I don’t understand why it’s so expensive nowadays to rent a car. Maybe I’m wrong but it seems like a few short years ago, the prices were substantially lower (even when adjusted for inflation). I can understand the high prices in touristy areas but why were they so out of control when I booked a rental a month in advance for a suburb in Ohio?

This is why it’s now more important than ever to take advantage of every discount and promo code you can get. The American Express car rental discount programs are one way to do this.

Here’s a review of the various Amex car rental deals available as of February 2011. Please note that these can change at any time, which is why you should always check and confirm a discount is still valid with Amex customer service.

Discounts for American Express Open Savings (on business cards):

Hertz Rent-a-Car

• Hertz #1 Club Gold complimentary enrollement
• If you spend $500 to $2,500 annually on Hertz car rentals, you will automatically save 5%
• If you spend more than $2,500 annually at Hertz, your savings will be 10%

Don’t have an Amex business card? Then I highly recommend checking out my American Express Simply Cash review (no annual fee with excellent cash back and benefits).

AmEx Business Platinum Card savings and perks:

Many business owners are reluctant to apply for the Platinum Business card due to the annual fee. But the reality is that if you do a decent amount of traveling, the amount of money and time you will save with the card’s benefits will definitely make it worth your while. When it comes to car rentals here is what the card will give you in addition to any applicable Open Savings:

If you’re interest finding out more information about the card, you can check out Credit Card Forum’s sponsored signup bonus for the American Express Business Platinum Card

Double Membership Reward points through AXP travel:

Do you have an American Express that participates in the Membership Rewards program, such as the Green, Gold, or Platinum charge cards? If so, book your car rental using the American Express Travel Website and earn double points.

As you see, a lot of major car rental companies participate including Enterprise, Alamo, Payless, Thrifty, Budget and others. Don’t have a card with Membership Rewards? Then I recommend checking out these reviews of the American Express Gold or Platinum Card.

Car rental discount at Dollar:

Dollar Rent-A-Car occasionally features “Partner Special Offers” from various companies, including American Express. Here is a screenshot from the Dollar car rental website:

Car rental deals at National:

If you rent from National Rent-A-Car you may be able to snag some great discounts thanks to your American Express card. Check the National car rental website to see if there’s anything being offered. At the time of writing these were the promotions being advertised.

American Express Blue Savings Program:

If you have an American Express Blue, Blue Cash, Blue Sky, or Blue Sky Preferred card, then you can participate in the Blue Savings Program. Not only does it offer exclusive savings on auto rentals, but also hotels and restaurants.

In addition to the Enterprise Rent-A-Car discount shown above, at the time of this review the Blue Savings Program also offered savings at Hertz and Alamo:

• Hertz – up to 20% off in the U.S. and Canada, plus a free upgrade (expires end of April 2011)
• Alamo –  up to 25% off and a free upgrade every time you rent with Alamo – an “ongoing benefit” for cards in the Blue Savings Program.

Need a Blue Card? Then check out my Blue Cash review and the Blue Sky comparison (which includes the Preferred version).

Conclusion?

As you can see, there are a ton of different ways to score an American Express car rental discount! What a great, easy way to get a deal when renting a car, right?