If your request is declined or your booking falls through

Sometimes a booking doesn't work out: the host declines your request, cancels a booking they'd accepted, or doesn't respond before the request expires. When that happens, we don't leave you stranded. We look for similar cars that are still available for your dates and send you a personal link by email (and text message, where enabled) with hand-picked alternatives.

Your money is safe

For host declines, host cancellations, and expired requests described in this article, if we were only holding a pre-authorisation on your card, the hold is released automatically. If a payment had already been taken for one of these cases, it is refunded in full automatically. You don't need to do anything.

This automatic full-refund rule applies to host declines, host cancellations, and expired requests, but not to a new native US self-drive booking cancelled at or after the two-hour-before-pick-up cutoff because no driver was approved. In that cutoff case, the captured booking payment is held pending a separate, case-specific Support decision about any renter refund. Any host payout not yet paid is held pending its own separate decision; an already-paid payout is reviewed separately and is not automatically clawed back. No refund or host payout is automatic. Support will resolve the case or update the affected parties within two days. Any security-deposit authorization is handled separately; releasing it is not a refund of captured booking payment.

How the alternatives link works

• The page shows your original booking summary (dates, times and rental type) alongside up to three similar cars that are available for those dates, with their prices.
• Each suggestion keeps your original trip details, so booking is one tap through to checkout with everything pre-filled.
• The link is personal to you and stays valid for 30 days. There's no code to enter and nothing extra to set up.
• Some cars may show that the owner has confirmed availability, or that they can be booked instantly.

If none of the suggestions suit, you can always browse all cars for your dates or adjust your dates slightly, which often opens up more options.

Alternatives are offered when a host declines or cancels, or a request expires. If you cancel a request or booking yourself, see Cancelling as a renter for how refunds work.