Is Routes Car Rental Legit? Reviews, Fees and Policies (2026)

Routes Car Rental is a rental company with a live website, a published rental policy and a long list of locations, but whether it is the right choice for you depends less on a yes-or-no verdict and more on whether you can live with its terms. This guide does two things. It lays out a neutral checklist you can use on any rental company, and it shows what Routes’ own public rental policy says on each point, including the real dollar ceilings.

Is Routes Car Rental Legit? What We Could and Could Not Verify

Legitimacy is not something one article can certify, so here is a split between what we read and what we could not check. We make no accusation either way.

Question	What we found	Source and date
Does the company publish who it is and how to reach it?	Yes. The site lists a customer phone number (+1 888 471 8639), a customer care email address and a copyright line for Routes Car Rental.	routes.ca home page, read October 2026
Does it publish locations?	Yes. Its locations page lists countries across North and South America, Europe, the Caribbean, Oceania, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.	routes.ca locations page, read October 2026
Does it publish rental terms?	Yes. A rental policy page shows terms for each location, covering payment, insurance, mileage, fuel, tolls and fees.	routes.ca rental policy page (Orlando Airport selected), read October 2026
What does it say about its own reviews?	The home page shows a 4.2 rating from 94,099 “verified reviews.” The page does not say which review platform that figure comes from, so treat it as the company’s own statement.	routes.ca home page, read October 2026
Trustpilot score	Not verified directly. Trustpilot showed an automated browser check when we tried to open it. Search-result snapshots we saw suggested a score of roughly 3 out of 5, but that is unconfirmed. An earlier version of this article quoted 3.6 out of 5 from 4,919 reviews, which we could not reproduce.	Check trustpilot.com/review/routes.ca live
BBB profile, rating and complaints	Not verified. The BBB site blocked our automated request, so we state no rating or complaint count.	Check bbb.org live
Business registration, ownership, founding year, app store rating	Not verified. We did not find these on the pages we read, so this article states none of them.	Not stated

If a fact about a company matters to your decision, confirm it on the live source on the day you book. Scores and review counts move, and a page we read in October 2026 may look different when you read this.

Routes Car Rental Reviews: What the Scores Say

The company’s own site displays 4.2 from 94,099 reviews.

We do not quote individual reviews. Read the one-star and five-star reviews on Trustpilot or Google for the exact location you plan to use, and look for the same subject coming up repeatedly. The useful test is whether recurring complaints match terms you already read in the contract, such as the insurance proof requirement or the debit card rule, because those are things you can plan for.

How to Check Any Car Rental Company Before You Book

This checklist works for any company, large or small. The advice comes from the FTC rental car guide and from AAA consumer guidance; the right-hand column shows what Routes’ public Orlando Airport policy states on the same point, so you can see how a real policy answers each question.

Check	What consumer guidance advises	What Routes’ public policy states
Compare the total, not the rate	Per the FTC, fees and options can raise the price a lot, so compare the total cost.	Not included in the rate: fuel, underage driver fee, additional driver fee and special equipment. All fees are taxable.
Deposit or hold	Per the FTC, a hold larger than the rental cost is common; it is released if you return the car as agreed but can reduce your available credit.	A hold of $500 to $2,000, or the estimated total plus 30 percent, whichever is greater, on a credit card in the renter’s name.
Insurance and damage waiver	Per the FTC, check your own auto policy, employer coverage or credit card first; a waiver does not cover injuries or personal belongings and can be voided by reckless or impaired driving or an unauthorized driver.	Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) sold at up to $59.99 per day. Declining it requires proof of your own transferable North American insurance, and some online insurance is not recognized.
Fuel policy	Per the FTC, most companies require a full tank and charge a higher per-gallon rate if you do not return it full.	Return at the same fuel level or higher, or pay a $50.00 service charge plus fuel. No credit for unused fuel.
Toll fees	Per the FTC, toll programs may charge a daily fee, a one-time fee or a fee per toll.	Prepaid tolls at up to $19.99 per day. Without it you pay tolls incurred, plus an admin fee of up to $75.00 on violations or unpaid tolls.
Pickup location and shuttle	Airport locations often add surcharges; off-airport sites may require a shuttle (FTC lists airport surcharges among fees to watch).	Orlando Airport pickup is by shuttle; the policy says to call 407 237-9411 on arrival and that shuttle service runs only in regular business hours.
Read the contract	The FTC advises asking about every charge before signing.	The policy page says the terms of the rental contract presented at the location govern the rental.
Document the car at pickup	AAA suggests a walkaround, photographing existing damage and confirming the fuel level is recorded.	No pickup-inspection procedure is described on the policy page we read.
Payment method	Use a credit card where possible; card benefits often require you to decline the rental waiver (FTC).	Debit, prepaid cards and cash are not accepted for rental qualification; credit card in the renter’s own name required.

What Routes’ Public Policy Says About Fees and Limits

Fee ceilings are where most surprises hide, so here are the figures from the Orlando Airport policy page we read in October 2026. The policy words most of these as “up to” or “not to exceed,” which means the actual price at your location may be lower. The amounts depend on the renting location and car class.

Item	Amount or rule stated by Routes
Collision Damage Waiver	Up to $59.99 per day. Renter responsibility limited to $3,000 on economy through full-size cars, $3,500 on mid-size and standard SUVs, $4,500 on full-size SUVs and minivans, if the rental terms are not violated.
Supplemental liability insurance	Optional, up to $16.99 per day, raises liability limits to $500,000.
Prepaid tolls	Up to $19.99 per day for unlimited use.
GPS navigation unit	Up to $19.99 per day.
Underage driver (21 to 24)	Up to $32.99 per day. Minimum renter age is 21.
No-show or duplicate booking	Up to $75.00 fee.
Fuel not returned at same level	$50.00 service charge plus fuel cost.
Cleaning (smoke, pet hair, residue)	Up to $500.00. A separate $350.00 fee applies to drug use detected in the vehicle.
Mileage	Unlimited within the state of rental. Outside the state: 200 miles per day, 1,400 per week, 2,500 per rental, then $0.20 per mile, and an out-of-state fee of up to $29.99 per day without written permission. Travel to Canada and Mexico is not allowed.
Traffic violations and unpaid tolls	Billed to the card used, plus an admin fee of up to $75.00.

What a 7-Day Rental Could Add Up To: A Worked Ceiling

A common complaint about rentals in general is the gap between a low online price and the final bill. Using the maximum figures on the policy page, we can show how that gap can arise. These are ceilings, not typical charges, and they are before taxes and before the base rate.

Add-on (7 days)	Per day (maximum)	Seven days
Collision Damage Waiver	$59.99	$419.93
Supplemental liability insurance	$16.99	$118.93
Prepaid tolls	$19.99	$139.93
All three together	$96.97	$678.79

You do not have to buy any of these. The CDW can be declined with acceptable proof of your own insurance, and tolls can be avoided by routing around toll roads or paying as you go, though the policy states you remain responsible for tolls incurred. What the table shows is why it pays to ask for an itemized total at the counter and to settle your insurance question before you arrive. It also shows why a phone mount that lets you use your own navigation can make sense: the policy lists a GPS unit at up to $19.99 per day, which would be $139.93 for seven days at the ceiling, while the mount in our pick above was listed at $63.49 when we checked. At that price a mount only pays off against the daily fee on longer or repeat rentals, since three days at the ceiling would be $59.97.

Routes Car Rental Orlando: Pickup Details From Its Policy Page

The Orlando question drives a lot of searches, so here is what the company’s own page states for Orlando Airport (MCO), read in October 2026. Details can change, so confirm them in your reservation emails.

• Who can rent: the policy says its Orlando, Chicago, Denver and Atlanta airport locations do not rent to local renters, and that renters who cannot show proof of a round-trip airline ticket covering the rental period are treated as local renters.
• Shuttle pickup: on arrival, call 407 237-9411 for instructions. Pickup points listed are Pillar A11, 12 and 13 at Terminal A; Pillars B60, B61 and B62 at Terminal B; and Pillars C277 and C278 at Terminal C.
• Hours: after-hours drop-off is not allowed unless the location has extended hours, and the shuttle runs only during regular business hours.
• Reservations held: up to 1 hour for pay-on-arrival bookings and up to 2 hours for prepaid bookings after the reserved pickup time.
• Cancellation: pay-on-arrival bookings need to be cancelled at least 48 hours ahead through the original booking source to avoid a no-show fee of up to $75.00. Prepaid bookings are stated as non-changeable, non-cancelable and non-refundable.

Who Routes Fits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere

Going by the published policy alone, Routes suits a traveler who flies in, holds a credit card in their own name, has proof of their own insurance or plans to buy the waiver, and can allow time for a shuttle. It is a harder fit for someone who lives in the same state as the airport location, who only has a debit card, or who plans to cross into Canada or Mexico, because the policy restricts all three.

If those restrictions are a problem, compare other options. Our guides on Fox Car Rental, Turo and the best rental companies for long weekends cover the same questions. For the insurance side, see whether insurance covers a rental car, how another company’s rental insurance works and, if you want a cheaper class, economy versus compact cars.

Pickup-Day Checklist

• Confirm the total price in writing, including taxes and every add-on you accept.
• Check what your own auto policy, employer or credit card covers before you arrive, and bring the proof the company asks for.
• Walk around the car before leaving the lot. Photograph every panel, the windshield and the wheels, and confirm the fuel level on the paperwork.
• Ask how tolls are handled, take photos again at return with the fuel gauge in view, and keep copies of the signed agreement.

Insurance and damage-waiver terms vary by company, state and card issuer. This is general information, not insurance or legal advice. If you are unsure whether a charge is valid, contact the rental company first, then your state attorney general or the FTC.

Keep reading

• Is Ace Car Rental Legit? BBB Rating and Reviews Explained
• Is NU Car Rental Legit? What Its Own Policies Say (2026)
• Ace Car Rental Review: Is It Worth It for Your Trip?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Routes Car Rental legit?

Routes operates a working website with published locations and a detailed rental policy. We could not independently confirm its business registration, BBB profile or Trustpilot score, so check those yourself and read the terms before you book.

Is Routes Car Rental a scam?

We have no basis to call it one, and we make no accusation. What we can say is that its published policy sets strict terms, such as a credit card in the renter’s name, a deposit of at least $500 and proof of your own insurance if you decline its waiver. Read them first.

What deposit does Routes require?

Its Orlando Airport policy page states a minimum deposit between $500 and $2,000, or the estimated rental total plus 30 percent, whichever is greater, held on a credit card.

Can I use my own insurance at Routes?

Its policy says renters who do not buy its Collision Damage Waiver must present proof of their own transferable auto insurance from a North American provider, and that some online insurance coverages are not recognized.

How do I check any rental company before booking?

Compare the total price, read the contract, confirm the deposit hold, settle your insurance coverage, check fuel and toll rules, and photograph the car at pickup. The FTC rental car guide covers these points.

Conclusion

Routes Car Rental publishes a detailed policy, and that is the most useful thing you can read before booking. The terms are strict but stated plainly: credit card required, a deposit of at least $500, proof of insurance if you decline the waiver, and fee ceilings that can add up quickly if you accept every add-on. Check the live Trustpilot and BBB pages, read the contract, and use the checklist above on any rental company, not just this one.

Sources: Routes Car Rental website pages (home, locations and rental policy, Orlando Airport selected), read October 2026; the Federal Trade Commission’s Renting a Car consumer page; AAA consumer rental tips as summarized in search results. Trustpilot, BBB and app store ratings were not verified.