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National Rental Car Discounts

LAST UPDATE: 6/28/08 - MOST RECENT ADDITIONS ARE IN RED

Looking for a car rental coupon or discount? On this page I've compiled National rental car codes, coupons and discounts that can potentially save you a hundred dollars or more on a one-week car rental!

To see codes and coupons for other rental car companies, plus general advice about renting a car, click here.

National used to be the "official" rental car company of Walt Disney World and Disneyland. In late 2002 its sister company Alamo (they are owned by the same parent company) became the "official" Disney car rental company.

Jump to:

Locations Near Disney World and Disneyland
Emerald Club, Emerald Aisle, Emerald Reserve & QuickRent
Discounts, Codes and Coupons

Locations Near Disney World and Disneyland

National is located on airport property in Orlando. You can just walk right out to the garage to pick up your car.

National also has locations on the Walt Disney World property at the Car Car Center, Dolphin Hotel near Disney's BoardWalk and Buena Vista Palace near Downtown Disney.

National is located on airport property in Orange County, CA (SNA). It has a regular shuttle at LAX.

Emerald Club, Emerald Aisle, Emerald Reserve & QuickRent

Emerald Club

National offers the unique Emerald Club program that allows you to bypass the check-in line by preregistering your personal information with National -- this can save you a lot of time. Instead of waiting in line, you go straight out to the garage or car lot, choose your car, and drive to the gate. There you present your driver's license, Emerald Club card and any coupons, and you'll be on your way in a few minutes.

MouseSavers.com reader Rebecca G notes that the rates for "young drivers" (under 25) seem to be lower for Emerald Club members.

Also, reader Gail H reports that once you are an Emerald Club member, "any family member living in your home, with a clean driver's license, major credit card and a license with the same address can drive a National car without an additional driver's fee being charged to them. They are automatically authorized."

It normally costs $50 to join the Emerald Club, but MouseSavers.com readers can get a FREE membership by clicking here. (Then click on the "Enroll Now" button on the left side.)

 

Emerald Aisle and Emerald Reserve

Emerald Club members have two options when reserving a car: Emerald Aisle Service and Emerald Reserve Service.

  • With Emerald Aisle Service, you reserve an Intermediate (midsize) car. When you arrive at the rental lot, you go straight out and choose any available car from the "Emerald Aisle." All of the Emerald Aisle cars will be at least Intermediate size. You may also find full size and specialty cars, which you can take at no extra charge. The Emerald Aisle option is only available to Emerald Club members who reserve an Intermediate car.

  • Emerald Reserve Service works a little like Emerald Aisle, except that you can choose any car type when reserving, and you get the exact car type you reserved. For instance, if you reserve a minivan, you just go straight out to the minivan aisle and choose the minivan you want.

Emerald Aisle/Emerald Reserve service is available at all of the major airports serving Walt Disney World and Disneyland, except Long Beach.

QuickRent

National also offers the QuickRent feature, which will allow anyone (not just Emerald Club members) to bypass the line and go straight to the car. You must provide a valid credit card number when booking online to take advantage of this feature, and there are a number of restrictions - one of them is that you can't use a coupon! QuickRent is available at 50 major airports in the US, including Orlando, Los Angeles and Orange County.

Discounts, Codes and Coupons

National is unique among rental car companies in allowing you to "stack" multiple discounts when you book online. It offers discounts associated with Contract IDs and coupons. Learn how to combine these discounts by clicking here.

Contract IDs

Contract IDs are numbers issued to various businesses and organizations that offer a standard discount to their employees/members. National has many Contract IDs out there, some of which will give you a discount of up to 30% (10%-20% is more usual).

For even more savings, a Contract ID can sometimes be combined with a coupon. Click here to learn how to combine them.

To use these Contract IDs, go to the National web site and under "Reserve Now," enter your location, date and time, and type a Contract ID into the Contract ID box.

Be sure to try your dates first using no Contract ID so that you know what the base rate would be, and then try any Contract IDs below for which you qualify, to see if that gives you a better discount. Occasionally the best rate is the plain old "web rate" without any codes at all.

Note: National's site now displays Contract ID discounts in Step 3 of the reservation, as a line item. (Previously it reduced the base rate displayed in Step 2.) Be sure to continue the reservation process to Step 3 for each Contract ID you try, in order to see the discount amount that will be applied, if any.

 

Some of the National Contract IDs that are worth trying out are listed below.

Open to Anyone

  • Contract ID 5000304 is for Wal-Mart customers (in other words, anyone) and provides up to 20% off.

  • Contract ID 5504966 appears on the Wal-Mart edition of the Rand-McNally Atlas. No proof of purchase needed. Thanks to Joe J for info.

  • Contract ID 3715444 is reportedly for readers of Car & Driver magazine. Thanks to Hot AirBus for info.
  • Contract ID NCRLESS is sometimes worth a try. This is an ongoing Internet promotion at National and is typically good for rentals within the next couple of months.

Requires Membership

  • AAA members can use Contract ID 6100253. Be sure to bring your AAA membership card with you. Thanks to Jennifer P for info.

  • AARP (up to 30% off) for members only (you must be 50 or older). See the AARP web site for the ID number.

  • AirTran Airways Contract ID is 6600422 - you may need to belong to this airline's frequent flyer program to qualify, but it's free to join. Thanks to Donna T for info.

  • Alaska Airlines Contract ID is 5004076 - you must belong to this airline's frequent flyer program to qualify, but it's free to join.

  • American Airlines Contract ID is 5036929 - you must belong to this airline's frequent flyer program to qualify, but it's free to join.

  • Continental Airlines Contract ID is 5007160 - you must belong to this airline's frequent flyer program to qualify, but it's free to join.

  • Delta Airlines Contract ID is 5000302 - you must belong to this airline's frequent flyer program to qualify, but it's free to join.

  • Emerald Club members can use Contract ID 5007125.

  • Entertainment Book owners get a special Contract ID that frequently provides excellent discounts on the base rate and can be combined with the very good coupons also included in the book.

  • Northwest Airlines Contract ID is 5037153 - you must belong to this airline's frequent flyer program to qualify, but it's free to join.

  • United Airlines Contract ID is 2700075 - you must belong to this airline's frequent flyer program to qualify, but it's free to join.

  • Warehouse Clubs like Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale Club may have contract IDs - if you belong to one of these, check with your local store.

  • Other affinity groups (universities, bar associations, etc) may have Contract IDs with negotiated rates - if your organization offers free Emerald Club memberships, it almost certainly has its own Contract ID.

Coupons

National's coupons for "weekly" rentals generally apply only if you stay for at least 5 days, which must include a Saturday night. National's "weekend" coupons usually apply only if you stay over a Friday and Saturday for less than 3 or 4 days. If your rental is doesn't fall into those categories and you can't use a coupon, be sure to try out various Contract IDs in order to get a good base rate.

For even more savings, a coupon code can sometimes be combined with a Contract ID. Click here to learn how to combine them.

To use these coupon codes, go to the National web site and under "Reserve Now," enter your location, date and time, and type a coupon code into the Coupon ID box. Be sure to try various combinations, including no coupon -- occasionally the best rate is the plain old "web rate" without any codes at all.

Be sure to print out your coupon at the time you make the reservation -- and take it with you on your trip! You will need it when you pick up the car.

  • Print this page, use the provided coupon code and pay for the rental with your Visa card and receive a FREE weekend day with a 3-day minimum/5-day maximum rental with a Saturday overnight keep of a compact through fullsize car. Expires 10/31/08.
  • Click here for a printable coupon for $30 off weekly rental of a compact through luxury car, minivan or SUV. Weekly rates require a 5-day minimum rental with a Saturday night keep. Valid for rentals picked up by 12/15/08.

  • Click here for a printable coupon for $15 off a three day weekend rental of a compact through luxury car, minivan, SUV or convertible. Valid for rentals picked up through 12/15/08.

  • The 2008 Entertainment Book offers many coupons for National, including $20 off weekly rental (midsize or larger car, 5 day minimum rental), one free weekend day (midsize or larger car, 3-5 days with Saturday overnight), one free day (midsize or larger car, 5 days or more rental - this coupon is particularly valuable for minivans, which have a high per-day cost), free upgrade and more. National coupons in the 2008 Entertainment Books expire 6/30/09. See your book for coupon codes.

  • Warehouse Clubs like Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale Club may have contract IDs - if you belong to one of these, check with your local store.

Here's how to combine the National discounts and perks:
  1. Go through the National web site.
  2. If you are an Emerald Club member, use the Emerald Club link at the top of the National home page to make your reservation. Otherwise, just use the "Reserve Now" form that's right there on the home page.
  3. Type in your location, date, time and car type information.
  4. Type a Contract ID in the correct space. (If you belong to Emerald Club or joined through another organization, a Contract ID may already be in that space. You may want to try other Contract IDs because some give better discounts than others.)
  5. Type ONE coupon code (if available) in the Coupon ID space.

You should receive up to two discounts -- the Contract ID and Coupon ID discounts -- plus Emerald Aisle or Emerald Reserve service, if you are an Emerald Club member.

Most coupons will list a specific Contract ID to be used along with the coupon code, but dozens of readers report using their coupons with Contract IDs other than the ones specified. I myself have successfully combined discounts from different sources (such as a coupon code from Entertainment Book and a Contract ID from AAA) dozens of times without any problems.

Be aware that codes are subject to capacity controls. If too many other people have already reserved cars during the time you're traveling, you may not be able to use your codes.

 

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