Car rental, decoded
Broker
Also known as: intermediary, aggregator
A company that sells rentals to customers without owning the fleet, aggregating supply from many operators and taking a margin or commission. Expands choice and reach but adds a layer between customer and operator.
What you may think
I'm renting from the company on the booking site.
What is actually happening
A broker sells the rental but does not own the cars; the supplier that hands over the car may have different terms, and who resolves a problem can be less direct.