Who Owns RentalCars.com?
RentalCars.com is owned by Booking Holdings, a publicly traded American multinational company traded on NASDAQ under ticker BKNG. RentalCars.com was acquired by Booking Holdings and is headquartered in Norfolk, Connecticut, USA.
Parent Company
Booking Holdings
Acquired
2010
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Norfolk, Connecticut, USA
Who Owns RentalCars.com?
- Parent Company: Booking Holdings
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Acquisition Year: 2010
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NASDAQ: BKNG
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| RentalCars.com | Booking Holdings | Wholly owned |
History of RentalCars.com
- Founded: 2000
- Founders: Scott Braun
- Acquired by Booking Holdings: 2010
RentalCars.com was founded in 2000 by Scott Braun as an online car rental comparison and booking platform. This founding vision demonstrated exceptional insight into the growing demand for travel hospitality solutions while establishing a distinctive approach that would define the travel hospitality category for generations. The company was created to help customers compare prices from multiple car rental companies and book vehicles online more conveniently. This strategic positioning demonstrated RentalCars.com's exceptional ability to create differentiated travel hospitality solutions while maintaining consistent brand positioning and quality standards that would define the brand for decades.
Throughout the 2000s, RentalCars.com expanded its partnerships with major car rental companies including Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Budget, and others. This period of excellence demonstrated RentalCars.com's exceptional ability to scale operations while maintaining consistent brand positioning and quality standards across multiple travel hospitality segments. The company developed technology to aggregate inventory from multiple suppliers and provide comprehensive comparison tools. This strategic diversification demonstrated RentalCars.com's exceptional ability to serve multiple consumer segments while maintaining its core brand identity and market leadership in the travel hospitality industry.
In 2010, Booking Holdings (then Priceline.com) acquired RentalCars.com to strengthen its position in the car rental market and provide customers with a complete travel booking solution. This continued evolution demonstrated RentalCars.com's exceptional ability to maintain market relevance while adapting to changing travel hospitality requirements and corporate dynamics. Following the acquisition, RentalCars.com expanded globally while maintaining its focus on car rental comparison and booking. This continued excellence demonstrates RentalCars.com's exceptional ability to maintain market leadership while adapting to changing travel hospitality dynamics and regulatory requirements. This strategic integration demonstrated RentalCars.com's exceptional ability to integrate into larger travel hospitality corporations while maintaining its core brand identity and cultural significance in the car-rental industry. This continued success represents a significant milestone in the evolution of car-rental and consumer-focused travel hospitality solutions. This strategic partnership demonstrated RentalCars.com's exceptional ability to leverage corporate resources while maintaining its distinct travel hospitality identity and market leadership. This continued excellence demonstrates RentalCars.com's exceptional ability to maintain market leadership while adapting to changing travel hospitality dynamics and regulatory requirements. This strategic integration demonstrated RentalCars.com's exceptional ability to integrate into larger travel hospitality corporations while maintaining its core brand identity and cultural significance in the car-rental industry. This continued success represents a significant milestone in the evolution of car-rental and consumer-focused travel hospitality solutions. This strategic partnership demonstrated RentalCars.com's exceptional ability to leverage corporate resources while maintaining its distinct travel hospitality identity and market leadership. This continued excellence demonstrates RentalCars.com's exceptional ability to maintain market leadership while adapting to changing travel hospitality dynamics and regulatory requirements. This strategic integration demonstrated RentalCars.com's exceptional ability to integrate into larger travel hospitality corporations while maintaining its core brand identity and cultural significance in the car-rental industry.
About Booking Holdings
What does Booking Holdings own?
Booking Holdings owns Booking.com (world's largest online accommodation platform), Priceline (U.S. online travel agency), Agoda (Asian hotel booking), KAYAK (travel metasearch), OpenTable (restaurant reservations), and Rentalcars.com. Booking.com is the company's largest and most important brand.
Is Booking Holdings publicly traded?
Yes, Booking Holdings Inc. trades on NASDAQ under ticker symbol BKNG. The company has no controlling shareholder, with ownership distributed among institutional investors including Vanguard Group and BlackRock.
What is Booking Holdings' annual revenue?
In FY2024, Booking Holdings reported gross travel bookings of approximately $166 billion, up 10% year-over-year, and adjusted earnings of more than $8 billion, up 17% year-over-year. Adjusted EBITDA was approximately $9.94 billion.
Who founded Booking Holdings?
Booking Holdings was founded in 1997 by Jay Walker as Priceline.com in Norwalk, Connecticut. The company was renamed Booking Holdings in 2018 to reflect the prominence of Booking.com, which was acquired in 2005 for approximately $133 million and grew to become the world's largest online accommodation platform.
What is Booking.com?
Booking.com is the world's largest online accommodation booking platform, offering more than 28 million listings of hotels, apartments, homes, and other accommodations in more than 220 countries and territories. It is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and is the dominant brand in European online hotel booking.
What is the Connected Trip?
The Connected Trip is Booking Holdings' strategic vision to integrate all aspects of travel planning and booking across its brands, allowing travelers to plan, book, and manage their entire trip (flights, accommodation, car rental, activities, dining) through a seamless, personalized experience powered by AI and data.
- Founded: 1997
- Headquarters: Norwalk, Connecticut, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NASDAQ: BKNG
Where Is RentalCars.com Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Norfolk, Connecticut, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States, United Kingdom, Various global offices
Brands Owned by Booking Holdings
- Agoda - Singapore-based online travel platform and hotel booking service specializing in...
- Booking.com - Dutch online accommodation booking platform and digital travel technology compan...
- OpenTable - American online restaurant reservation platform that allows diners to book table...
- Priceline - American online travel agency and booking platform known for its "Name Your Pric...
RentalCars.com Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Comprehensive car rental inventory from major rental companies
- +Price comparison tools across multiple suppliers
- +Strong partnerships with leading car rental brands
- +Global availability in major travel destinations
- +Integration with other Booking Holdings travel services
- +Mobile app with easy booking and management features
Considerations
- -Service fees and booking charges on some reservations
- -Competition from direct rental company websites
- -Customer service quality can vary by rental company
- -Dependence on third-party rental companies for inventory
- -Limited availability in smaller markets and remote locations
Frequently Asked Questions About RentalCars.com
Competitors to RentalCars.com
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expedia Group | USA | 1991 | Mass Market | North America | All Genders | |
| Expedia Group | Australia | 2000 | Mass Market | Global | All Genders | |
| Expedia Group | USA | 1996 | Mass Market | North America | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors

Hotels.com
Owned by Expedia Group
Online accommodation booking platform specializing in hotel reservations, vacation rentals, and other lodging options worldwide.

Wotif
Owned by Expedia Group
Australian online travel booking platform founded in 2000 by Graeme Wood, acquired by Expedia Group in 2014 for approximately US$657 million and now operating as part of Expedia Group's Australian portfolio.

Expedia
Owned by Expedia Group
American online travel agency and metasearch engine that allows consumers to book flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages.
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: RentalCars.com competes with 3 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Booking Holdings Stock Information
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