Car rental affiliate programs: how to earn more
Below are the top programs for 2025, followed by seven practical steps to grow your earnings.
Car rental affiliate programs offer travel bloggers an excellent opportunity to monetize their content. By promoting car rental services, bloggers can earn commissions while helping their audience find convenient and affordable transportation options. This guide shows which car rental affiliate programs to use and how to implement them so links actually convert.
Top car rental affiliate programs
Rentalcars.com
Best for: Global coverage and major airports
What to promote: Deep-link to specific pickup city/airport searches with dates prefilled
DiscoverCars
Best for: Price comparison across suppliers
What to promote: Exact route and date combinations mentioned in your posts
Expedia car rental
Best for: Bundling with flights and hotels
What to promote: Package options or filtered car hire results
Auto Europe
Best for: Europe-heavy audiences and one-way rentals
What to promote: Deep links highlighting long-term or one-way rental options
Skyscanner car hire
Best for: Metasearch and deal-hunting readers
What to promote: Filtered search results for exact locations
Comparison table
| Program | Best for | What to promote |
|---|---|---|
| Rentalcars.com | Global airport coverage | Specific pickup city/airport searches |
| DiscoverCars | Price comparison | Exact route and date combinations |
| Expedia car rental | Bundles with flights/hotels | Packages or filtered results |
| Auto Europe | Europe and one-way rentals | Long-term and one-way rentals |
| Skyscanner car hire | Metasearch deals | Filtered search results |
1. Choose high-commission, high-EPC partners
Selecting car rental programs with strong EPC, long cookie windows, and solid geographic coverage is crucial. Focus on partners that support deep linking to exact pickup locations, dates, and car types. This converts far better than generic homepage links.
2. Create comprehensive content
Develop detailed guides about renting cars in various destinations. Include the best companies, insurance tips, and where/when to rent. High-quality content builds trust and increases clicks on your affiliate links.
3. Optimize for SEO
Target terms such as:
• car rental affiliate programs
• car hire affiliate
• rental car affiliate
• city modifiers (e.g., car rental affiliate Orlando)
Include these keywords in titles, headings, meta descriptions, and internal links from itineraries and destination guides.
4. Incorporate affiliate links naturally
Place your links strategically, not excessively:
• Add one link near the top, one mid-post, and one CTA at the end
• Always deep-link to the exact pickup/return point and dates
• Highlight perks such as free cancellation or one-way availability
5. Leverage social media
Share reels, stories, and posts about road trips, rental costs, and booking tips. Direct users back to your blog, where the optimized links convert.
6. Utilize email marketing
Email builds a direct and dependable relationship with readers. Send rental tips, deals, and destination guides regularly to drive consistent clicks.
7. Monitor and optimize performance
Track EPC by partner and by post.
Use UTMs to understand which channels drive conversions.
Replace underperforming partners after 60–90 days.
Key takeaways
• Pick 2–4 car rental affiliate partners aligned with your niche and audience geography.
• Deep-link to exact pickup locations, dates, and car types.
• Track EPC monthly and adjust your partner mix accordingly.
• Use Stay22 tools alongside your rental links to capture additional bookings for hotels and activities.
FAQ
Which pays better, OTA programs or metasearch for cars?
OTAs often convert better when readers are close to booking, while metasearch performs well for comparison shoppers. Evaluate EPC rather than relying on published commission rates.
How many car rental affiliate programs should I start with?
Most bloggers start with 2–3 core programs. Too many dilutes performance and complicates tracking. Choose partners that align with your top destination traffic.
Try Stay22 free