WASHINGTON, DC — A mom looking for a minivan for a family road trip says she found a much cheaper price after checking Costco Travel instead of booking directly with a rental company. In a TikTok video, Gingy, who posts as @toldbygingy, said she was comparing options for a Chrysler Pacifica or a similar seven-seat vehicle when the numbers surprised her.
Her first quote came in at a little over $1,000. After she used her Costco membership and booked through Costco Travel, she said the price fell to $570 for the same kind of vehicle from the same company. She described the difference as more than $400 in savings and said she was shocked by how large the gap was.
How Gingy found the lower price through Costco Travel
Gingy explained in the comments that she went to Costco’s website, clicked the travel tab, entered her dates, and checked the return time before the lower quote appeared. She said she also tried Expedia for a second comparison and found that it was cheaper than going straight to the rental counter, but Costco still came out ahead.
The vehicle she was trying to reserve was not a luxury splurge. It was a practical minivan for carrying kids and luggage on an upcoming trip. That makes the price gap more meaningful for families, especially when a larger vehicle can quickly push a travel budget higher than expected.
She also made clear that she was not shopping for a permanent vehicle. The rental was only for transportation during the trip, which is why she was focused on the lowest possible price for the dates she needed.
What Costco Travel says about rental car bookings
Costco Travel works with major rental companies including Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise. On its website, the company advertises “exclusive Costco member rates” on rental cars, giving members a way to compare rates before they commit to a booking.
Costco also says customers can book now and pay at the counter, and it does not charge cancellation fees. That flexibility can matter when travel plans change or when a lower rate appears later. According to Costco, if a better deal turns up, customers generally need to make the new reservation first and then cancel the original one because existing rental bookings cannot be changed.
The company also says the second-driver fee is waived on many rental car bookings, another detail that can help families or groups trying to split driving duties on a long trip.
Why the cheapest headline rate is not always the final bill
Even with a strong Costco discount, rental car prices can still change a lot depending on where the car is picked up, the dates, the type of vehicle, and demand in that market. That means a quote that looks best at first glance may not be the cheapest once the full reservation is priced out.
Costco Travel advises shoppers to compare its rates with the rental company itself and other travel sites before booking. Drivers should also pay attention to taxes, fees, insurance choices, mileage limits, and pickup location. Those extras can change the final cost enough to erase some of the savings from a low base rate.
For travelers who need a bigger vehicle, those details matter even more. A minivan or SUV can cost substantially more than a compact car, so checking a members-only rate before confirming another booking can be a simple way to avoid overspending.
Viewers say they have seen similar rental savings
Gingy’s video drew responses from viewers who said they had also found worthwhile savings through Costco Travel. One commenter said the membership had paid for itself after their own van rental came in about $300 cheaper than a reservation without it.
Gingy replied that she shared the tip because the difference was so dramatic. She said she had not expected the cost to fall so sharply and repeated that she was “literally shocked” by the result. Another viewer asked how she had managed to get the lower price, and she walked through the steps she used on Costco’s site.
One person joked about why she would rent a minivan instead of buying one. Gingy answered that she only needed a rental for a trip and was not in the market to purchase a new vehicle just to get through the vacation.
A membership perk that can matter most for bigger family trips
The example highlights a benefit of a Costco membership that can be easy to overlook if shoppers mainly think about warehouse groceries. For some travelers, the savings on a single rental can be enough to make the membership feel worthwhile, especially when the trip calls for a larger vehicle.
That does not mean Costco will always beat every other option. But the comparison can be especially useful for families, road trips, and other situations where the rental needs are specific and the price for a seven-seat vehicle can climb fast. In those cases, the difference between a direct quote and a member rate can be large enough to change the booking decision.
Gingy’s post also shows how quickly travelers can compare options online. With a few date entries and a membership login, she found a reservation that cut the quoted cost by more than half from the first number she saw.
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