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Headed abroad and planning a roadtrip?! Nice! Well maybe you’re on the hunt for a car rental platform that’s reliable, affordable, and user-friendly?
There are a few out there but today we’re gonna take a deep dive into EconomyBookings, the Latvian car-rental aggregator that’s become a favorite among budget-aware globetrotters.
I’ve packed this review with practical advice, red flags to watch for, and a proper comparison to Discover Cars to help you decide where to take the wheel next.
What is EconomyBookings?
The Broke Backpacker is supported by you. Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more.
EconomyBookings is an online car rental intermediary founded in 2008 in Riga, Latvia, by two ex-rowers turned entrepreneurs —Alen Baibekov and Igor Demchakov.
Their slick search interface aggregates prices from 600+ suppliers, covering 20,000+ locations in 180+ countries. They promise to help prospective road-tippers to find the “best prices, wide choice, and trusted service”—with multi-language support 24/5
It is important to understand that they are essentially a broker platform and they do not own any cars, or rent any cars themselves.
Finally, while Economy Bookings are part of the larger “Booking Group” they are in no way connected or affiliated with booking.com!
How the Booking Process Works
Booking through EconomyBookings is very straightforward— in fact almost too easy:
- Enter your pickup/drop-off locations and dates.
- Browse vehicle options from various suppliers.
- Choose add-ons like insurance, cross-border permissions, extra drivers, etc.
- Pay online (Visa, MasterCard, AmEx).
- Present required documents and a credit card deposit at the counter.
It seems quick and easy but there are a few important things to note here. In order for the supplier to actually hand over the keys to the rental car you booked, they will conduct some checks once you arrive at their office. As such it is vital to bring your drivers licence, passport, your voucher/confirmation from Economy Bookings and a Credit Card with a sufficient available balance to cover the deposit.
If you do not have a Credit Card, then the car provider will either refuse to give you the car or will insist you pay some additional outrageous premium or take out their top-tier insurance policy which will probably make you weep.
Before booking, always take time to pause and read the T&Cs. Cancellation windows, fees, and cross-border restrictions vary between suppliers, and these are highlighted below each vehicle image during booking.
To be clear, I have found that many car rental engines will let you make, and pay for, a booking that is actually not permitted by the supplier. Common examples are asking for pick up and drop in different countries only to find the vehicle is not permitted to cross borders. It’s on you to check this.
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Pricing & Value for Money
In our reckoning, EconomyBookings scores pretty damn well on transparency—base rates typically cover the car, local taxes, and standard fees. Extras like insurance, fuel, one-way/drop-off, and cross-border fees are usually not included and must be added or paid locally.
They offer excellent value, with Trust Pilot users frequently praising low prices and ease of use. But not all EB feedback is rosy — some travelers have flagged hidden charges, confusing communications, and deposit disappointments (we’ll get into this in “Cons”).
While researching this article, I ran some side by side comparisons with DiscoverCars and found they matched or beat their prices in some, but not in all of the test situations I created. In fact in one instance, even the cheapest offering from EB was 15% more expensive than the cheapest option from DC….
Either way, one top Car Rental Hack is to always use a few different comparison engines to get a true flavour before you make any booking.
Insurance Options – Should You Buy from Economy Bookings or the Supplier?
Without a doubt, Car rental insurance is one of the trickiest and most confusing areas of the booking process — and it’s one where many travelers end up paying much more than they need to.
Economy Bookings offers two main insurance routes:
Insurance Sold by Economy Bookings
When you’re on their site, after choosing your vehicle, you’ll see an option called “Full Coverage” (sometimes also referred to as “Economy Bookings Protection” or “Economy Bookings Excess Refund”). This is usually the cheapest insurance option and will mean you have sufficient cover to get the car on arrival and start your trip.
However this is not the same as the rental supplier’s insurance. It’s essentially a reimbursement policy:
- You still have to leave the full deposit with the rental company when you pick up the car.
- If the car is damaged or stolen, the rental company will charge you up to your excess (sometimes €1,000–€2,500).
- You then file a claim with Economy Bookings after your trip, providing paperwork and photos, and they reimburse you up to the coverage limit – provided their uphold your claim.
Pros:
- Usually cheaper than buying equivalent coverage at the rental desk.
- Can be purchased in advance, giving peace of mind before you travel.
- Covers extras that standard CDW often excludes — like windows, mirrors, tires, undercarriage.
Cons:
- Reimbursement model means you must pay the damage upfront and wait weeks/months for the refund.
- Claims process requires detailed evidence (photos, police report if applicable, official damage invoice).
- You’re relying on Economy Bookings’ own insurance administrator — not the rental company — so processing times and outcomes can vary.
Insurance Bought Directly from the Rental Supplier
When you arrive to pick up the car, the desk agent will almost always offer you their own Super CDW, Zero Excess, or similar upgrade.
This is primary coverage — meaning if you take it, the rental company won’t block a large deposit and you won’t have to pay out-of-pocket for covered damages. They will try to sell you this in pretty much all situations. Sometimes, shady suppliers will try to insinuate you need it which is not true*.
*Except in situations like not having a credit card or being a “young” driver.
Pros:
- No waiting for reimbursement — damage is handled immediately.
- Often reduces or removes the need for a deposit hold.
- Easier to deal with in emergencies (since it’s all with the rental company).
Cons:
- Almost always more expensive — sometimes 3 or 4 times the cost of Economy Bookings’ Full Coverage.
- May still have exclusions (tires, glass, undercarriage often require extra cover).
- Can be a hard upsell at the counter, especially if you already have other coverage.
Finally, your existing travel insurance MAY offer some form of cover. Or you can purchase 3rd party rental insurance but the supplier is not obliged to accept this. For this reason I kinda advise against it.
Customer Service & Support – What They Can and Can’t Do
One thing that some travelers often misunderstand about Economy Bookings is what kind of company it actually is. They’re a broker, not a direct rental provider. This means that when you book through them, you’re paying Economy Bookings, but you’ll actually be renting from a third-party supplier — like Hertz, Europcar, Goldcar, Sixt, or a smaller local company.
This setup has a big impact on what their customer service team can and can’t do for you.
What They Can Help You With
- Pre-booking questions – Clarifying rates, availability, included mileage, or insurance options before you book.
- Booking confirmations – If you haven’t received your voucher, or if the details are wrong (dates, car category, pickup time), they can reissue or correct it.
- Modifying or cancelling a booking – They can process cancellations within the free-cancellation window, update pickup/drop-off dates, or switch to a different vehicle category (subject to supplier approval).
- Assisting with insurance claims – If you’ve purchased Economy Bookings’ own Full Coverage, their team will process your reimbursement claim and tell you exactly what documentation you need.
- Escalating disputes – If you have an issue with a supplier (e.g., overcharges, service problems), Economy Bookings can reach out on your behalf to request clarification or resolution. However they may sometimes act as little other than a glorified postbox.
What They Can’t Do for You
- Control the rental counter’s policies – Deposit amounts, age restrictions, cross-border rules, fuel policies, and upselling practices are set by the supplier, not Economy Bookings.
- Waive fees charged by the supplier – If the rental company charges you for late return, cleaning, fuel, or traffic fines, Economy Bookings can’t cancel or refund these unless the supplier agrees.
- Provide roadside assistance – If your rental breaks down, you’ll need to call the supplier’s emergency number, not Economy Bookings.
- Override local laws or regulations – For example, they can’t change license requirements, environmental fees, or insurance minimums imposed in certain countries.
- Directly refund supplier-charged deposits – If you’re waiting for your security deposit back, it must be released by the rental company, not Economy Bookings (unless it’s a reimbursement under their own insurance).
The disconnect between broker and supplier can sometimes be really fucking frustrating. I recently had an experience where we booked a car to collect in Corfu airport and then the supplier attempted to levy all kinds of extra charges. In the end we had to walk away, without our car and there was nothing that AutoEurope could (or at least would….) do.
Compare To Discover Cars
OK despite been around since 2008 Economy Bookings is quite new to me. I am however quite familiar with DiscoverCars so lets do a little comparison.
At first glance, I find that the platforms look quite similar – blue(ish) background with a yellow search box. As DiscoverCars was only founded in 2013, we will assume that the Economy is the original DOG.
Both platforms make it clear right from the search box that drivers younger than 30 but older than 65 may be levied with extra charges.
To test this out I start by creating an identical search on each platform. We want to pick up and drop off a car in Corfu (all locations) and the dates are 15th – 22nd September 11:00 am. The initial winner here is Economy Bookings who have a Fiat 500 at £71.01 whereas the cheapest option on Discover is a Fiat 500 at £82.00. Economy Bookings ‘full cover’ is also cheaper than the one offered by Discover.
I then repeat this a few times using different locations and destinations and find that in 3 out of 4, EB matches DiscoverCars except in one where DiscoverCars has the best deal. The take away is that it is always worth trying both platforms.
Pros & Cons of Economy Bookings
Pros
- Extensive global coverage—20,000+ locations, 600+ suppliers Economybookings.
- Attractive pricing and intuitive booking UI.
- Decent insurance add-ons and support in multiple languages.
Cons
- Deposit and hidden surcharge issues reported by users.
- No physical branches—customer service may feel remote or unreachable.
- Cross-border and mileage rules are supplier-dependent – sometimes poorly communicated.
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Final Thoughts
EconomyBookings is a powerful aggregator that promises good variety and value—if you do your homework. Its real strengths lie in the breadth of coverage it offers and ease of use, but as ever the devil is in the details. Scrutinize terms, thoroughly photo-document your car, and confirm cross-border and deposit policies in advance.
If you’re prepared to navigate the fine print, then this platform can score you great deals—and an excellent rental. If not, you might find peace of mind (and potentially better support) with services like DiscoverCars or booking directly with big-name brands.
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