How to Use Google Ads for Your Next Car Rental Campaign

Running a car rental agency today means competing not just with local companies — but with global giants. Thankfully, you don't need a billion-dollar budget to stand out. With the right strategies, Google Ads can help you bring more renters to your doors and more bookings to your calendar.

If you're thinking about launching your next campaign, now’s the perfect time. Google has introduced important updates to their advertising tools — especially Performance Max and the new Demand Gen campaigns — that can make a real difference for your results.

Here’s a simple, no-fluff guide to help you use Google Ads for your next car rental marketing push.

Start with Search Campaigns First

Before you jump into Google’s fancy new features, the foundation of any successful car rental ad campaign still starts with Search Ads.

Why? Because when someone is typing "car rental near me" or "cheap rental cars in [your city]," they have high purchase intent. You want to be right there, showing up in the top results.

Tip:
Focus your initial budget on Search Campaigns. Make sure you use keywords like:

• Car rental [city]

• Cheap rental cars

• Airport car rental [city]

• Daily/weekly rental specials

These are high-converting search terms that can get you real customers fast.

What’s New: Performance Max Updates You Shouldn’t Ignore

Once you have search campaigns running, it’s smart to expand with Performance Max (PMax) campaigns — but only if you know what’s changed recently.

Here’s what’s new in PMax:

• Better Search Term Insights: You can now see which keywords your PMax ads triggered. This gives you better control over where your ads show up and helps you tweak your messaging.

• Creative Asset Groups: Google now lets you test multiple images, headlines, and videos separately. That means you can fine-tune which visuals drive more bookings.

• AI Improvements: Google's machine learning has gotten sharper. The system now adjusts ads in real-time based on a customer’s behavior — whether they’re searching, scrolling, or shopping online.

For car rental businesses, this matters because travelers often bounce between search engines, YouTube, and travel blogs. PMax follows them across all of those platforms — automatically showing your ads where they’re most likely to act.

Demand Gen Campaigns: The New Player You Should Know

Google also introduced Demand Gen campaigns — and they're perfect if you want to build brand awareness while still driving bookings.

What’s a Demand Gen campaign?

• It shows your ads across YouTube, Discover, and Gmail.

• It targets users based on interests and behaviors, not just search terms.

• It's visual-heavy — meaning you can use great car photos, rental specials, and customer testimonials to grab attention.

For example:
If someone watches travel vlogs on YouTube or reads articles about vacation spots, Google will show them your ad — even before they start searching for a car rental.

This is great for staying top-of-mind early in their decision-making process.

Quick Action Plan for Your Next Campaign

Here’s a simple roadmap you can follow:

1. Launch a Search Campaign with strong local keywords.

2. Layer in a Performance Max campaign using high-quality car images and videos.

3. Create a Demand Gen campaign to reach travelers before they search.

4. Monitor the search terms report weekly. Adjust your ads based on what’s converting.

5. Test different promotions: airport discounts, long-term rental specials, or last-minute deals.

Final Thoughts

Google Ads are no longer just for the big brands. With the latest updates, smart, local car rental companies can now reach customers more efficiently and affordably than ever before.

The key is to start with intent-driven search, expand into Performance Max, and build future demand with Demand Gen. If you follow this strategy, you’ll drive more bookings and grow your rental business — without wasting ad dollars.

Need help setting up your next campaign the right way? At FLEET Car Rental Marketing, we specialize in helping independent rental agencies like yours succeed online. Let’s make sure your next campaign isn’t just good — it’s unstoppable.

Ready to fill more booking slots? Click the button below, lock in a 15-minute chat, and we’ll map out a clear, step-by-step plan—no pressure, just real advice. Prefer to talk right now? Call us at (804) 537-8748 and speak with a strategist who knows car rentals inside and out. We’ll review your current ads, spot quick wins, and show you how to keep your fleet on the road day after day. Let’s get you more keys turning and fewer cars sitting.