Developer Hub

Rapid Car API: Launch requirements

Requirements for integration of the Rapid Car API.

For the integrity of your business-to-business (B2B) or business-to-consumer (B2C) implementation, the Rapid Car API requires that some pages include specific information. Only the pages with specific requirements are listed here.

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Search page

Set accurate search parameters

SP1: Set accurate search parameters

Add fields that capture pick-up and drop-off locations and the rental date and time, then send in the availability request. Your parameters can allow search by area (radius and coordinates), airport (with the airport region ID), or a combination of the two.

Search fields including pickup and dropoff locations and dates and times of rental


Sample searches

By radius and coordinates

/v2/cars/availability?pickup_time=2026-02-12T10:00:00&dropoff_time=2026-02-14T18:00:00&pickup_area=10,33.9422,-118.4036&dropoff_area=10,33.9422,-118.4036&driver_age=30&country_code=US&currency=USD&language=en-US&limit=200&sort=total_price&sales_channel=website&sales_environment=car_only&filter=refundable&filter=vendor_collect

By airport region ID

/v2/cars/availability?pickup_time=2026-02-12T10:00:00&dropoff_time=2026-02-14T18:00:00&pickup_airport=5783884&dropoff_airport=5783884&driver_age=30&country_code=US&currency=USD&language=en-US&limit=200&sort=recommended&sales_channel=website&sales_environment=car_only&filter=refundable&filter=expedia_collect

With both parameters

/v2/cars/availability?pickup_time=2026-02-12T10:00:00&dropoff_time=2026-02-14T18:00:00&pickup_area=10,33.9422,-118.4036&dropoff_airport=5456204&driver_age=30&country_code=US&currency=USD&language=en-US&limit=200&sort=total_price&sales_channel=website&sales_environment=car_only&filter=refundable&filter=vendor_collect

SP2: Capture the driver's age

Drivers below 30 or above 70 years old may incur additional mandatory fees. To allow our API to correctly calculate the cost of the reservation, the driver's age should be provided at the time of search. Set a default value of 40 for drivers within this range. This value is reflected in the driver_age parameter.

A checkbox with the description "Drivers below 30 or above 70 years old may be required to pay an additional fee"

Listing page

Robust search results

The listing page is a collection of options, also known as a search results page. It should display the following elements.

Search results showing type, vendor, and cost of car along with an image of a comparable vehicle


LP1: Provide accurate rental information

The listing page, also known as a search results page, should display all material rental information that returns from the API, such as:

  • Class, make, and model of each car
  • Maximum capacity
  • Transmission type
  • Fuel source: gas, hybrid, electric, etc. (in California markets)
  • Permitted mileage
  • Pick-up point and drop-off point
  • Rental company name or logo

Many attributes of the car rental are provided as part of the acriss_code parameter, which can be decoded using the values in the ACRISS table. For example, the value of JFBC represents an intermediate elite (category J), SUV (type F) with an auto 4-wheel-drive (transmission B) and electric power (fuel/air cond. C).

"description": "Skoda Enyaq Electric car or similar",
        "number_of_passengers": 5,
        "number_of_doors": {
            "min": 5,
            "max": 5
        },
        "luggage_count": {
            "small": 3,
            "large": 3
        },
        "acriss_code": "JFBC",

LP2: Total price and when payment is due

Include the total price for the selected rental period and whether the rental must be paid in advance (pay now, or Expedia collect) or at the counter (pay later, or vendor collect).

Note: Bookings with a different pick-up and drop-off location (also known as one-way rentals) often incur additional transfer fees.

Section of page display showing daily rate, total price, and discounted rate

Pay now / Expedia collect example

[
 {
   ...
   "rate": {
     "merchant_of_record": "expedia",
     "sale_scenario": {
       "package": false,
       "member": false,
       "mobile_promotion": false
     },
     "pricing": {
       "daily_rate_strikethrough": {...},
       "daily_rate": {...},
       "totals": {
         "inclusive_strikethrough": {...},
         "inclusive": {...},
         "exclusive": {...},
         "fees": {...}
       }
     }
   },
   ...
 }
]

Pay later / vendor collect example

[
 {
   ...
   "rate": {
     "merchant_of_record": "vendor",
     "sale_scenario": {
       "package": false,
       "member": false,
       "mobile_promotion": false
     },
     "pricing": {
       "daily_rate": {...},
       "totals": {
         "inclusive": {...},
         "exclusive": {...},
         "fees": {...}
       }
     }
   },
   ...
 }
]

LP3: Non-refundable flag

For rates that are non-refundable, clearly display this in the product description.

Note: If no cancel_penalties value is present in the response, it indicates free cancellation.

[ 
  ...
  {
    "cancel_penalties": [
      {
        "start": "2026-02-11T10:00:00",
        "end": "2026-02-12T10:00:00",
        "currency": "USD",
        "amount": "50.00"
      },
      {
        "start": "2026-02-12T10:00:00",
        "currency": "USD",
        "amount": "50.00"
      }
    ],
  }
  ...
]

LP4: Standard insurance information

Include information about Basic Collision Damage Protection along with any additional insurance options.

{
  ...
  "policies": [
    ...
    {
      "name": "Basic Collision Damage Protection",
      "descriptions": [],
      "policy_statements": [
        {
          "statement": "Basic Collision Damage Protection",
          "statement_condition": "included"
        }
      ],
      "policy_type": "PRODUCT_USE_POLICY"
    },
    ...
  ],
  ...
}

Product description page

Information about vehicle and vendor

PDP1: Provide accurate rental information

The product detail page with product descriptions should display all material rental information that returns from the API, such as:

  • Class, make, and model of each car
  • Maximum capacity
  • Number of doors
  • Luggage capacity
  • Transmission type
  • Fuel source: gas, hybrid, electric, etc. (in California markets)
  • Permitted mileage
  • Pick-up point and drop-off point
  • Car rental company name or logo

Vehicle description incuding all of the following requirements

Many attributes of the car rental are provided as part of the acriss_code parameter, which can be decoded using the values in the ACRISS table. For example, the value of JFBC represents an intermediate elite (category J), SUV (type F) with an auto 4-wheel-drive (transmission B) and electric power (fuel/air cond. C).

"description": "Skoda Enyaq Electric car or similar",
        "number_of_passengers": 5,
        "number_of_doors": {
            "min": 5,
            "max": 5
        },
        "luggage_count": {
            "small": 3,
            "large": 3
        },
        "acriss_code": "JFBC",

PDP2: Show full rental policies

Rental policies, including any rules and restrictions, should be disclosed in full before a traveler finalizes their car rental. This includes any refundable security deposits that are due at the time of pick-up.

Modal listing two expandable policy sections and a link to view all rules and restrictions

Rental policies example

"policies": [
        {
            "name": "Fuel: full to full",
            "descriptions": [],
            "policy_statements": [
                {
                    "statement": "Fuel: full to full",
                    "statement_condition": "Vehicle to be returned with the same amount of fuel as start of the trip to avoid refuelling charges."
                }
            ],
            "policy_type": "PRODUCT_USE_POLICY"
        },
        {
            "name": "Unlimited mileage",
            "descriptions": [],
            "policy_statements": [
                {
                    "statement": "Unlimited mileage",
                    "statement_condition": "Drive unlimited distance with this car at no extra cost."
                }
            ],
            "policy_type": "PRODUCT_USE_POLICY"
        },
        {
            "name": "Cancellation available",
            "descriptions": [],
            "policy_statements": [
                {
                    "statement": "Cancellation available",
                    "statement_condition": "Before Fri, Sep 19, 10:30am"
                }
            ],
            "policy_type": "CANCELLATION_POLICY"
        },
        {
            "name": "",
            "descriptions": [],
            "policy_statements": [],
            "policy_type": "PRODUCT_USE_POLICY"
        },
        {
            "name": "Online check-in",
            "descriptions": [],
            "policy_statements": [
                {
                    "statement": "",
                    "statement_condition": "Check in online on the Sixt website by uploading required documents, like driver’s license, up to the time of pick-up."
                }
            ],
            "policy_type": "CHECKIN_POLICY"
        },
        {
            "name": "Pay now and save",
            "descriptions": [],
            "policy_statements": [],
            "policy_type": "PAYMENT_POLICY"
        }
    ],

Rules and restrictions example

{ 
  "rules_and_restrictions": [ 
    { 
      "title": "Rental policies overview", 
      "statements": "<p>The following rules and restrictions are provided by the car rental company.</p>" 
    },

Additional country-specific requirements

In the EU and UK regions, you must display a disclaimer that the right of withdrawal does not apply.

Rental policies modal with information circled that explains UK consumer law differences

PDP3: Display the cancellation policy

If a rental needs to be cancelled, the traveler will need to understand the parameters of the vendor’s cancellation policy.

Free cancellation

Some vendors offer free cancellation of a reservation regardless of timing.

Notification box that sais "Lock in this price today, cancel free of charge anytime."

{...
        {
            "name": "Free cancellation",
            "descriptions": [],
            "policy_statements": [],
            "policy_type": "CANCELLATION_POLICY"
        },
        {
            "name": "Free cancellation",
            "descriptions": [],
            "policy_statements": [
                {
                    "statement": "Lock in this price today, cancel free of charge anytime. Reserve now and pay at pick-up.",
                    "statement_condition": ""
                }
            ],
            "policy_type": "PRODUCT_USE_POLICY"
        },
}

Free cancel until

Depending on the situation, some vendors may allow free cancellation of a reservation until a certain point, such as 24 hours prior to the date of pick-up.

Cancel until statement including date and time information

{        
        {
            "name": "Free cancellation",
            "descriptions": [],
            "policy_statements": [
                {
                    "statement": "Free cancellation",
                    "statement_condition": "Before Wed, Oct 1, 10:30am"
                }
            ],
            "policy_type": "CANCELLATION_POLICY"
        },
        {
            "name": "Free cancellation",
            "descriptions": [
                "Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up",
                "Cancellations made after that or no-shows are subject to a fee of $50 or total reservation amount, whichever is lesser which will be charged on the card details shared by you.",
                "Get 100% refund of Collision Damage Plan cost if canceled before the scheduled pick-up time. This insurance will be canceled automatically with your rental car cancellation.",
                "Cancellations made after that or no-shows are subject to a fee of $50 or total reservation amount, whichever is lesser which will be charged on the card details shared by you.",
                "Get 100% refund of Collision Damage Plan cost if canceled before the scheduled pick-up time. This insurance will be canceled automatically with your rental car cancellation."
            ],
            "policy_statements": [
                {
                    "statement": "Lock in this price today, cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before pick-up. Cancellations within 24 hours of pick-up or no shows will not be eligible for a refund.",
                    "statement_condition": ""
                }
            ],
            "policy_type": "PRODUCT_USE_POLICY"
        },
    }
}

PDP4: Details and costs of optional extras

Travelers can add optional extras such as a car seat or toll pass. These extras are always paid at the vendor, not charged at time of booking. Optional extras are subject to availability and are not guaranteed.

"optional_extras": [
        {
            "id": "TollPaymentTagPass",
            "name": "TOL - Toll pass/Express lane",
            "rate_price": {
                "rate_period": "daily",
                "rate": {
                    "billable_currency": {
                        "value": "15.71",
                        "currency": "USD"
                    },
                    "request_currency": {
                        "value": "15.71",
                        "currency": "USD"
                    }
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "InfantChildSeat",
            "name": "CSI - Infant seat",
            "rate_price": {
                "rate_period": "daily",
                "rate": {
                    "billable_currency": {
                        "value": "17.16",
                        "currency": "USD"
                    },
                    "request_currency": {
                        "value": "17.16",
                        "currency": "USD"
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    ]

Booking page

Details of checkout

Summary of booking details (BP1)

The summary should always include:

  • Dates of car rental
  • Pick-up location, time, and address
  • Drop-off location, time, and address
  • Class of car
  • Car rental company name
  • Fuel policy

Booking page showing all elements listed above


BP2: Display the rental price

How you need to display the price depends on the rate type being booked and the booking channel being used. Your launch team will indicate which requirements apply to you.

Standalone rates

Standalone rates can be sold on their own or as part of a package.

On the booking page, you must display the total price for the selected rental period and a breakdown of any applicable taxes and fees (including one-way fees). Also include whether the rental must be paid in advance (pay now, or Expedia collect) or at the counter (pay later, or vendor collect). Optional add-ons are always paid at the counter.

This option applies to either travel booked via an agent (B2B) or directly from your integration (B2C).

Car-only rental information with rate, discounted rate, total price of rental and tax/fee breakdown

Package rates

Package rates should only be displayed and sold with an eligible package component as one bundled price. The package rate must not be communicated separately or revealed to the traveler, and these rates can only be applied to the trip in which the eligible component or other travel service is returned.

When a package booking is made, display the subtotal, taxes and fees, and the price for the complete package. If a breakdown of taxes and fees is not available, display only the total price for the package. Be sure to include information on when the payment is due (pay now or pay later). Optional add-ons are always paid at the counter.

This option applies to either travel booked via an agent (B2B) or directly from your integration (B2C).

Package booking summary with hotel information, car information, and total price for all elements

Exposed package rates

Exposed package rates must only be displayed to travelers who have completed the booking of an eligible package component, and they may only be applied to the trip in which the eligible component or other travel service is returned or within communications specifically related to that trip.

You must display the total price for the selected rental period and a breakdown of any applicable taxes and fees (including one-way fees). Also include whether the rental must be paid in advance (pay now, or Expedia collect) or at the counter (pay later, or vendor collect). Optional add-ons are always paid at the counter.

This option applies to either travel booked via an agent (B2B) or directly from your integration (B2C).

Member-only deals rates

Member-only deals are to be sold exclusively in a closed-user environment (such as via login to a site, mobile app, or agent tool).

When displaying a strikethrough price, explain how it is calculated, such as:

Standard rate on our site, provided by the supplier and based on your search, before all discounts and rewards applied.

You must display the total price for the selected rental period and a breakdown of any applicable taxes and fees (including one-way fees), along with whether the rental must be paid in advance (pay now, or Expedia collect) or at the counter (pay later, or vendor collect). Optional add-ons are always paid at the counter.

This option applies to either travel booked via an agent (B2B) or directly from your integration (B2C).

Mobile rates

Mobile rates are to be sold exclusively when accessed on a mobile device. This can be in a mobile browser or via a mobile app.

When displaying a strikethrough price, explain how it is calculated, such as:

Standard rate on our site, provided by the supplier and based on your search, before all discounts and rewards applied.

You must display the total price for the selected rental period and a breakdown of any applicable taxes and fees (including one-way fees), along with whether the rental must be paid in advance (pay now, or Expedia collect) or at the counter (pay later, or vendor collect). Optional add-ons are always paid at the counter.

This option applies to either travel booked via an agent (B2B) or directly from your integration (B2C).

Taxes and fees breakdown

Price display must include the sum of all elements of the fees array as one line titled “Taxes and fees”. When referring to any taxes and fee totals within the price breakdown, you must display the exact text below.

Taxes are tax recovery charges we pay to travel providers (e.g., car rentals) and/or are remitted by us. Fees may include additional charges imposed by the travel providers. For more details, please refer to our Terms of Use.

This text can be displayed as a pop-up, in plain text, in a modal, or in some other implementation, but it must appear with the price display.

Note: When the fees object is not returned by the API, you should label the Taxes and Fees line item as "Included".

Pay now / Expedia collect example

[ 
 { 
   ... 
   "rate": { 
     "merchant_of_record": "expedia", 
     "sale_scenario": { 
       "package": false, 
       "member": false, 
       "mobile_promotion": false 
     }, 
     "pricing": { 
       "daily_rate_strikethrough": {...}, 
       "daily_rate": {...}, 
       "totals": { 
         "inclusive_strikethrough": {...}, 
         "inclusive": {...}, 
         "exclusive": {...}, 
         "fees": {...} 
       } 
     } 
   }, 
   ... 
 } 
]

Pay later / vendor collect example

[ 
 { 
   ... 
   "rate": { 
     "merchant_of_record": "vendor", 
     "sale_scenario": { 
       "package": false, 
       "member": false, 
       "mobile_promotion": false 
     }, 
     "pricing": { 
       "daily_rate": {...}, 
       "totals": { 
         "inclusive": {...}, 
         "exclusive": {...}, 
         "fees": {...} 
       } 
     } 
   }, 
   ... 
 } 
]

BP3: Display the cancellation policy

If a rental needs to be cancelled, the traveler will need to understand the parameters of the vendor’s cancellation policy.

Free cancellation

Some vendors offer free cancellation of a reservation regardless of timing.

Notification box that sais "Lock in this price today, cancel free of charge anytime."

{
        {
            "name": "Free cancellation",
            "descriptions": [],
            "policy_statements": [],
            "policy_type": "CANCELLATION_POLICY"
        },
        {
            "name": "Free cancellation",
            "descriptions": [],
            "policy_statements": [
                {
                    "statement": "Lock in this price today, cancel free of charge anytime. Reserve now and pay at pick-up.",
                    "statement_condition": ""
                }
            ],
            "policy_type": "PRODUCT_USE_POLICY"
        },
}

Free cancel until

Depending on the situation, some vendors may allow free cancellation of a reservation until a certain point, such as 24 hours prior to the date of pick-up.

Cancel until statement including date and time information

{
  ...        
        {
            "name": "Free cancellation",
            "descriptions": [],
            "policy_statements": [
                {
                    "statement": "Free cancellation",
                    "statement_condition": "Before Wed, Oct 1, 10:30am"
                }
            ],
            "policy_type": "CANCELLATION_POLICY"
        },
        {
            "name": "Free cancellation",
            "descriptions": [
                "Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up",
                "Cancellations made after that or no-shows are subject to a fee of $50 or total reservation amount, whichever is lesser which will be charged on the card details shared by you.",
                "Get 100% refund of Collision Damage Plan cost if canceled before the scheduled pick-up time. This insurance will be canceled automatically with your rental car cancellation.",
                "Cancellations made after that or no-shows are subject to a fee of $50 or total reservation amount, whichever is lesser which will be charged on the card details shared by you.",
                "Get 100% refund of Collision Damage Plan cost if canceled before the scheduled pick-up time. This insurance will be canceled automatically with your rental car cancellation."
            ],
            "policy_statements": [
                {
                    "statement": "Lock in this price today, cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before pick-up. Cancellations within 24 hours of pick-up or no shows will not be eligible for a refund.",
                    "statement_condition": ""
                }
            ],
            "policy_type": "PRODUCT_USE_POLICY"
        },
    }
}

BP4: Link to the Expedia Group terms and conditions URL

The Expedia Group terms and conditions detail the traveler-facing terms that govern the booking. You must provide a link to them, either within your site’s own terms and conditions text or directly from your booking page. The link text should read “Supplier terms and conditions”, and it should be placed in an easy-to-find location.

Versions of the terms and conditions in every language we support are available from this Rapid API terms and conditions page.

Terms and conditions modal with link to full text

Confirmation page

No requirements

There are currently no requirements for the confirmation page.

Email receipt or voucher

Booking information for the traveler

ER1: Include a summary of booking details

The summary should always include:

  • Dates of car rental
  • Pick-up location, time, and address
  • Drop-off location, time, and address
  • Class of car
  • Car rental company name
  • Fuel policy

Email or voucher summary of booking details

ER2: Display the rental price

How you need to display the price depends on the rate type being booked and the booking channel being used. Your email receipt should use the same rate details that you included on the Booking page.

Email display of total price and when payment is due

General technical requirements

Behind-the-scenes requirements

TR1: Affiliate reference ID

Send your own booking reference ID in the affiliate_reference_id field with each booking request. This helps avoid duplicate bookings.


TR2: Traveler’s country code

Use the correct traveler’s origination country code with each booking request.


TR3: Billing information

Send in accurate payment information of the person (or company) making the payment. It should include the name, country, and postal code of the person paying for the rental.


TR4: Email communications

Provide the customer’s email address or that of a monitored email mailbox with each booking request to ensure that booking-related communications are made available.


TR5: Traveler information

Always provide accurate information about the traveler at each stage of the booking, including the traveler’s name and contact phone number.


TR6: Error handling

Please confirm you have understood the general Rapid error handling recommendations for booking requests.

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