Costco Has a Surprisingly Useful Perk Most Members Don’t Know About

When you think of Costco, you probably picture paper towels stacked to the ceiling and a rotisserie chicken for dinner. Renting a car through Costco? Not exactly top of mind. But it should be. As many social media usershave pointed out, tucked inside your membership is a car rental program that’s surprisingly easy to use—and often noticeably cheaper than booking the usual way.

What is Costco’s car rental program?

Costco Travel, the retailer’s booking platform, lets members reserve cars through reputable companies like Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise. So no, you’re not getting some mystery fleet—you’re just tapping into pre-negotiated member rates those companies offer through Costco.

Just plug in your trip details, scroll through options, and book. That’s it. No toggling between five tabs or trying to decode which promo code actually works.

What kind of deals are we talking?

The savings can be real. Sometimes it’s a modest difference—maybe $30 or $40 less than booking direct. Other times, especially around holidays or for longer rentals, it can be a couple hundred dollars cheaper. As one social media poster pointed out, she saw her fare go from $677 to $290. Same car, same company. Savings of $387.

Another way Costco really earns its keep is in the fine print. Most reservations are fully cancelable, which means you can book early and then casually check back if you feel like it. If the price drops, you rebook. If it doesn’t, you’re still locked into a solid rate. It’s low effort, high reward.

What perks do you actually get?

The biggest one? A free additional driver on many rentals. If you’ve ever been hit with that fee at the counter, you know it’s not nothing. Having it included makes road trips, shared driving, or even just peace of mind a lot easier.

Pricing is also generally clean and upfront, which sounds basic, but isn’t always the case with car rentals. What you see is much closer to what you’ll actually pay, without the last-minute surprises that can creep in elsewhere.

And again, you’re still booking with major, reputable companies. You’re not trading reliability for a deal—you’re just getting a better version of the same booking.

Do you need a Costco membership?

You do. This is one of those perks that lives behind the membership wall. A standard Gold Star membership is about $60 a year, and the Executive tier is around $120 with some added rewards.

If you’re only renting a car once every few years, it might not feel essential. But if you travel even occasionally—or already have a membership for groceries, gas, or household basics—it’s an easy win. One good rental can cover that annual fee. Plus, as you may know, there are a ton of other great Costco perks, including some surprising ones.

Can you use it without Costco?

No shortcuts here. If you want access to Costco Travel pricing, you need to be a member. That said, it’s still smart to comparison shop. Pull up the same car on a rental company’s site or another booking platform and see how it stacks up. Costco won’t always be the absolute lowest—but it’s very often close, and the flexible cancellation policy gives it an edge.

Is it always the cheapest option?

Not every single time. Flash sales and certain credit card portals can occasionally beat it. But Costco is one of the most consistently competitive options out there, which matters when you don’t want to spend an hour price-checking every possible site.

Basically: It’s usually quite a steal to use the Costco Travel program for renting cars, and if you’re a Costco member already, it’s always worth a look.