Best Credit Card for Budget Car Rental in 2026
Budget Car Rental is classified under MCC 7512 (Car Rental Companies ( Not Listed Below)). The best card for Budget Car Rental purchases is the Hilton Honors Aspire ($550/yr annual fee), earning 7x on car rental companies ( not listed below) — an effective return of 3.50%.
Car rental companies like Budget are a great choice for earning rewards, especially if you travel frequently or need transportation for work. Cards in the premium category often offer higher points or miles on car rentals.
To maximize your rewards, consider redeeming points for car rentals rather than using cash or other cards.
Spending Math
If you spend $200 monthly at Budget Car Rental with the Hilton Honors Aspire card, which earns 7x points, that's $14 each month or $168 annually. A standard 1% cash back card would earn just $2 per month and $24 yearly.
Budget Car Rental purchases are classified under MCC 7512 (Car Rental Companies ( Not Listed Below)).
MCC Details for Budget Car Rental
Best Credit Cards for Budget Car Rental (2026)
How Budget Car Rental Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Budget Car Rental at their locations, your card issuer sees MCC 7512 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a car rental companies ( not listed below) merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "car rental companies ( not listed below)" purchases, Budget Car Rental transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Budget Car Rental specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Budget Car Rental transaction by checking your card's mobile app or statement. Some issuers display the merchant category alongside the transaction details. For the most accurate information, contact your card issuer's customer service and ask whether MCC 7512 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Bonus Category Match — Budget Car Rental
About MCC 7512: Car Rental Companies ( Not Listed Below)
Merchant Category Code 7512 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Car Rental Companies ( Not Listed Below) industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 7512, all qualifying card programs that include car rental companies ( not listed below) as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Car Rental industry group encompasses several related MCCs. Not all merchants in a similar business will share the same MCC — for example, a grocery store inside a warehouse club may code as wholesale ({"5300"}) rather than grocery ({"5411"}). Always verify with your issuer if you're unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for bonus rewards on your card.
Other Car Rental Companies ( Not Listed Below) merchants: ACE Rent A Car, Advantage Rent A Car, Alamo Rent A Car.
What You Could Earn at Budget Car Rental
Spending $200/month at Budget Car Rental with the Hilton Honors Aspire (7x on car rental companies ( not listed below)) earns approximately $168/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. After the $550 annual fee, that is $-382 more per year.