Rentcars Review 2026

Neither site owns vehicles. Rentcars' terms say it "acts as an intermediary in booking vehicle rentals offered by rental companies" and is not responsible for failures in the supplier's service. Discover Cars' terms say the same in other words: Travel Drive "does not operate a car vehicle fleet and does not provide car rental services itself". The car, the counter staff and the contract you sign are the rental company's.

Rentcars is stricter on paperwork: its terms require the voucher to be printed and presented (1.2), the licence to be the original — screenshots, photos and copies are refused (2.3.2), an original passport where the destination requires one (2.4.5), and a physical credit card in the main driver's name (2.3.3 / 2.4.4). Discover Cars accepts a printed or electronic voucher, "depending on the car rental company's requirements", plus the main driver's licence, an International Driving Permit where the company asks for one, an ID or passport, and a card in the same name as the licence.

The rental company, on the main driver's card — neither platform charges it. Rentcars says the card limit must cover the deposit and that the amount is "blocked for the duration of your booking"; prepaid, virtual and contactless cards are refused, and some rental companies also refuse cards from digital banks. Discover Cars says the deposit covers the insurance excess, fines, tolls and refuelling, that each main driver presents their own card when several cars are booked, and that the hold "usually" lapses within three weeks of the rental ending.

Money, with Rentcars: cancelling before the scheduled pickup means it may retain 20% of the total booking, and if the rental company charges its own retention fee only the higher one is taken. Discover Cars refunds no cash — it issues Booking Credit that expires after three years and cannot be used at the counter: the full amount as credit when you cancel more than 48 hours before pickup, only the Full Coverage part inside 48 hours, and nothing once the pickup time has passed.

Rentcars publishes the numbers: late pickup is held for 59 minutes in Brazil and 29 minutes elsewhere, or until the branch closes, whichever comes first, and some companies allow no grace period at all. A no-show or a turn-down can each be charged at 20% of the booking, and refunds to a card take up to five calendar days. Discover Cars refunds no unused hours or days if you collect late or return early, and asks you to notify it at once if you will not collect the car, or a no-show fee can apply.

Rentcars states a minimum of 21 in Brazil and 25 abroad, with possible surcharges for drivers under 25 or over 70; foreign rentals need a licence issued at least two years earlier, digital licences are not valid abroad, and an International Driving Permit is mandatory in Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Switzerland and Ukraine. Discover Cars' published terms set no minimum age and defer to the rental company's conditions, which appear on the voucher.