CarTrawler
CarTrawler is a Dublin-based B2B travel technology platform that connects 550+ car rental suppliers and 500+ mobility providers with 70+ airlines and 300+ travel brands via its proprietary Connect Platform, processing 5bn+ daily API calls. The company monetizes car rental, ground transport, and (since 2025 Koala) travel insurance on a take-rate basis, and is pending acquisition by Expedia Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersDundrum, Ireland
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What CarTrawler does
CarTrawler is a Dublin-headquartered B2B travel technology platform founded in 2004 that operates a two-sided marketplace connecting car rental suppliers, ground transport providers, and (since 2025) insurtech products with airlines, online travel agencies, and travel brands. Its core offering is the proprietary Connect Platform — an API-first architecture that aggregates content from 550+ car rental suppliers and 500+ mobility providers, processes over 5 billion API calls per day, and displays more than 175 million cars daily across 150+ countries. The platform is organized as modular suites: core infrastructure (Connect Content, Connect Technology), revenue optimization and personalization (Connect Revenue, Connect People, Connect Loyalty), and customer experience layers (Connect Care, Connect Payments), supported by in-house data science teams operating real-time machine-learning pricing and sort models.
The company serves over 70 airline partners — including Ryanair, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, easyJet, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Emirates, Air France-KLM, Southwest Airlines, Jet2, Finnair, WIZZ Air, Norwegian, and Volotea — plus more than 300 travel brands such as eDreams ODIGEO, with Uber as a mobility partner. Revenue is generated on a transaction/take-rate basis from car rental commissions, ground transport bookings, and increasingly from travel insurance products (Cancel For Any Reason coverage, parametric flight disruption) following the 2025 acquisition of French insurtech Koala. Pricing is enterprise-custom and not publicly disclosed.
CarTrawler is currently owned by private equity firm TowerBrook Capital Partners. In May 2026, Expedia Group announced an agreement to acquire the company for approximately $350 million (300 million euros), with closing expected in H2 2026; the deal would integrate the Connect Platform into Expedia's Rapid API distribution to 75,000+ B2B partners and pair it with a strategic Uber ground transport partnership. CarTrawler holds B Corp certification and operates offices in Dublin, New York, and London.
CarTrawler firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CarTrawler
- Legal name
- CarTrawler
- Website
- https://cartrawler.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- CarTrawler is a Dublin-based B2B travel technology platform that connects 550+ car rental suppliers and 500+ mobility providers with 70+ airlines and 300+ travel brands via its proprietary Connect Platform, processing 5bn+ daily API calls. The company monetizes car rental, ground transport, and (since 2025 Koala) travel insurance on a take-rate basis, and is pending acquisition by Expedia Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CarTrawler industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Travel Technology Platform
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Transportation (488), Other Support Activities for Transportation (4889)
- SIC
- Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Car Rental & Ground Mobility Aggregators (THAKAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Ground Services Wholesalers (Transfers, Car/Coach & Local Transport) (THAKAJAD)
Keywords
Where CarTrawler is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dundrum
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
CarTrawler business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Car Rental Marketplace Commission: CarTrawler operates a marketplace connecting car rental suppliers with travel brands. The platform earns commission from car rental bookings made through airline and OTA partners, with the company facilitating transactions between suppliers and partners across its global network.
- Ground Transport and Mobility Services: Revenue from connecting mobility suppliers (private transfers, ride-hailing) with travel brand partners through the Connect Platform, expanding beyond traditional car rental into broader ground transportation categories.
- Insurtech Solutions: Following the acquisition of Koala in 2025, CarTrawler generates revenue from travel insurance products including Cancel For Any Reason coverage and parametric flight disruption insurance, integrated into the booking experience for airline and travel partners.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | B2B Enterprise Platform - Custom enterprise agreements |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
CarTrawler product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CarTrawler operates the Connect Platform, a B2B technology platform that aggregates car rental inventory from 550+ suppliers and ground transport options from 500+ mobility providers, and delivers this content to 300+ travel brand partners (including 70+ airlines and OTAs) via API integration. The platform enables partners to offer car rental, ground transport, and insurtech (via Koala) products to their end customers under their own brands, with CarTrawler earning commissions and transaction-based fees.
Product overview
CarTrawler operates a unified B2B platform architecture called the Connect Platform, which serves as a marketplace connecting car rental suppliers, ground transport providers, and insurtech solutions with travel brands including airlines and OTAs. The platform consists of core infrastructure components (Connect Content for supplier aggregation, Connect Technology for integration) plus two enhancement suites: Connect Enhance (comprising Connect Revenue, Connect People, and Connect Loyalty modules for revenue optimization and personalization) and Connect Experience (comprising Connect Care and Connect Payments modules for customer service and transactions). In 2025, CarTrawler expanded its portfolio through the acquisition of insurtech startup Koala, adding automated travel insurance products including Cancel For Any Reason coverage and parametric flight disruption insurance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Koala: Travel insurtech platform acquired by CarTrawler in 2025, offering Cancel For Any Reason coverage and parametric flight disruption insurance with automated claim outcomes.
Products and services
- CarTrawler Connect Platform Core B2B technology platform connecting 550+ car rental suppliers, 500+ mobility providers, and insurtech solutions with 300+ travel brands (including 70+ airlines) via API integration. Powers digital channels with dynamic retail-led car rental, ground transport booking, and revenue optimization for partners.
- Koala API-first automated travel insurtech platform offering Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage and parametric flight disruption insurance with instant claim outcomes. Integrated into the Connect Platform for airline and travel brand partners (e.g., Volotea serving 11m+ passengers annually).
Quantifiable outcome
- Ancillary revenue growth for airline partners through car rental and mobility commissions
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use CarTrawler
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CarTrawler technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
CarTrawler partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Southwest AirlinescoreSouthwest Airlines selected CarTrawler as its technology partner to power car rental services across its digital channels, replacing the airline's previous in-house car rental platform. The CarTrawler Connect Platform provides customers and Rapid Rewards members with access to a broader range of car rental options through a faster, more intuitive booking experience, expected to drive ancillary revenue growth, improve loyalty engagement, and strengthen conversion.
- Expedia GroupflagshipExpedia Group announced an agreement to acquire Ireland-based CarTrawler in a deal expected to close in H2 2026. The acquisition will expand Expedia's B2B travel platform into car rental, ground transport and Insurtech, enabling Expedia to build what it describes as the most complete B2B travel platform. The transaction is valued at approximately $350 million (300 million euros).
- UbercoreExpedia Group announced a strategic partnership with Uber as part of its broader mobility and ground transportation expansion strategy, with CarTrawler's platform expected to integrate with Uber services for comprehensive ground transportation offerings.
- VoloteacoreKoala, an insurtech acquired by CarTrawler in 2025, partnered with European airline Volotea to provide travel insurance and passenger protection products to the airline's more than 11 million annual passengers. The partnership covers travel insurance, baggage protection, and flight disruption cover, expanding an existing commercial relationship between CarTrawler and Volotea that began with car rental services in 2023.
- RyanaircoreRyanair announced a strategic partnership with CarTrawler to enhance its ancillary services and offer integrated car rental options to passengers. The partnership leverages CarTrawler's Connect Platform to provide competitive car hire rates and improve customer experience, supporting Ryanair's low-fare strategy. The long-term agreement includes plans to expand the platform with new ancillary products.
- KoalacoreCarTrawler acquired Paris-based B2B InsurTech firm Koala, marking its first major move into insurance technology. Koala brings an API-first, automated insurance platform offering Cancel For Any Reason coverage and parametric flight disruption insurance with instant claim outcomes. The acquisition positions CarTrawler to compete directly with other travel insurtech firms while expanding into bundled, revenue-generating solutions.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CarTrawler competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rentalcars.com: Rentalcars.com, a Booking Holdings subsidiary, is the closest direct competitor to CarTrawler in B2B car rental aggregation. It connects car rental suppliers with OTAs and travel brands globally via a similar marketplace/take-rate model, directly overlapping with CarTrawler's core proposition.
- AutoSlash: AutoSlash is a car rental price tracking and aggregation platform that partners with OTAs, loyalty programs, and travel sites to deliver discounted rental content. Its aggregator-to-partner distribution model directly parallels CarTrawler's supplier-to-travel-brand proposition.
- Engine (formerly TIPICO/Traveltek): Engine is a B2B travel technology provider delivering booking platforms, content aggregation, and ancillary solutions to airlines, OTAs, and travel management companies. Its B2B platform model and travel content focus closely resemble CarTrawler's Connect Platform.
Broad incumbents
- Travelport: Travelport is a major B2B travel technology platform offering GDS, retailing, and ancillary services including car and ground transport content for travel agencies, OTAs, and suppliers. It overlaps with CarTrawler's B2B distribution and merchandising capabilities across the travel value chain.
- Amadeus: Amadeus is a leading travel technology platform with a broad portfolio spanning GDS, airline IT, hospitality, and ground transport/ancillary distribution. Its breadth and incumbency in airline technology place it adjacent to CarTrawler's airline-channel proposition.
- Sabre: Sabre is a global travel technology company providing GDS, airline IT, and hospitality solutions, with ancillary merchandising and partner content distribution capabilities that overlap with CarTrawler's airline and OTA proposition.
Emerging players
- Hopper: Hopper is a mobile-first travel platform that uses predictive pricing to sell flights, hotels, and ancillary products including travel insurance. Its B2B partnerships with airlines and fintech-style ancillary offering overlap with CarTrawler's monetization of ancillary revenue per traveler.
- Duffel: Duffel is a travel API platform that enables travel businesses to access flights, hotels, and ground transportation inventory. Its developer-first, API-led distribution model for travel content is closely comparable to CarTrawler's Connect Platform approach.
- battleface: battleface is a travel insurtech offering customizable travel insurance products distributed via B2B partnerships with airlines, OTAs, and travel brands. Following CarTrawler's Koala acquisition, battleface becomes a directly comparable insurtech in the same airline and OTA partner ecosystem.
Others
- Kiwi.com: Kiwi.com operates a travel booking platform combining virtual interlining with its own ground transport and ancillary offerings. While primarily consumer-facing, it intersects with CarTrawler in ground transport aggregation and travel tech-led ancillary revenue models.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CarTrawler social profiles
Digital presenceCarTrawler compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
CarTrawler financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CarTrawler leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
CarTrawler subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
CarTrawler funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CarTrawler M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A3 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CarTrawler
What does CarTrawler do?
CarTrawler operates the Connect Platform, a B2B technology platform that aggregates car rental inventory from 550+ suppliers and ground transport options from 500+ mobility providers, and delivers this content to 300+ travel brand partners (including 70+ airlines and OTAs) via API integration. The platform enables partners to offer car rental, ground transport, and insurtech (via Koala) products to their end customers under their own brands, with CarTrawler earning commissions and transaction-based fees.
Is CarTrawler a public or private company?
CarTrawler is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was CarTrawler founded?
CarTrawler was founded in 2004. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is CarTrawler based?
CarTrawler is headquartered in Dundrum, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does CarTrawler make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Car Rental Marketplace Commission is the primary driver. The others are ground Transport and Mobility Services and insurtech Solutions.
Who are CarTrawler's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rentalcars.com, AutoSlash and Engine (formerly TIPICO/Traveltek). Broad incumbents are Travelport, Amadeus and Sabre. Emerging players are Hopper, Duffel and battleface. Kiwi.com is listed as an others.
Does CarTrawler have an API?
No public API is recorded for CarTrawler.
What industry is CarTrawler in?
CarTrawler's product category is Travel Technology Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAAAJ, Car Rental & Ground Mobility Aggregators, with a secondary code of THAKAJAD, Ground Services Wholesalers (Transfers, Car/Coach & Local Transport). Its NAICS code is 488 and its SIC code is 4700.