When it comes time to rent a car, two major national brands to consider are Thrifty and Dollar. Both Thrifty and Dollar have been around for decades and offer affordable car rentals focused primarily on airport locations.
But should you choose Thrifty or Dollar next time you need to rent? We’ll compare Thrifty and Dollar across key categories to reveal which rental company comes out on top.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Thrifty | Dollar |
| Locations | 1,000+ worldwide | 650+ worldwide |
| Fleet Vehicles | More variety in standard rentals | Very similar mainstream fleet |
| Pricing | Lower total cost with fees factored in | Lower base rates, higher fees |
| Loyalty Program | Blue Chip rewards members | Express focuses on fast service |
| Customer Service | Mediocre, high-pressure tactics | Very mixed, worse reviews than Thrifty |
| Best For | Global coverage, total price | Airline/hotel program partners |
Overview of Thrifty
Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Oklahoma, Thrifty Car Rental operates over 1,000 rental locations across the globe. Thrifty is owned by Hertz Global Holdings, which also owns Hertz, Dollar, and Firefly.
Thrifty focuses on value-driven rentals while providing decent customer service. Their fleet ranges from economy and compact cars to midsize sedans, SUVs, minivans, and trucks from major brands like Toyota, Nissan, Ford, and Chevrolet.
Some of Thrifty’s advantages include:
- Hundreds of airport locations worldwide
- Blue Chip rewards program with member-only discounted rates
- Straightforward online booking for airport rentals
Potential downsides to consider:
- Reports of older, high mileage vehicles
- Unexpected fees can increase total rental cost
- High-pressure tactics to buy insurance and addons
Overview of Dollar
Dollar Rent A Car was founded in 1965 and maintains over 650 rental locations today. Like Thrifty, Dollar is fully owned by Hertz Global Holdings and shares many similarities as a sister brand.
Dollar focuses primarily on airport rentals and caters to vacation travelers looking for affordable rates. Their fleet includes economy cars, SUVs, trucks, vans, and luxury vehicles.
Here are some of Dollar’s advantages:
- Airport presence in over 60 countries
- Partners with various hotel and airline loyalty programs
- Discount program for Dollar Express members
Some potential drawbacks to be aware of:
- Vehicles may have body damage or cleanliness issues
- Upsells can increase your total rental cost
- Reservation process and app need modernization
Comparison Between Thrifty And Dollar
Locations and Coverage Area
When choosing a rental car provider, having convenient pickup and dropoff locations is extremely important. Here is how Thrifty and Dollar compare in terms of locations:
Thrifty maintains over 1,000 rental spots globally across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and more. Dollar has around 650 locations worldwide, concentrated heavily in North America and the Caribbean.
Both Thrifty and Dollar focus predominantly on airport rentals. For U.S. airport coverage, Thrifty and Dollar have similar nationwide availability. Thrifty has a much larger international presence overall.
For domestic airport rentals, availability is comparable. But Thrifty offers better worldwide geographic coverage making them more suitable for global travel.
Also Read: Differences Between Sixt And Alamo.
Fleet Selection and Vehicle Choices
In addition to location availability, the types of vehicles offered is a key factor when selecting a rental car provider.
Thrifty and Dollar both provide a range of vehicles from leading mass-market brands like Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Chevrolet, Jeep, and Hyundai. Both focus on standard vehicles without much selection for luxury or specialty cars.
Dollar lacks mini-vans and larger passenger vans that Thrifty offers. Thrifty provides a bit more variety for standard rentals. For exotic or premium rentals, neither excels.
When it comes to the vehicle fleet, Thrifty and Dollar are very similar. However, Thrifty has a slight advantage for standard rental selection.
Cost Comparison and Discounts
Affordable pricing is a major priority for most renters when choosing a car rental company. Here is how Thrifty and Dollar’s rental rates compare:
Both Thrifty and Dollar advertise discounted rates and run frequent promotions to attract customers. Dollar tends to offer slightly lower base rates upfront before extras are added.
However, renters report Dollar has more hidden fees tacked on during pickup that bring the total price up considerably. Reviews indicate Thrifty’s final price is often lower.
For membership rates, Thrifty Blue Chip and Dollar Express offer similar discount club pricing. Overall, base rate pricing favors Dollar, but total rental cost comparison gives Thrifty the advantage.
Rewards Programs Comparison
Frequent renters can take advantage of loyalty programs to earn free rentals, upgrades, and other perks. Here’s an overview of what Thrifty and Dollar offer:
- Thrifty Blue Chip – Discount membership rates, expedited service, bonus points, and priority upgrades.
- Dollar Express – Members-only rates, faster reservations, and the ability to skip counter lines.
Dollar Express focuses exclusively on time-saving perks and faster bookings for members. Thrifty Blue Chip provides those benefits plus earnings toward free rentals.
For earning redeemable rewards, the Blue Chip program makes Thrifty the winner for loyalty and benefits.
Customer Service and Satisfaction
A rental car company’s reputation often comes down to the quality of their customer service. Here’s how Thrifty and Dollar compare when it comes to pleasing customers.
Unfortunately, both Thrifty and Dollar get their share of complaints when it comes to customer satisfaction. Renters report aggressive upselling tactics, hidden fees, and dirty or damaged vehicles at pickup.
However, Dollar tends to generate more negative feedback for customer service issues and misleading fees. Thrifty fares moderately better for service, though neither excels in this area. For customer satisfaction, Thrifty is the lesser of two evils.
Watch this video on Dollar Car Rental.
Also Read: Differences Between Thrifty And Alamo.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Overall, Thrifty is considered more reliable than Dollar when it comes to providing a quality rental experience. Thrifty offers better pricing, rewards benefits, and fleet selection compared to Dollar.
Dollar and Thrifty are sister rental companies owned by Hertz. While they share some corporate similarities, Dollar and Thrifty operate as separate brands with their own reservation systems, fleets, pricing, and locations.
Thrifty is comparable to Hertz since they are owned by the same parent company, but reviews indicate Hertz maintains their vehicles better. Customers report more issues with Thrifty cars being dirty, high mileage, or damaged.
Brands like Enterprise, National, and Alamo are typically the easiest to rent from thanks to streamlined online booking, pre-filled rental agreements, and fast airport pickup processes. Avoid rentals brands known for high-pressure sales tactics.
Also Read: Comparison Between Penske Truck Leasing And Ryder System
The Verdict
When weighing all the important factors for renting a car, how do Thrifty and Dollar compare overall? Here is a quick recap of our key findings:
Thrifty Pros
- Significantly larger worldwide location network
- Wider selection of standard rental vehicles
- Ability to earn rewards in loyalty program
Dollar Pros
- Slightly lower daily base rates on average
- Partners with airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Advance booking can secure best total price
Looking at the complete picture, Thrifty comes out ahead as the better option for most renters. Thrifty’s broader global presence, lower total price, and loyalty program make them a better value overall.
Dollar does offer some potential advantages like lower base fares and partnerships with popular travel programs. But Thrifty excels in the areas that tend to matter most – convenient locations, affordable pricing, and benefits for repeat customers.