EASY WAY TO RENT CARS IN COSTCO

Here's how you can rent a car through Costco (COST)
Costco members can reserve rental cars at discounted prices from participating Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise locations.

Costco probably still wants customers to come to its stores. (Getty/Justin Sullivan)
Costco members can rent cars at discounted prices through Costco Travel.
The retailer's car rental program allows members to reserve cars from participating Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise locations.
Members need to be 25 or older to use the program.

A Costco membership comes with a number of benefits beyond access to the retailer's warehouses. Members can also get discounts on cars, auto parts, gasoline, and travel services, including car rentals.

Through Costco Travel, members who are 25 and older can get discounted rates on car rentals. The system works similar to the Costco Auto Program — Costco doesn't rent the cars itself, rather, it partners with a third-party supplier and uses its large membership base as leverage to negotiate discounted prices. The retailer's car rental program allows members to reserve cars from participating Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise locations.

Members can reserve a rental through the Costco Travel website or by calling 1-866-921-7925.

Here's how Costco's car rental program works:
1..Choose your pick-up and drop-off dates and location (Costco Travel)

The Costco Travel website allows members to make hotel reservations, purchase a vacation package, book a cruise, or rent a car. Once you've selected the "Rental Cars" tab, you're prompted to enter your zip code and when you're planning to pick up and drop off your car. While the default option is to pick up and drop off at the same location, you can also choose a different drop-off location.

Before members can look at available locations, they must also assert that they are at least 25 years old. While some of the rental services allow reservations from customers who are under 25, any members booking through Costco must be 25 or older

2..Select the locations you want compare (Costco Travel)

Once you've specified your zip code, pick up time, and drop off time, the website shows you participating locations in your zip code. You can also zoom out on the map to look at options outside of your zip code.

The map displays a small icon next to each location indicating which car rental company runs the location. If you just want options near an airport or from a single company, you can use a filter to view only the relevant locations.

After you've decided whether or not you want to use a filter, you can select up to four potential locations to compare against each other, using either the map or the numbered list beneath it.

3..Compare your options (Costco Travel)

After you've selected the locations you'd like to compare, the website creates a grid that lists the class of vehicle (compact, SUV, etc.) each location offers and the price you'd pay for a car from each class.

The website highlights the lowest available price for each class among the locations you've chosen, and clicking on the price for a given class and location allows you to see the brand and model that location offers. But while the website will indicate that you may receive, say, a Ford Edge if you're looking for a standard SUV, it also notes that you may receive a similar car instead.

This page also shows you the perks each location offers for each class, such as unlimited mileage and the ability to register an additional driver for free.

4..Select your add-ons (Costco Travel)

Once you've chosen the vehicle class you want and the location you'd like to rent it from, you have the option to select extra features for an added cost. While the features differ based on the car and rental service you choose, they include navigational systems, wi-fi, and satellite radio.

These features aren't included in the base price, but they're added into the total price before you make your reservation.

5..Reserve your car (Costco Travel)

After you've chosen all of the features you want, you'll see the final price for your rental. You don't have to pay for the rental, or even provide any credit card information, when you make your reservation, but you do need to prove you're a Costco member by logging in to your Costco Travel account or providing your Costco membership number.

Once you've picked up the vehicle and are ready to pay, the website notes that you'll probably have to use a major credit card. Debit cards are only accepted at some locations under specific terms.