Zest Car Rental

What Zest Car Rental does

Zest Car Rental, trading as Economy Car Hire Ltd (Company Registration 04507386), is a UK-based online car hire broker headquartered in Dereham, Norfolk, founded in 1999. The company does not own a fleet; instead, it aggregates inventory from 100+ vetted car rental providers across 2,300+ pickup locations spanning Portugal, Spain, Italy, the USA, the Greek Islands, Cyprus, Austria, Australia, and New Zealand. Customers search, compare, and book through zestcarrental.com, with the broker mediating the customer-provider relationship, providing UK-based customer support (including 24/7 emergency line), and including standard excess protection in every quote. The product surface is extended through ClubZest (a loyalty program), optional Top-up Insurance and Cancellation Protection add-ons, child seats, and a Fair Fuel Policy.

The business model is a marketplace commission structure, earning 5-10% on completed bookings from partner providers, plus transaction-fee revenue from optional ancillary insurance and cancellation protection products. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the proprietary website, supplemented by an affiliate program (up to 10% commission, 60-day cookie), a Travel Agent referral scheme, telephone sales, and a 140,000+ subscriber email newsletter. The company is privately held with no external funding, no parent company, and no subsidiaries disclosed, operating with an estimated 11-50 employees. Notable trust credentials include nine consecutive years of Which? Recommended Car Hire Broker status (2017-2026, the only broker to hold this), Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award (2020-2026), and an 'Excellent' Trustpilot rating, supported by memberships in ABTA and BVRLA.

Name

Zest Car Rental

Legal name

Economy Car Hire Ltd

Website

https://zestcarrental.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zest Car Rental is a UK-based online car hire broker, founded in 1999, that aggregates inventory from 100+ vetted rental providers across 2,300+ locations globally and earns commission on bookings made by individual leisure travelers via its direct-to-consumer website.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Car Rental Brokerage

NAICS

Passenger Car Rental and Leasing (53211), Passenger Car Rental (532111)

SIC

Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)

akta.pro primary industry

Long-Term / Monthly Car Rental (THADAAAE)

Keywords

• Car rental brokerage
• Vehicle hire booking
• Excess protection insurance
• Travel car rental
• Rental comparison platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Dereham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Car Rental Broker Commission: Zest Car Rental acts as a car hire broker, earning commissions from car rental providers on completed bookings. The company does not own a fleet. Revenue is generated per transaction when a rental is confirmed and collected. Commission tiers range from 5% to 10% based on affiliate booking volume. For the company's own direct bookings via zestcarrental.com, commissions are retained internally.
2. Top-up Insurance: Optional top-up insurance product offered at the time of booking, providing reimbursement cover against loss or damage to the vehicle not covered by standard car hire insurance (wheels, tyres, glass, under body, roof, keys, locks, misfuelling). This is an additional per-booking revenue stream.
3. Cancellation Protection: Optional cancellation protection product available for purchase at time of booking. Charged at £0.50 / 1 EUR per rental day with a minimum of £2.50 / 3 EUR and a maximum of £10.00 / 12 EUR per booking. Provides full refund minus the protection fee except in case of no-show.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zest Car Rental operates an online car hire broker platform (zestcarrental.com) that aggregates inventory from 100+ vetted third-party car rental providers across 2,300+ pickup locations worldwide. The company does not own a fleet; instead it earns commissions by enabling customers to search, compare, and book car rentals with transparent pricing that includes excess protection, free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup, breakdown assistance, and a fair fuel policy.

Product overview

Zest Car Rental operates as a car hire broker platform offering a unified booking service that aggregates vehicle rentals from vetted third-party providers. The core product is the online booking platform, supported by add-on protection services including Excess Protection, Top-up Insurance, Cancellation Protection, Breakdown Assistance, and Fair Fuel Policy. The company also offers a loyalty program (ClubZest) and an Affiliate Program for partners. All bookings include standard excess protection, free cancellation up to 48 hours prior, and 24/7 UK-based customer support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ClubZest: Loyalty program offering discounted rates to members (US$6.38/day with ClubZest vs US$7.50/day regular).

Products and services

• Car Rental Booking Platform
• Top-up Insurance
• Cancellation Protection
• Child & Booster Seats

Quantifiable outcome

• Which? Recommended Car Hire Broker for 9 consecutive years (2017-2026)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SixtcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSixt is a multinational car rental company operating globally. Zest Car Rental partners with Sixt as a provider across multiple destinations (Vienna Airport, Sydney Airport, among others). Sixt vehicles are prominently featured in provider logos on the Zest website.
• Enterprise Rent-A-CarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnterprise is one of the world's largest car rental providers. Zest Car Rental features Enterprise as a trusted provider at locations including Vienna Airport, Sydney Airport, and others.
• AlamocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlamo Rent A Car is featured as a trusted car rental provider on the Zest platform, including at Vienna Airport.
• HertzcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHertz is a global car rental brand featured on the Zest platform at multiple locations including Vienna Airport.
• EuropcarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropcar is featured as a trusted provider on the Zest platform at destinations including Vienna Airport, Sydney Airport, and New Zealand.
• AviscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAvis Budget Group brand offered as a trusted car rental provider through Zest Car Rental.
• National Car RentalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational Car Rental (part of Enterprise Holdings) is featured as a trusted provider at Sydney Airport and other locations.
• DollarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDollar Rent A Car (part of Hertz) is offered as a trusted provider through the Zest platform at locations including Porto, Portugal.
• ThriftycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThrifty Car Rental (part of Hertz) is featured as a trusted provider on the Zest platform at Vienna Airport.
• BudgetcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBudget Rent a Car (part of Avis Budget Group) is offered as a trusted car rental provider through Zest.
• CentaurocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCentauro is a Spanish car rental company featured on the Zest platform at destinations including Porto, Portugal.
• LocautocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocauto is an Italian car rental company offered as a trusted provider through Zest Car Rental.
• Sicily by CarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSicily by Car is an Italian car rental provider specialising in Sicily, offered as a trusted partner on the Zest platform.
• AutoUnioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAutoUnion is a car rental provider featured at Vienna Airport and other locations on the Zest platform.
• Topgear MobilitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTop Gear Mobility is a car rental provider available through Zest Car Rental.
• Hiper Rent a CarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHiper Rent a Car is a car rental provider available through Zest Car Rental.
• MasterkingscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMasterkings is a car rental provider operating in the Algarve, Portugal. Available on the Zest platform in locations including Vilamoura, Quinta do Lago, and Porches.
• Rent Car 4 LesscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRent Car 4 Less is a Portuguese car rental provider operating in the Algarve. Featured on the Zest platform at Vilamoura, Quinta do Lago, and other locations with hotel delivery and collection service.
• Rent AutocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRent Auto is a car rental provider operating in the Algarve, Portugal. Available at Vilamoura and Quarteira with office locations convenient for customers.
• VisacarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVisacar is a car rental provider available at Vilamoura on the Zest platform. Located opposite villa rental areas for convenient pickup.
• LagorentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLagorent is a car rental provider operating in the Algarve, Portugal. Featured at Praia da Rocha and Olhos de Agua.
• YesawaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYesaway is a car rental provider operating in Australia (Adelaide Airport) and New Zealand (Auckland Airport, Christchurch Airport, Queenstown Airport, Wellington Airport).
• Yes DrivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYes Drive is a car rental provider operating in Australia at Hobart Airport and Sydney Airport.
• Yes Car HirecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYes Car Hire is a car rental provider operating in Portugal (Alvor, Carvoeiro, Faro Airport, Lagos, Praia da Rocha).
• Go RentalscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGo Rentals (also shown as 'Go') is a car rental provider in New Zealand, featured at Wellington Airport.
• Mode RentalscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMode Rentals is a New Zealand car rental provider available at Wellington Airport on the Zest platform.
• EPI Rent a CarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEPI Rent a Car (EPI) is a car rental provider available in Monte Gordo, Portugal.
• Zippy7 AutorentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZippy7 Autorent operates in Vienna and Vienna Airport, Austria. Offers unlimited mileage and excess protection included when booked through Zest.
• DrivaliacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDrivalia is an Italian car rental provider featured on the Zest platform. Mentioned on the Why Choose Zest page alongside Sixt.
• East Coast Car RentalscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEast Coast Car Rentals is a car rental provider operating at Sydney Airport, Australia. Customers report easy pickup and drop-off with well-maintained vehicles.
• 100+ Additional Car Rental ProvidersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFull list of additional providers includes: Advance Rent a Car, Alma Car Hire, Alquicoche, Anc Azores Holiday, Aquarius Rent a Car, Arnold Clark, Automania, Autos Aguirre, Autos Menorca, Autovia, Avant Car, Avingo, Bluu Car Rental, Buchbinder, Canarias, Cargest, Carwiz, Circular Car Hire, City Car Rentals, Click Rent, Coys Rent a Car, CRC, DiRENT A Car, Drive 4 Fun, Drive on Holidays, Driving Madeira, Easy Car Hire, Ecovia, Elephant Rent a Car, EPI, Erboycar, Espacar, Felirent, Final Rentals, Firefly, First Car Rental, Flex to Go, Flizzr, Fontana Auto Rentals, Get Your Car, Go By Car, Go Car Hire, Golf Auto, Green Motion, GSP, Guerin, InsularCar, Island Car Rent, Italy Car Rent, K10 Rent a Car, Keddy, Key Go Rent, Kings Car Rental, Kydon, Kyprexxo, Last Minute, LC Rent a Car, Let's Drive, Low Cost Cars, Luzcar, M Rent, Madeira Rent, Marbella Rent a Car, Mo Car, Moovers, Moventur, Niza Cars, Noleggiare, NU Car Rentals, Optimorent, Origin Car Rental, Orlando Rent a Car, OwnersCars, Pacific, Payless, Premi Rent, Progress Car Rentals, Record Go, Rent a Car, Rent Auto, Rent by Car, Rental Cars 247, Rental K50, RentX, Rodavante, Saga Rent a Car, SRC Rent Car, Street Rent a Car, Tenerife Car, Top Car, Top Rent a Car, Travelrent, U Save, Viaggerie, Visacar, Way 2, Waygo, Wheego, Yes Car Hire, Yes Drive, Yesaway, Zippy7 Autorent and others. All are vetted, monitored car rental providers offered through the Zest platform.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/zestcarrental
• Facebookfacebook.com/zestcarrental
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zest-car-rental
• Instagraminstagram.com/zestcarrental

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zest Car Rental