National Rental Car Discounts
LAST UPDATE: 11/14/24
Looking for a National car rental coupon or National discount? On this page we’ve compiled National rental car discounts, codes and coupons that can potentially save you a hundred dollars or more on a one-week National car rental!
Read our general advice about renting a car, and find codes and coupons for other rental car companies.
National is a sister company to Alamo and Enterprise, and in many locations the three companies share facilities and cars.
Jump to:
- Locations for Disney World, Disneyland and Aulani
- Emerald Club, Emerald Aisle, Emerald Reserve & QuickRent
- Discounted Rentals from Undercover Tourist
- National Discounts, Codes and Coupons
Locations for Disney World, Disneyland and Aulani
Walt Disney World (Orlando, Florida)
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 Care Center, Dolphin Hotel near Disney’s BoardWalk, Shades of Green (military only) and Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace near Disney Springs. (Read more about renting cars on Disney property.)
Disneyland (Anaheim, California)
National is located on airport property in Orange County, CA (SNA).
National has a regular shuttle at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Disney’s Aulani Resort (Oahu, Hawaii)
National is located on property at the Honolulu airport (HNL). You’ll take a short shuttle ride to the rental car lot.
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.
Emerald Club members also receive special discounts via email. To book those discounts you need to use the link in the email and the coupon code will be pre-filled for that offer. Then fill out your reservation information.
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 is FREE to join the Emerald Club. (Use the “Sign In/Enroll” tab on the main menu on the top left of the page.)
Emerald Aisle and Emerald Reserve
National‘s 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.
National‘s 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.
Discounted Rentals from Undercover Tourist
We’ve been recommending Undercover Tourist for years as a great source for attraction tickets. They’re an exceptionally reliable company, and have excellent customer service. We can’t say enough good things about them. Read more about why we recommend them.
Undercover Tourist now offers fantastic deals on National car rentals!
Their rates are often the best rates you can find, anywhere. The catch is that you have to buy one or more attraction tickets (totaling at least $100) in order to get the lowest rates. At times the savings can be good enough to warrant buying $100 worth of tickets just to get the rental car deal. If you don’t need a theme park ticket, you can reach $100 by buying movie theater tickets or other vouchers. The car does not need to be rented in Orlando – they offer rates nationwide!
- Check out Undercover Tourist’s great car rental rates! (To see the absolute lowest rates, you must first add at least one ticket to the cart.)
National Discounts, Codes and Coupons
National is unusual among rental car companies in allowing you to “stack” multiple discounts when you book online. It offers discounts associated with Account Numbers (formerly known as Contract IDs) and coupons. Learn how to combine coupons and Account Numbers.
Jump to:
- Account Numbers (formerly known as Contract IDs)
- Coupons
National Account Numbers (formerly known as Contract IDs)
National Account Numbers are numbers issued to various businesses and organizations that offer a standard discount to their employees/members. National has many Account Numbers out there, some of which will give you a discount of up to 20% (5%-10% is more usual). Some of the National Account Numbers that are worth trying out are listed below.
Be sure to try your dates first without using an Account Number so that you know what the base rate would be, and then try any Account Numbers 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.
For even more savings, an Account Number can sometimes be combined with a coupon. Learn how to combine coupons and Account Numbers.
To use these Account Numbers, go to the National website and under “Start a Reservation,” enter your location, date and time, and type an Account Number into the Account Number field.
Account Numbers Open to Anyone
- Account Number 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.
National Account Numbers That Require Membership
- Emerald Club members can use their member Account Number for discounts with National. The number is usually pre-filled when you log into your account.
- Alaska Airlines Account Number is 5004076. You must belong to this airline’s frequent flyer program to qualify for discounts with National, but it’s FREE to join.
- American Airlines Account Number is 5036929. You must belong to this airline’s frequent flyer program to qualify for discounts with National, but it’s FREE to join.
- Delta Airlines Account Number is 5000302. You must belong to this airline’s frequent flyer program to qualify for discounts with National, but it’s FREE to join.
- Southwest Airlines Account Number is 5030346. You must belong to this airline’s frequent flyer program to qualify for discounts with National, but it’s FREE to join.
- United Airlines Account Number is 2700075. You must belong to this airline’s frequent flyer program to qualify for discounts with National, but it’s FREE to join.
- For credit card Account Numbers that can be combined with coupons, see the coupon section.
- Other affinity groups (universities, bar associations, etc) may have National Account Numbers with negotiated rates. If your organization offers free Emerald Club memberships, it almost certainly has its own Account Number.
- Military discounts – Account Number GOVRNR is for off-duty and retired military personnel traveling for leisure with National. A military ID card must be presented when you pick up the car. Thanks to Deborah N for this info.
National 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. For all coupons, blackout dates may apply and availability is limited.
Most coupons issued by National are electronic and do not require a physical coupon. If a coupon listed below will require a printout or paper coupon, that is noted. Be sure to take it with you when renting the car.
For even more savings, a coupon code can sometimes be combined with an Account Number. Learn how to combine coupons and Account Numbers. Many coupons will list a specific Account Number to be used along with the coupon code, but dozens of readers report using their coupons with Account Numbers other than the ones specified, and we have done this many times.
To use these coupon codes, go to the National website and then to the “Specials” page. From that pages select the discount and the coupon code will be pre-filled. Then fill out your reservation information.
National Coupon Codes Open to Anyone
- Get $15 off of a base rate of $185 or more at National at participating airport locations. Valid for all car classes. Some restrictions apply. Valid for pickups now through 12/15/24. Rental must be returned by 12/29/24.
- Get a FREE upgrade at National. Valid on Economy, Compact, Intermediate, Midsize, and Standard car classes only. Some restrictions apply. Valid for pickups now through 12/15/24. Rental must be returned by 12/29/24.
- Get 20% off weekend rentals at National at participating airport locations. Valid for all car classes. Some restrictions apply. A Saturday night keep is required. Valid for pickups now through 12/15/24. Rental must be returned by 12/29/24.
National Coupon Codes That Require Membership
- Warehouse clubs such as BJ’s Wholesale Club may offer National rental car discounts to their members. If you are a member, see their website or stores for specific codes or discount offers.
- Go through the National website to the “Specials” section and select the discount you want to use.
- If you are an Emerald Club member, use the Emerald Club link at the top of the National home page to make your reservation.
- Type in your location, date, time and car type information in the “Start a Reservation” section.
- Type an Account Number in the correct space. (If you belong to Emerald Club or joined through another organization, an Account Number may already be in that space. You may want to try other Account Numbers because some give better discounts than others.)
You should receive up to two discounts — the Account Number and the offer discount — plus Emerald Aisle or Emerald Reserve service, if you are an Emerald Club member.
We have successfully combined discounts from different sources (such as a coupon code from an airline frequent flyer program and a Account Number 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.