If you’re looking for a rental car online, you’ve probably come across EconomyBookings. The prices can sometimes look surprisingly low, which naturally raises a few questions: Is EconomyBookings legit? Is it safe to book through them? And are those cheap rental car prices really as good as they look?
I’ve used EconomyBookings myself for a rental car in New Zealand and had a good experience. But a personal experience is only one part of the picture, so in this review I’ll also look at how EconomyBookings works, what you should be aware of, and whether using a car rental comparison platform makes sense for your trip.
What is EconomyBookings?
EconomyBookings is a car rental comparison and booking platform, rather than a car rental company itself. In other words, it works as a middleman between travelers and car rental suppliers.
The company was founded in 2008 in Riga, Latvia, and says it has now helped more than 10 million customers book rental cars. It partners with hundreds of rental suppliers around the world and offers cars in thousands of locations.
This is important to understand before booking: when you reserve a car through EconomyBookings, EconomyBookings does not own the vehicle and is not necessarily the company you will deal with when you pick it up. The actual rental car is provided by the supplier listed with your booking.
The advantage is that you can compare different suppliers, prices and rental conditions in one place instead of checking dozens of individual rental company websites. EconomyBookings also displays supplier ratings, which can help you compare not just the price but also the reputation of the company you’re booking with.
And that last point is worth paying attention to. When I rent a car, I don’t automatically choose the cheapest option. I also look at the rental company, the reviews, the deposit, insurance conditions and the exact pick-up and drop-off terms.
Is EconomyBookings legit and safe to use?
Based on its history, scale and customer feedback, EconomyBookings is an established car rental booking platform rather than a company that has suddenly appeared online offering suspiciously cheap rental cars.
The company has been operating since 2008 and states that it has served more than 10 million customers and works with hundreds of rental suppliers worldwide.
There is also a substantial amount of customer feedback available independently on Trustpilot. At the time of writing, EconomyBookings has more than 150,000 reviews and a TrustScore of around 4.4 out of 5. The majority of reviews are positive, although there are also negative experiences, as you would expect with a company handling such a large number of rental bookings.
My own experience was positive as well. I used EconomyBookings when renting a car in New Zealand. The booking process went smoothly and, importantly, the rental I received matched what I had booked. I didn’t experience any major problems during the rental.
Of course, that doesn’t mean every EconomyBookings booking will go exactly the same way. The company is a middleman, so the experience you have at the rental desk will also depend on the actual supplier you choose.
Why are EconomyBookings prices sometimes so cheap?
This is probably the question that makes most people hesitate which I completely understand. When you see a rental car for considerably less than expected, it’s tempting to assume there must be a catch. But a comparison platform can sometimes offer competitive prices because it works with many different suppliers and negotiates or receives specific rates and deals from them. EconomyBookings itself explains that prices can include supplier discounts and special offers.
However, never compare rental car prices on price alone.
A cheap rental can become much less attractive if it comes with a high security deposit, restrictive mileage conditions, expensive additional drivers, limited insurance coverage or other conditions that don’t suit your trip.
Before booking, I recommend checking:
- Which rental company actually provides the car
- The deposit required at pick-up
- What insurance is included
- The excess you are responsible for
- Mileage restrictions
- Fuel policy
- Additional driver fees
- Pick-up and drop-off conditions
- Cancellation terms
The cheapest car isn’t necessarily the cheapest rental once you add everything up.
EconomyBookings: pros and cons
There are several reasons why I would consider using EconomyBookings when looking for a rental car.
Pros:
- You can compare multiple rental companies in one search
- Prices can be very competitive
- There is a large international selection
- Supplier ratings make it easier to compare options
- You can find both international and local rental companies
- My own booking experience in New Zealand was positive
There are also some things to keep in mind.
Cons:
- EconomyBookings is a middleman, not the rental company
- The quality of the actual rental experience depends partly on the supplier
- The cheapest offer isn’t necessarily the best deal
- Rental conditions can vary considerably between suppliers
- You need to read the terms carefully before booking
That last point is particularly important with rental cars in general. A booking platform can make the comparison easier, but it doesn’t remove the need to check the details of your rental.
So, is EconomyBookings worth using?
Based on my own experience and the information available about the company, I would consider EconomyBookings a legitimate option for comparing and booking rental cars.
I have personally used it in New Zealand and had no issues with my booking. The platform is also well established, has millions of customers and has a large volume of independent customer reviews.
That said, I would treat EconomyBookings like any other car rental comparison website: compare the complete rental conditions, not just the headline price.
For me, that’s the main benefit of using a platform like this. Instead of checking every rental company individually, I can see different options in one place and then decide which one fits my trip.
So, are the cheap prices too good to be true? Not necessarily. But before you click the booking button, take a few extra minutes to check exactly what is included. That can make the difference between finding a genuinely good rental deal and choosing a car simply because it has the lowest price.
Conclusion and further reading
I hope you found this article about EconomyBookings useful and that you have found the information that you were looking for. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. If you want to continue reading, you may also enjoy the following posts:
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