EconomyBookings review: compare car rentals in 180+ countries

What EconomyBookings does for you

EconomyBookings is an online car rental platform, not a rental company. It owns no cars: it compares offers from international and local suppliers and books the one you choose. The car itself, the rental agreement and the deposit come from that supplier.

According to its own site, EconomyBookings:

• has operated since 2008 and says it has served 8.5 million customers;
• connects you with 600+ suppliers at 20,000+ locations in 180+ countries;
• offers multilingual customer support 24/5 by phone and email;
• shows verified customer reviews for each supplier in the search results;
• has Android and iOS apps and also sells flights.

The trademark belongs to Booking Group Corporation Ltd., registered in Latvia (company number 40103394295).

Who EconomyBookings is for

• Travellers comparing brands for one airport or city in a single search.
• Holidaymakers who want local suppliers, including smaller companies that are hard to find elsewhere.
• Drivers who want an excess-cover add-on at booking time.

It is less suitable if you have no credit card. You can book with a debit card, but at the rental desk you must show a physical credit card in the main driver's name for the security deposit. Debit, prepaid and neobank cards are generally not accepted for the deposit. You also need a valid driving licence and a passport or ID. Most suppliers require drivers to be at least 21, and many add a young driver fee for ages 21-24.

Prices, payment and Full Coverage

The price you see in the search is fixed at booking, though deposit amounts vary by supplier. Depending on the supplier, you either prepay the full amount online, or pay part of it to EconomyBookings and the rest at the counter.

EconomyBookings sells its own Full Coverage add-on. It reimburses the excess the supplier charges you after damage or theft, including bodywork, glass and tyres, up to €1,700. Claims must reach EconomyBookings within 30 days after the rental ends. It does not replace the supplier's Collision Damage Waiver, and the supplier will still block a deposit on your card.

If the price of a fully prepaid booking drops before the rental, EconomyBookings may rebook it and credit the difference to your E-Wallet, provided you are registered and have activated the E-Wallet. Affirm buy-now-pay-later is listed as a payment option (subject to Affirm's eligibility check); it covers only the online prepayment, not the deposit.

Why choose EconomyBookings

One search shows many suppliers with ratings and full rental terms before you pay. Most bookings can be cancelled free up to 48 hours before pick-up, and the operating company and its terms are public.

Cancellation and refund rules

• Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick-up on most car bookings, done in "My Bookings" or through support.
• Less than 48 hours before pick-up: no refund. A no-show, missing documents or no valid credit card for the deposit also means no refund.
• Refunds go to the E-Wallet by default as BookingCredit. You can withdraw it to the original payment method free of charge, or use it for a future booking. BookingCredit is valid for two years.
• Request window: a cash refund must be requested within six months of the cancellation.
• Cancel through EconomyBookings, not the supplier, or the refund policy does not apply.