Find the best last-minute car rental deals
Tap the button below to begin your search for last-minute car rentals. Compare the best deals from leading rental providers and pay later when you select "Buy Now, Pay Later" at checkout.
Last-Minute Car Rentals, Pay Later
Reserve a car now and pay in weekly or monthly installments
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What are last-minute car rentals?
A last-minute car rental is when you rent a car on the same day or at short notice. They are great for spontaneous travel or unexpected emergencies when you need transport fast.
- Rent a car hours or days before pick up
- Perfect for unexpected emergencies or spontaneous trips
- Rentals are sometimes cheaper when booking last-minute compared to in advance
- Pick from a variety of cars from leading rental brands offering last-minute deals
- Avoid paying everything upfront with buy now pay later at Alternative Airlines
At Alternative Airlines, it's simple to book last-minute car rentals, whether it be same-day, tomorrow or next week. Our booking process makes it easy to find the best deals, fast. For added flexibility, choose to Buy Now, Pay Later at checkout to split your upfront cost over time, allowing you to rent the car you need without having everything saved up.
Why rent a car last-minute?
Flexibility for the unexpected
Last-minute car rentals are perfect for sudden, unexpected trips, whether that be in an emergency or a spur-of-the-moment vacation. Booking last-minute gives you the flexibility to rent a car as and when you need it without reserving in advance. Paired with our buy now, pay later options, you can rent and drive a car now and pay over weeks or months.
Last-minute car rental deals
When demand is low, some rental companies may offer lower prices and discounts on rates when you book at the last minute. Whilst this is not a guarantee, you can sometimes snag yourself a great deal with last-minute car rentals.
Secure a car only when you need it
When your plans are constantly changing, it can be a nightmare to reserve a rental car in advance. With a last-minute rental, you can secure a car when your plans are confirmed. Its convenient and flexible.
Rent a car last-minute and pay later
Need a car urgently, but need some flexibility to pay? At Alternative Airlines, you can split the cost of last-minute car rentals into weekly or monthly installments, helping you get on the road even if you don't have all the money to hand.
It's a great way to manage your travel cost all while being able to hit the road as and when you need to.
- Affordable payment plans that help you manage your travel cost
- No need to pay upfront, perfect for unexpected car rentals when you might not have the money to pay for your rental upfront
- Interest-free options available
- Pick from weekly or monthly installment plans
- Book with confidence through our trusted lenders, like Affirm, Afterpay, and Klarna
How to find cheap last-minute car rental deals?
Compare prices using Alternative Airlines car rental search tool
To secure the cheapest last-minute car rental deals, make sure to compare rates between different rental providers.
You can do this at Alternative Airlines by heading to the search bar at the top of the page, making a search and comparing the results using filter options. For example, to find the best deals for a last-minute rental you should filter by price, budget car rental brands like Thrifty, as well as off airport locations.
When you compare the best deals, you can find the cheapest rate that suits your rental needs.
Skip airport car rentals
Renting a car from an airport is often more expensive than renting a car collected from an off-airport or downtown site. Airport car rentals often come with convenience fees and taxes, making their rates more expensive.
Off-airport or downtown sites aren't charged extra fees by an airport, meaning they can keep their rates lower and more affordable.
If you're looking for a cheap last-minute car rental, make sure to go for off-airport or downtown locations if possible. You can do this by searching specific off-airport locations in our search bar above.
Be flexible with your rental choices
To find the best deals, try to be flexible with the location, type of vehicle being rented, and pick-up time.
Opt for a small or economy models which are often cheaper in general and are in less demand, meaning you are far more likely to get a good deal when booking last-minute.
Being flexible with your location and pick-up time can also help you find cheaper rates. For the best deals, search for off-airport locations and compare pickup times for lower prices earlier on or later in the day.
Consider shorter booking windows
While not a guarantee for lower prices, leaving it 1-7 days before your trip to book your rental car can help you catch last-minute price drops compared to booking 3-6 weeks in advance.
Disclaimer: You aren't guaranteed a cheaper rate if you rent a car at the last minute. Prices can sometimes increase when booking same-day or just a few days ahead of your trip and depend on multiple factors, such as the amount of demand there is for rental cars at your chosen location.
When to rent a car last-minute vs in advance?
When to rent a car at the last minute
Last-minute car rentals are generally booked with 1-2 weeks until your trip or less. Depending on availability and your chosen provider, it can even be on the same day. If you're thinking about renting a car last-minute, here's some things to consider:
- When your plans are flexible - Being flexible with the type of car you're renting, rental location, and time of pick up will all help you find last-minute availability, which is often more limited.
- The off-seasons - If possible, try to rent during the shoulder or off-seasons when rental companies' demand is lower, and availability is higher. Giving you a higher
- Off-airport locations - Renting a car last-minute from an off-airport or downtown location is often cheaper and more likely to have better deals. If possible, try to rent from off-airport locations if you're planning a last-minute rental.
- Secure your rental, pay later - Rent a car last-minute without paying everything upfront when you choose to pay later. Its a simple way to secure the best last-minute deals even if you don't have all the fund available to pay upfront.
When to rent a car in advance
If you're looking to rent a car in advance, you will want to book between 1-4 months ahead or longer. Depending on when you're planning to rent a car, you may want to give yourself more time to secure a car and the best deals.
- Peak travel periods - Summer months (June-August), holiday periods, and high-demand events, like a festival, will increase demand. We recommend booking your rental car 2-5 months in advance if you're renting over a peak period.
- Peak locations - Renting from popular areas, like airports, holiday hotspots, and commuter areas, will have less availability if you don't rent in advance, due to high demand.
- Specific rental needs - If you need to rent a specific type of car, transmission type or are renting for a vacation or occasion, you should reserve a car well in advance to make sure you get the rental you're looking for.
- Lock in low rates - Secure low rates with free cancellation when booking in advance. When a cheaper deal comes up, cancel and rebook to save some money. This way, you will always have a secure car, while having the flexibility to book better deals.
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Last-minute car rentals FAQ
Are last-minute car rentals cheaper?
Last-minute rentals can be cheaper, but aren't always.
Sometimes you will be able to get cheaper rental rates when booking last-minute, because providers will discount their prices when demand is lower. However, this is not guaranteed.
If you are renting last-minute, but it's during a peak period or popular location, you may find rates are the same or more expensive due to the level of demand.
Why are last-minute car rentals so expensive?
Some last-minute car rentals can be more expensive for the following reason:
- High demand - The location you're renting from has high demand for rental cars, which can lead to higher rental rates. This is usually in popular areas, like tourists hotspots and airports, as well as peak periods, like summer.
- Less availability - Renting last-minute can often leave you with fewer rental options to choose from. This may lead to you paying more if your chosen rental location only has more expensive car types available.
- Airport locations - Last-minute rentals from airports will often be more expensive than cars rented from off-airport or city locations.
When should I book a last-minute car rental?
If you are looking to rent a car last-minute, you should book 1-2 weeks in advance or less. Depending on which provider you choose, you may even be able to book a rental car the same day.
Where can I rent a last-minute car rental?
You can book a last-minute car rental from any location, whether it be from an airport or a city centre. All you've got to do is head to the search bar at the top of the page, enter your search preferences, and hit the search icon.
However, to find the best deals we recommend booking your last-minute car rental from either off-airport or city centre locations.
Can I book last-minute airport car rentals?
Yes, you can book last-minute airport car rentals through Alternative Airlines. All you've got to do is head to the search bar, enter your chosen airport, dates and pick up times, and hit search to compare the best deals.
Sometimes it's possible to find deals within 24 hours of arriving at an airport location, with many providers holding more cars at airport locations. Providers like, Alamo, SIXT, and Enterprise are prominent airport rental companies and will often have availability at the last minute.
Please be aware that renting from an airport location is often more expensive due to higher demand and convenience fees.
Can I rent an SUV last-minute?
Yes, you can! At Alternative Airlines, you can rent a variety of vehicles last-minute, including SUVs.
Simply make a rental search using the bar at the top of the page and filter by "SUV" on the car rental search results page.
Can I rent a car last-minute and pay later at Alternative Airlines?
Absolutely! At Alternative Airlines, you can split the cost of any car rental, even if you book it last-minute. Pay over weekly or monthly installments by selecting your preferred payment plan at checkout.
Once your installment plan is confirmed at checkout, your car will be reserved. Depending on your plans length, you may even finish paying after your finished with your rental car.
Paying later is a great way to secure the car you need, when you need it. Making last-minute car rentals far more affordable and flexible to budget.
What types of cars can I rent last-minute?
At Alternative Airlines, you can rent any car last-minute, these include:
- Small/mini cars
- Economy & compact cars
- Standard and full-size cars
- SUVs, 4x4s, and AWDs
- Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPVS) / minivans
- Trucks
- Cargo vehicles
- Premium/ executive/ luxury cars
- Electric and hybrids vehicles