"Two labels, one parent company. Dollar tends to be cheaper and the data backs that choice up at most airports — especially in Mexico, where the gap between the two is widest. For Europe, either is fine. Book whichever is cheaper and focus your energy on what happens at the counter."
Dollar and Thrifty are the same company. Hertz bought both in 2012 and runs them off the same infrastructure — same fee structure, same fleet, and at some airports the same counter with the same staff. If you're going back and forth between two tabs trying to figure out which is "better," you can mostly stop. The name on the booking matters less than where you're picking up.
That said, there are real differences worth knowing — mainly around price and a handful of airports where one brand noticeably outperforms the other.
Quick comparison
Same parent, similar scores, one meaningful price difference. That's most of the story.
| Category | Dollar | Thrifty |
|---|---|---|
| Parent company | Hertz Global Holdings | Hertz Global Holdings |
| DiscoverCars overall | 8.2 / 10 | 8.3 / 10 |
| Trustpilot score | 2.1 / 5 | 1.9 / 5 |
| Base price | Typically lower | Typically higher |
| Loyalty program | Dollar Express | Blue Chip |
| Counter fees | Same as Thrifty | Same as Dollar |
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What's the same — worth knowing upfront
The fees at the counter are identical across both brands at Hertz-operated locations. You'll get the same insurance offer, the same deposit hold, the same toll pass pitch. The agent script doesn't change based on which name is on your booking. If you've rented from one of them before, you already know what to expect from the other.
Loyalty programs are equivalent too. Dollar Express and Blue Chip earn and redeem the same way. If you've got points with one, stick with it — there's nothing to gain from switching.
One thing that surprises people: at some airports, a Dollar booking routes to the Thrifty counter. Same staff, same cars, different logo on the paperwork. It doesn't usually affect the rental itself, but check your actual pickup instructions before you travel rather than assuming the brand name tells you where to go.
Where they actually differ
Price
Dollar is usually cheaper — the gap is consistent enough across dates and locations to be a reliable default. That's the base rate before anything gets added at the counter. If your credit card covers collision damage, that saving tends to hold through to what you actually pay. If you're paying for insurance at the desk either way, the gap narrows — but Dollar still edges it most of the time.
Mexico — and this is the one that actually matters
If you're heading to Cancun or Los Cabos, book Dollar. Full stop. At both airports, Thrifty's scores are noticeably lower than Dollar's — we're talking 5.0 vs 7.0 in Cancun, 5.8 vs 6.6 in Los Cabos. Dollar isn't perfect there either, but the gap is consistent and wide enough to matter — and it's the same price decision you'd make anyway.
Atlanta is worth a quick mention too. Both brands score poorly at ATL — Dollar at 4.9, Thrifty at 5.5. If you're flying through Atlanta and haven't locked anything in yet, it's worth taking 60 seconds to check what else is available before you commit to either.
Europe — either is fine
Across France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Morocco, both brands score consistently in the 8s. The counter experience at Hertz-managed European locations is reliable for both. If you're going to Europe, pick on price and don't spend another minute on it.
| Airport | Dollar | Thrifty | Best pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta (ATL) Georgia | 4.9 | 5.5 | Check alternatives |
| Cancun (CUN) Mexico | 7.0 | 5.0 | Dollar |
| Los Cabos (SJD) Mexico | 6.6 | 5.8 | Dollar |
| Los Angeles (LAX) California | 7.5 | 8.0 | Either |
| Orlando (MCO) Florida | 7.9 | 8.0 | Either |
DiscoverCars scores by airport, May 2026.
What's going to happen at the counter
Most of what gets added at the counter is something you can say no to. The deposit hold is the one exception — every traveller pays it. Everything else is a choice, and knowing that before you get there changes how the conversation goes.
The thing that catches people off guard isn't that the fees exist — it's that none of them show up at the booking stage. You paid the base rate online. Everything below appears at the desk.
| Fee | Typical charge | Risk | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) | Varies by vehicle class and location — confirm at booking | Medium | You can decline this. Both brands present it the same way at the same counter — knowing what coverage you're arriving with before pickup means the answer is ready before the question is asked. |
| Security deposit hold | Up to $200 hold on credit cards; up to $500 on debit cards | Medium | Can't avoid this one at either brand. It's a hold, not a charge — frozen from pickup until a few days after return. Same amount, same process at both. |
| Toll pass (PlatePass) | Varies by location — confirm at pickup | High | You can decline this. Skip it if you can pay tolls directly on your route. Added by default at some locations — watch the screen as they process the booking. |
| Fuel option | Market rate + fee | Medium | You can decline this. Only saves money if you return on empty. Fill it yourself. |
| Additional driver | $13.50/day standard; capped at $189 per rental | Medium | You can decline this if travelling alone. Waived for spouses at some locations — worth asking. |
| Young driver (under 25) | $27-$29/day at most US locations | High | Not optional. Run the real total with it included before you compare prices. |
Counter fees at Dollar and Thrifty — same across both brands. Ranges based on published rental conditions and rates reported across US locations, May 2026.
The LDW is the biggest decision. If your travel credit card covers rental car damage — many do — you don't need it. The key is having your card's benefits summary ready before you get to the desk. Without it, the conversation is harder to move past quickly.
The deposit is worth knowing about before your card statement surprises you. It's a hold, not a charge — frozen from pickup until a few days after return. It comes back in full as long as the car does.
So which one should you actually book?
Going to Cancun or Los Cabos? Dollar. Not a close call — the gap is consistent and wide enough to matter.
Dollar is noticeably cheaper at your airport? Take it. With credit card coverage sorted and a location scoring above 7.0, that price difference is real money in your pocket.
Picking up in Atlanta? Both brands score below 6.0 at ATL. Check what else is available — this is one place where the brand choice matters less than getting off these two entirely.
Going anywhere in Europe? It genuinely doesn't matter. Both brands perform well. Pick whichever is cheaper and move on.
Already got points with one of them? Stay with it. The programs are equivalent and neither brand is better enough elsewhere to justify switching.
Every other situation? Go with Dollar for the price edge — but look up your specific airport on DiscoverCars first. That score tells you more than the brand name does.
The verdict
If you haven't booked yet: Dollar is the cleaner pick in most situations — cheaper, and the scores back it up. Mexico is the one place where that call is clear enough to be definitive: Cancun and Los Cabos, go with Dollar. Europe, just take whichever is cheaper. And wherever you're picking up, a quick check of the DiscoverCars location score for that specific airport tells you more than any brand name will.
If you're already booked: The counter is the same whichever brand you booked. Before pickup, find out what coverage you're arriving with — your credit card may include rental collision protection, or it may not. For a longer trip or unfamiliar roads, having some form of coverage is worth the cost whatever the source. Screenshot your booking confirmation. At the counter, ask for a full line-item breakdown before you sign — the fees aren't a problem when you're already expecting them.
If something came up after you returned: Start with the booking platform if that's how you booked — they have more leverage with the supplier. Then reach out to the brand directly in writing with your rental agreement and any photos from pickup. Give it a week. If it stays unresolved, your card issuer can walk you through disputing the charge.
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- Neither brand shows the deposit hold, toll pass, or insurance offer at booking — those appear at the counter on top of the price you already paid.
- In Cancun and Los Cabos, both brands run through a local franchise. Thrifty's scores there are well below its European average — Dollar is the safer pick at both.
- At some airports a Dollar booking routes to the Thrifty counter. Confirm your pickup details before you travel.
- At Atlanta (ATL), both brands score below 6.0. Check alternatives before committing to either brand.
- Location score tells you more than brand score. An 8.3 overall average does not protect you at a 5.0 airport.
Frequently asked questions
Are Dollar and Thrifty the same company?
Yes — Hertz has owned both since 2012. Same infrastructure, near-identical fee structure, same fleet, and at some airports literally the same counter. For most travellers the two brands are functionally identical. What varies is where you're picking up.
Which is cheaper — Dollar or Thrifty?
Dollar, usually. The gap is typically 8-15% cheaper on the same car and dates. Both brands add the same fees at the counter, so if your credit card covers collision damage, that base rate difference tends to hold through to what you actually pay.
I already booked — what should I do before pickup?
The counter experience is the same whichever brand you booked. Before pickup: find out what coverage you're arriving with — your credit card may include rental collision protection, or it may not. Knowing that before you get to the desk means the insurance conversation is settled before it starts. Screenshot your booking confirmation. At the counter, ask for a line-by-line breakdown before you sign anything.
Something went wrong after I returned the car — what are my options?
If you booked through a third-party platform, start there — they have more leverage with the supplier than you do going direct. Then contact the brand in writing with your rental agreement and any pickup photos. Give it one week. If nothing moves, your card issuer can walk you through a dispute.
Is Dollar or Thrifty worth it if the price is significantly lower than other brands?
If the price works for your budget — yes. Both brands are genuine budget operators and the rates are real. The counter experience is the same at both, so preparation matters more than which name is on the booking. Find out what coverage you're arriving with, have your confirmation ready, and the saving tends to hold. The location score for your specific airport is the one variable worth checking before you commit — it tells you more than either brand name does.
Which Dollar and Thrifty locations have the best scores?
Portugal is Dollar's strongest airport (8.7) and Morocco tops Thrifty's list (8.8). Both brands score well across Europe. Cancun, Los Cabos, and Atlanta are the weakest for both — Atlanta is the one place where neither brand is a confident pick.
Do Dollar and Thrifty ever share the same counter?
More often than most people expect. At some airports a Dollar booking routes to the Thrifty desk — same agent, same cars. Always confirm your actual pickup details before you travel rather than assuming the brand name matches the sign at the desk.
