https://community.aarp.org/t5/Benefits-Discounts/AARP-Travel/m-p/2662518#M3903 <P>First (and last) time using AARP travel to book anything. &nbsp;Booked a rental car for a trip to a military graduation in Virginia. &nbsp;Car company was Budget, and then the site offered rental protection which I accepted. &nbsp;AARP immediately charged me for the rental protection. &nbsp;Rental day comes and just before pick up time I get a call from Budget stating that they were all sold out and had no vehicles? &nbsp;Asked the agent what I was supposed to do and was told not their problem. &nbsp;Then the hassle of getting refunded the protection money already charged. &nbsp;Definitely would not recommend this service - book direct and don’t get screwed!</P> Fri, 20 Mar 2026 21:36:09 GMT ss281 2026-03-20T21:36:09Z https://community.aarp.org/t5/Benefits-Discounts/AARP-Travel/m-p/2662518#M3903 <P>First (and last) time using AARP travel to book anything. &nbsp;Booked a rental car for a trip to a military graduation in Virginia. &nbsp;Car company was Budget, and then the site offered rental protection which I accepted. &nbsp;AARP immediately charged me for the rental protection. &nbsp;Rental day comes and just before pick up time I get a call from Budget stating that they were all sold out and had no vehicles? &nbsp;Asked the agent what I was supposed to do and was told not their problem. &nbsp;Then the hassle of getting refunded the protection money already charged. &nbsp;Definitely would not recommend this service - book direct and don’t get screwed!</P> Fri, 20 Mar 2026 21:36:09 GMT https://community.aarp.org/t5/Benefits-Discounts/AARP-Travel/m-p/2662518#M3903 ss281 2026-03-20T21:36:09Z https://community.aarp.org/t5/Benefits-Discounts/AARP-Travel/m-p/2662529#M3904 <P>It doesn’t matter if you used AARP or booked directly. &nbsp;Budget, Hertz etc, many times rents out of cars and don’t have them ready on time, people turn them in late. They can’t turn them over and clean them fast enough many times. &nbsp;Has happened to me too many times to count, and I always book directly. &nbsp;It’s not AARP’s fault. &nbsp;And rental protection for car rentals is a joke, I never do it. The rental agencies try and sucker people into that. &nbsp;Sorry that happened, but wrong tree to bark up…rental companies need to do better on that score.</P> Fri, 20 Mar 2026 22:01:41 GMT https://community.aarp.org/t5/Benefits-Discounts/AARP-Travel/m-p/2662529#M3904 SereneSeagull 2026-03-20T22:01:41Z