Advantage Rent A Car might not be the first name that springs to mind when you’re considering car rental companies, especially when giants like Hertz, Enterprise, and National dominate the market. However, this Orlando-based company with over 33 locations primarily at major US airports offers a solid alternative, and importantly, its own loyalty program. Let’s delve into what you need to know about renting with Advantage and explore the intricacies of its Expressway loyalty program. We’ll break down how it works, the perks it offers, and ultimately, whether it provides real value to frequent renters.
Renting a Car Through Advantage: A Simple Guide
The process of renting a car with Advantage is straightforward and user-friendly, mirroring the simplicity offered by most major car rental agencies. Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough:
- Start Your Search: Navigate to the Advantage Rent A Car homepage. The booking widget is prominently displayed, allowing you to immediately enter your pick-up and drop-off locations, dates, and times.
- View and Select Your Vehicle: Once you’ve entered your search criteria, you’ll be presented with a list of available vehicles. Unlike some platforms, Advantage doesn’t offer extensive sorting or filtering options. However, the typically smaller number of results makes it relatively easy to scan through and find what you need. You’ll notice two pricing options: “Pay Later” and “Pay Now.” “Pay Later” generally comes with a slightly higher price but offers greater flexibility with cancellations. “Pay Now” provides a discounted rate but includes cancellation fees.
- Choose Add-ons: After selecting your vehicle and preferred payment option, you’ll be directed to a page where you can add extras to your rental. These typically include options like child safety seats or adding an additional driver to the rental agreement. It’s important to note that unlike many competitors, Advantage does not offer the option to add insurance during the online booking process. Insurance coverage must be arranged at the rental counter when you pick up your vehicle.
- Confirm and Book: The final step involves reviewing your reservation details, entering your payment information, and finalizing your booking. Ensure all details are accurate before confirming.
Navigating Insurance with Advantage
A key point of difference with Advantage is their insurance policy. As mentioned, you cannot add insurance coverage during the online booking process. This means you will need to consider your insurance needs and options when you arrive at the rental counter.
However, before automatically purchasing insurance from Advantage, it’s wise to check your existing coverage. Many car insurance policies and, crucially, travel credit cards offer car rental insurance benefits. A significant number of credit cards provide a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), and some even offer primary coverage. Primary coverage is particularly valuable as it means you don’t need to file a claim with your personal auto insurance first in case of damage or theft.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is often lauded for its primary car rental insurance, amongst other travel benefits. Cards like this can save you money and hassle by providing sufficient coverage, negating the need for additional insurance from the rental agency.
BEST BEGINNER CARD
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
U.P. RatingThe rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Apply Now
Decoding Manager’s Special and Pay Options
Advantage offers a couple of booking nuances worth understanding: the “Manager’s Special” and the “Pay Now” vs. “Pay Later” options.
Manager’s Special: This is Advantage’s version of an opaque booking. Choosing this option means you are guaranteed to receive a car of compact class or higher, but the specific make and model are not revealed until after booking and closer to pick-up. While it can sometimes offer a lower price, it’s not always the cheapest option, and you relinquish control over the exact car you receive. It might appeal if you’re open to an upgrade and less concerned about a specific vehicle type.
Pay Now vs. Pay Later: As briefly touched upon, Advantage, like many rental companies, offers discounted rates for “Pay Now” bookings. However, these come with stricter cancellation policies. Canceling a “Pay Now” reservation more than 24 hours before pick-up incurs a $50 fee, and canceling within 24 hours results in forfeiting the entire payment. “Pay Later” provides more flexibility but typically at a slightly higher base price.
Advantage Expressway: Understanding the Loyalty Program
The Expressway program is Advantage Rent A Car’s loyalty offering. It differentiates itself from traditional points-based programs. Instead of accumulating points, Expressway focuses on rewarding members with perks and benefits based on the number of completed rentals.
The core offering of Expressway is that members earn a reward with every rental, regardless of their tier status. Additionally, Expressway members benefit from access to a dedicated “Expressway Lane” at participating rental locations, promising faster service.
Expressway has four status tiers, determined by the number of rentals within a defined period:
- Base (1-2 Rentals): Upon enrollment, Base members receive a welcome reward – either a Basic Upgrade or a Free Day.
- Silver (3-4 Rentals): Silver status unlocks the “Pit Stop Reward” once per status period. This allows returning the car without refueling, with Advantage charging a rate of $2.50 per gallon for refueling.
- Gold (5-6 Rentals): Gold members receive one Pit Stop Reward and a choice of an additional perk per status period: GPS, toll pass, or a car seat.
- Platinum (7+ Rentals): Platinum, the highest tier, grants a Pit Stop Reward and a choice of an additional perk (GPS, toll pass, or car seat) with every rental.
Random Rewards with Every Rental:
A unique element of Expressway is the random reward earned after each rental. These rewards can include:
- Basic Upgrade: Upgrade to a full-size car (from economy up to standard).
- Free Day: One day’s rental cost waived on rentals of 2+ days.
- Free Weekend: Cost of two weekend days waived on 3+ day rentals including Saturday and Sunday.
- Expressway Lane Access (Silver, Gold, Platinum): Speedy checkout at select airport locations (Orlando, Las Vegas, Honolulu, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco).
- Pit Stop Reward (Silver, Gold, Platinum): Return car without refueling (charge of $2.50/gallon).
- Free Toll Pass (Gold, Platinum): Unlimited toll usage during the rental period.
- Free Child Car Seat (Gold, Platinum): One free car seat per rental.
- Free GPS Navigation (Gold, Platinum): Free GPS unit for the rental.
- Platinum Upgrade Reward (Platinum only): Upgrade from full-size, premium, intermediate SUV, or standard minivan to a higher category (premium car, SUV, or minivan).
These rewards are valid for 12 months from issue and are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
Leveraging the Advantage Mobile App
Advantage offers a mobile app designed to streamline the rental experience. The app provides functionalities such as:
- Booking Rentals: Full car rental booking capability directly through the app.
- Real-Time Car Ready Estimates: Provides updates on when your rental car will be ready for pick-up.
- Promo Code Application: Easily apply promotional codes for discounts.
- 24/7 Customer Support Access: Direct access to customer service through the app.
Price Comparison: How Competitive is Advantage?
To gauge Advantage’s pricing competitiveness, comparing rental costs against major competitors is essential. A sample price comparison for a week-long rental, including taxes and fees, reveals the following:
| Type of Car | Advantage | Alamo | Enterprise | Hertz | National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest available | $555.49 | $387.98 | $382.59 | $564.58 | $590.22 |
| Intermediate SUV | $587.58 | $436.47 | $455.70 | $649.11 | $679.67 |
This comparison places Advantage in the mid-range in terms of pricing. It’s crucial to remember that car rental prices are highly dynamic and fluctuate based on numerous factors. Always compare prices across multiple rental websites before finalizing a booking to ensure you secure the best possible deal.
Final Verdict on Advantage Rent A Car and Expressway
Advantage Rent A Car, while not as ubiquitous as some of its larger competitors, offers a viable car rental option, particularly at major US airports. Its Expressway loyalty program presents a unique approach, rewarding renters with tangible perks after each rental, rather than a points accumulation system.
For travelers who frequently rent cars and are open to different brands, joining Expressway can offer consistent value through upgrades, free days, and convenience-focused rewards like the Pit Stop option and expedited service lanes. While pricing may not always be the absolute lowest, the Expressway program and the ease of renting through Advantage, especially via their mobile app, make it a worthwhile contender in the car rental market.
