orange County (SNA) and Orlando International Airport (MCO), among others. Silvercar confirmed the news to TPG with the following statement:
"Due to the changing travel environment, all Silvercar by Audi airport locations will close by December 6. Silvercar by Audi will remain available to our customers at our in-town and Audi dealership locations. Customers with existing airport reservations have been notified and offered the option to cancel or fulfill their reservation at our in-town locations where available, in addition to a $50 voucher for a future in-town rental. Looking ahead, Silvercar by Audi will continue to rapidly expand its network by launching new in-town locations, with a near-term focus on Audi dealerships."
When you try to make a new Silvercar reservation at the airport pick-up locations that are still operational as of today, you aren't able to book past Dec. 5. Instead, you're restricted to in-town and dealership locations around the U.S. Silvercar's site lists neighborhood Audi dealership rental locations in cities such as Henderson (near Las Vegas), Ft. Lauderdale, Denver, Seattle, Dallas, Orlando, Tampa, Houston and others.
As mentioned in the statement, those with existing Silvercar reservations can change their reservation for pickup at one of these locations.
But even if a local dealership is an option, it may not always make sense. Matt Lischin, an Audi owner and Silvercar fan whose December reservation was canceled, tells TPG, "In my numerous times renting, I have not once used a city location -- always at the airport. Unfortunately, this change is a major inconvenience and I can't see myself in a scenario where after landing, it would make sense to trek another 30+ minutes to a dealer (and the same in reverse)."
If you have an airport rental, it's worth reaching out to Silvercar to see if further accommodations are available. Autoslash reported that in some cases where an eligible Audi dealer location is nearby, a Lyft ride may be provided to the dealership from the airport. But in other situations, you're likely going to be on your own to find a new car rental reservation.
I'd strongly advise taking a proactive approach to contacting the company. It can be challenging to secure affordable car reservations in many cities, especially if you require a specific type of vehicle need, such as an SUV. This is even more concerning given there's already a rental car shortage happening in some areas, so losing a coveted holiday car rental reservation could put travelers who are deciding to hit the road in an even tighter bind.
Regardless, all customers with a canceled reservation are eligible for a $50 credit towards their next in-town rental. Make sure to get your discount code if you're affected by this change and use it towards your next rental. It's a solid discount that can come in handy if you need a new set of wheels to get around town.
Starting your rental car search over again? Here's a round-up of rental car promos that may save you money and our guide to never paying full price for a rental car.
Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.