Discover Cars and Rentalcars both give a full refund if you cancel more than 48 hours before pick-up, and neither removes the rental company’s deposit. The main differences are what happens after that deadline and how their damage cover is described. Rentalcars gives a partial refund for late cancellations. Discover Cars spells out a refund-based Full Coverage with a €5,000 limit.
Terms were checked on 18 October 2026.
Both sites are brokers. They don’t own cars. They sell rentals from companies such as Goldcar, Centauro, Sixt or Avis, and the car, the desk and the deposit belong to that company. We have not booked through either for this comparison. Everything below comes from their published terms and help pages.
Side by side
| Discover Cars | Rentalcars.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Discover Car Hire AS, Latvia | Booking.com Transport Limited, England and Wales |
| Free cancellation | At least 48 h before pick-up, via “My Booking” | More than 48 h before rental start |
| Cancel under 48 h | Generally non-refundable, except the Full Coverage part | Refund minus 3 days’ rental; rentals of 3 days or less get nothing back |
| Refund form | Booking Credit by default; cash on request (wording differs between regional help sites) | Not stated on the pages we read |
| Own damage cover | Full Coverage: refund-based, up to €5,000 | Full Protection: underwritten by Zurich |
| Deposit at the desk | Still applies with Full Coverage | Credit card with enough funds for the deposit |
Prices are not in this table on purpose. Both sites show live rates that change every hour, and the same car can be cheaper on either site on different days. The honest way to choose is to search the same dates on both.
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Discover Cars
- Broker
- Refund-based Full Coverage
- Free cancellation
- Up to 48 h before pick-up
- Full Coverage
- Pay the supplier, claim back within 90 days; up to €5,000
- Deposit
- Supplier's deposit still applies, even with Full Coverage
- Card at the desk
- Most suppliers want a credit card in the main driver's name
-
Rentalcars.com
- Broker
- Free cancellation
- More than 48 h before pick-up; later, 3 days' rental is kept
- Card at the desk
- Credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit
- Full Protection insurer
- Zurich (EEA and UK residents)
Prices checked on 18 October 2026. They change often; check the final price before you pay.
Cancellation
For most trips, the 48-hour rule is what matters. Both brokers give a full refund before that point.
The difference is late cancellation. According to Rentalcars’ terms, if you cancel less than 48 hours before the start or at the counter, you get the booking price back minus three days’ rental. For a rental of three days or less, that means nothing back. Bookings labelled “non-refundable” are excluded from these rules.
Discover Cars says a booking cancelled less than 48 hours before pick-up is generally non-refundable, except the Full Coverage part. Its refunds go to Booking Credit by default, and you can ask for a cash refund. Discover Cars also warns that cancelling directly with the rental company is not a valid cancellation. Always cancel through the broker.
Damage cover: Full Coverage vs Full Protection
Both brokers sell their own cover against the rental company’s excess. Neither is the same as the rental company’s own insurance sold at the desk.
Discover Cars Full Coverage is described in detail on its help pages:
- It reimburses the excess and other eligible costs the supplier charges, including windows, mirrors, tyres, wheels, admin fees, towing, lost keys and misfuelling.
- It is refund-based. You pay the rental company first, then claim in “My Booking” within 90 days of return.
- The limit is €5,000, as shown on the voucher. You pay anything above it.
- It does not include third-party liability and does not remove the deposit.
Rentalcars Full Protection is underwritten by Zurich Insurance Europe AG for EEA residents and by Zurich Insurance Company Ltd, arranged by Cover-More Insurance Services, for UK residents. Rentalcars’ terms refer to the policy documents for the details. On the pages we could read, it was not stated whether it works as a refund after the rental company charges you. Read the policy wording before you buy.
Broker cover does not stop the rental company from blocking a deposit on your card. Depending on the company and car group, published deposits in Spain run from €300 at Sixt to €2,200 at Centauro. See our car hire deposit guide and excess insurance guide.
Card rules
Rentalcars’ terms say the main driver must bring a credit card in their own name, with enough available funds for the security deposit. The amount and accepted cards vary by rental.
Discover Cars says most suppliers require a credit card in the main driver’s name, usually Visa or Mastercard. Some offers accept debit cards. If you only have a debit card, filter for those offers and read the supplier’s terms on the voucher.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Discover Cars: Full Coverage terms, limit and claim deadline are published clearly
- Rentalcars: partial refund for late cancellations on longer rentals
- Both: full refund more than 48 hours before pick-up
Cons
- Discover Cars: late cancellations generally not refunded; refunds default to Booking Credit
- Rentalcars: how Full Protection pays out is in the policy documents, not on the main pages
- Both: the supplier's deposit still applies
Which one to use
Search the same airport and dates on both and compare the full price, the fuel policy and the deposit shown for each offer. If you want refund-based cover with a published limit, Discover Cars sets it out clearly. If your plans may change at the last minute on a longer rental, Rentalcars’ partial refund can matter more.
To start, compare prices on Discover Cars or search the same dates on Rentalcars.com.
If something goes wrong at the desk, CEC-España notes that the contract is normally with the rental company, not the broker. You can also ask your bank to refund an improper charge.
For airport details, see car hire at Malaga Airport, car hire at Faro Airport and car hire at Alicante Airport. More comparisons are in our companies and brokers guides. We may earn a commission from both brokers; see our affiliate disclosure and how we research.
Frequently asked questions
Is Discover Cars or Rentalcars better for free cancellation?
Both give a full refund if you cancel more than 48 hours before pick-up. The difference is later. Rentalcars refunds the booking minus three days' rental. Discover Cars says a booking is generally non-refundable under 48 hours, except the Full Coverage part.
Does Discover Cars Full Coverage remove the deposit?
No. According to Discover Cars, its Full Coverage does not remove or reduce the supplier's deposit. You pay the supplier for any damage first, then claim the money back within 90 days, up to €5,000.
Who is behind Rentalcars.com?
Rentalcars.com is a trading name of Booking.com Transport Limited, registered in England and Wales, according to its terms. Its Full Protection is underwritten by Zurich Insurance Europe AG for EEA residents and by Zurich Insurance Company Ltd for UK residents.
Do I need a credit card with Discover Cars or Rentalcars?
Usually yes. Rentalcars' terms say the main driver must bring a credit card in their own name with enough funds for the deposit. Discover Cars says most suppliers want a credit card, usually Visa or Mastercard, though some offers accept debit cards.
Who do I complain to if the rental desk overcharges me?
CEC-España, the Spanish European Consumer Centre, notes that the contract is normally with the rental company, not the broker. Start with the rental company and the broker, and you can ask your bank to refund an improper charge.
Sources
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