Program Details
| Commission | 1% – 6% (6% Pay Now, 1% Pay Later) (Cost Per Sale) |
| Cookie Duration | 30 days |
| Network | CJ Affiliate, Awin, Travelpayouts |
| Payment Methods | PayPal, Bank Transfer |
| Min. Payout | $100 / £100 |
| Payment Frequency | Monthly (Net 20-30) |
| Category | Travel / Car Rental |
| Countries | Global (160+ countries) |
| Website | www.rentalcars.com |
RentalCars.com is the world’s largest online car rental service, part of the Booking Holdings group alongside Booking.com and Priceline. The platform aggregates deals from over 900 suppliers across 60,000+ locations in more than 160 countries, letting travelers compare and book rentals in one place. With strong brand recognition and a price-match guarantee, it consistently ranks as one of the top-performing car rental affiliates in the travel niche.
RentalCars.com Affiliate Program Overview
The RentalCars.com affiliate program pays a commission of up to 6% on completed bookings – specifically 6% for “Pay Now” rentals and a sharply reduced 1% for “Pay Later” (pay at desk) bookings. The program runs on both CJ Affiliate and Awin, as well as Travelpayouts, giving publishers flexibility in which network they prefer to work with.
The cookie window is 30 days across all major networks. Commissions are paid monthly on a Net 20 to Net 30 basis once the rental has been completed and verified – meaning you may wait 6-8 weeks between a booking and the payout hitting your account. The minimum payout threshold is $100 or £100, paid via PayPal or bank transfer.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Massive inventory – 900+ suppliers, 60,000+ locations globally
- Strong Booking Holdings brand recognition drives solid conversion
- API access and embeddable search widgets for technical publishers
- Supports 40+ languages and multiple currencies – great for international traffic
- Available on CJ, Awin, and Travelpayouts – choose the network that suits you
- Price-match guarantee builds customer confidence and supports conversions
Cons:
- Only 1% commission on Pay Later bookings – a significant earnings drop
- Competitors like Discover Cars offer far higher per-booking payouts
- Brand bidding on PPC is strictly prohibited – limits paid traffic strategies
- Car rental SEO is a highly competitive space, especially for generic terms
How to Join
The easiest route is through CJ Affiliate or Awin. Step 1: Create a publisher account on your preferred network if you don’t already have one. Step 2: Search for “RentalCars.com” in the advertiser directory and submit an application.
Approval is rated moderate – you’ll need a travel-relevant website or audience. Coupon-only sites require specific approval, and PPC affiliates cannot bid on brand keywords. If you prefer a simpler setup, Travelpayouts also carries the RentalCars.com program and is known for quick approvals with a travel-focused publisher base. You can also apply directly via the RentalCars.com affiliates page for API and widget access.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much commission does the RentalCars.com affiliate program pay?
You earn 6% of the booking value for “Pay Now” rentals, where the customer pays upfront at checkout. For “Pay Later” bookings – where payment is made at the rental desk – the commission drops to just 1%. This split makes a significant difference to your earnings, and content optimized for upfront bookings will consistently outperform pay-at-desk traffic.
What is the cookie duration for RentalCars.com?
The cookie lasts 30 days on both CJ Affiliate and Awin. That means if a visitor clicks your link today and completes a booking within the next 30 days, you receive the commission. Car rental decisions often happen over a planning period, so the 30-day window is a reasonable fit for the travel booking cycle.
Can I use Google Ads or PPC to promote RentalCars.com?
You can run PPC campaigns, but bidding on brand terms like “RentalCars” or “RentalCars.com” is strictly prohibited across all networks. Violating this rule can result in immediate removal from the program. Non-brand travel keywords are fair game, though you’ll face stiff competition in the paid search space for car rental terms.
When do affiliates get paid?
Commissions are paid monthly on a Net 20 to Net 30 schedule, but only after the rental has been completed and verified by the supplier. This means there can be a delay of 6-8 weeks between when a booking occurs and when you actually receive the commission. Budget your cash flow accordingly if you rely on this program as a significant revenue source.
What is the minimum payout threshold?
The minimum earning threshold before payout is $100 (or £100 for UK-based affiliates). Payments are made via PayPal or bank transfer depending on the network you use. For lower-volume publishers, this threshold may mean waiting several months before receiving a first payment.
Does the program work for non-English audiences?
Yes – RentalCars.com operates in 160+ countries and supports over 40 languages with localized currency pricing. This makes it one of the better car rental programs for publishers with multilingual or international traffic. Conversion rates tend to hold up well across European and Asia-Pacific markets where car rental demand is strong.
Which affiliate network is best for the RentalCars.com program?
Both CJ Affiliate and Awin offer the same core terms (6% / 30 days), so the choice usually comes down to which network you already use. Travelpayouts is a good option if you work primarily in the travel vertical, as the platform is built around travel products and often has additional promotional materials for car rental publishers.
Final Verdict
RentalCars.com is a solid mid-tier affiliate program for travel publishers. The brand’s global reach and Booking Holdings backing mean strong conversions for relevant traffic, and the 30-day cookie is fair for the travel planning cycle. The 6% Pay Now rate is competitive for a major aggregator, though the 1% Pay Later rate is a real drawback that will cut into earnings if your audience skews toward pay-at-desk bookings.
For pure commission rates, niche players like Discover Cars will outperform it on paper – but RentalCars.com’s volume, brand trust, and multi-network availability make it a reliable core program for any travel affiliate portfolio rather than a primary earner.
