Rental Car Military Discounts

Nearly every major rental car company offers some form of military discount, but the amount varies more widely here than in almost any other category of military travel benefit — from a modest 5 percent off with just a military ID, to discounts of 25 percent or more through a paid membership program. Here's how the major companies compare.

Rental cars are also one of the categories where the discount structure itself differs meaningfully between companies, not just the percentage. Some companies apply their military rate as a simple, free walk-up discount, while others gate their most significant savings behind a separate paid membership. Understanding which model each company uses helps you compare them fairly rather than assuming a lower advertised percentage automatically means a worse deal.

Enterprise and Hertz: Straightforward Discounts, No Membership Required

Enterprise offers a military discount for active-duty members, generally around 5 percent off the standard rate, available without needing to join any additional program. Simply select the military rate when booking or mention your status at the counter, and have your military ID ready to verify eligibility.

Hertz offers a comparable discount through its Government & Military rate program, typically in a similar range to Enterprise, though it can fluctuate based on location, vehicle class, and demand. Hertz also extends select benefits to Hertz Gold Plus Rewards members, including complimentary membership enrollment for eligible military members.

Both companies apply their military discount automatically once you book through the correct channel — generally a dedicated military or government rate link on the company's website — without requiring a special promo code.

Avis and Budget: Deeper Discounts Through Membership

Avis and Budget, sister companies under the same parent brand, take a different approach than Enterprise and Hertz. Rather than offering a free, walk-up military discount, their most significant savings are available specifically through membership in WeSalute+ (formerly known as Veterans Advantage), a paid membership program built for military members and veterans.

Through this membership, discounts can reach considerably higher than the standard 5 to 10 percent range offered elsewhere — sometimes up to 25 percent off standard daily and weekly rates, and higher on certain prepaid "Pay Now" rate types. Because WeSalute+ charges an annual membership fee, whether this is worth it depends on how often you rent cars throughout the year. A traveler who rents multiple times annually often recoups the membership cost quickly through the deeper savings, while an occasional renter may find a free discount elsewhere more practical.

It's worth doing this math concretely rather than estimating. Compare the annual membership fee against the dollar difference between a standard military discount and the WeSalute+ rate for your typical rental length and frequency. If you rent even two or three times a year for a week or more, the deeper discount frequently outweighs the membership cost by a meaningful margin. If you rent once every year or two for a short weekend trip, the free discount from a company like Enterprise or Hertz may simply be the more practical choice.

Alamo, National, and SIXT

Alamo and National, both under the same parent company as Enterprise, generally follow a similar model to Enterprise's own military discount — accessible without a separate paid membership, applied directly during booking.

SIXT, an international rental car company with a more limited U.S. footprint than the major domestic brands, offers a smaller military discount, generally around 5 percent, for active-duty members and veterans. Because SIXT operates with fewer U.S. locations and specific territory restrictions on some rentals, it's worth confirming location availability and any out-of-territory fees before booking if you're considering this option specifically.

How to Actually Book With the Military Rate Applied

Look for a dedicated military or government rate link on the rental company's website, rather than assuming the discount applies automatically to a standard search. Most companies keep this as a separate booking path.

Have your military ID ready at pickup. Even when a discount is applied automatically online, most companies still verify eligibility with a physical ID at the counter.

Compare the free discount against a WeSalute+ or similar membership rate if you rent cars more than occasionally, since the math can favor a paid membership once you factor in multiple rentals across a year.

Check for regional or base-specific rental locations and rates. Some rental locations near major military installations offer particularly competitive military rates or added convenience, such as on-base pickup that avoids airport rental fees entirely.

A Few Practical Tips

Compare the military rate against general publicly available discounts before booking, since a broad promotional rate occasionally beats the standard military discount for specific dates and locations. This is worth a quick check rather than assuming the military rate is automatically the best price.

Ask about additional driver fees being waived. Some companies waive the additional driver fee for a spouse when the primary renter qualifies for a military rate, which can add up to meaningful savings for a family trip involving shared driving.

Book early during peak travel seasons. Military discount rates are still subject to the same overall vehicle availability as standard rates, and popular pickup locations can sell out of specific vehicle classes during high-demand periods regardless of which rate you're booking under.

Bringing It All Together

Rental car military discounts range from a modest, no-cost 5 percent with Enterprise or Hertz, to considerably deeper savings through a paid WeSalute+ membership with Avis or Budget. The right choice depends largely on how often you rent — occasional renters are usually well served by the free discounts, while frequent renters may find a paid membership pays for itself quickly.

If you want to see how this fits into the bigger picture, our Complete Guide to Military Travel Discounts covers every category of military travel savings, and our Military Travel Discounts Quick Reference Guide gives you a printable summary to keep on hand while planning.

A few minutes comparing your specific rental needs against these programs can meaningfully reduce what you pay at the counter — money better spent on the trip itself.

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