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Booking.com vs Expedia Refund Process

Side-by-side comparison of refund processs, conditions, and refund timelines.·Last updated: 2026-03-19

Quick Summary

Booking.com has a More than 48 hours before rental begins (for full refund on car rentals); otherwise, depends on booking-specific cancellation policy refund window with Varies — contact provider for estimated timeline processing, while Expedia offers Depends on the rules of your booking; eligible reservations may be refundable during the cancellation window shown in Trips, while some add-ons such as Cancel for Any Reason allow cancellation up to 24 hours before the first leg of the trip. with Expedia says it may take up to 24 hours to process the refund, after which your bank or payment service posts the money on its own timeline. processing. See the full breakdown below.

Refund Conditions

Booking.com

  • Booking is free cancellation
  • Cancellation fees are determined by the property and listed in your cancellation policy
  • For car rentals, cancellation more than 48 hours before rental begins for full refund
  • For car rentals, cancellation less than 48 hours before rental begins results in partial refund
  • Car rental cancellation for unavailability results in full refund regardless of timing

Expedia

  • Refunds are subject to non-refundable fees.
  • For flights, contact the airline directly for cancellations and refunds.
  • Airlines may require relevant proof (e.g., medical certificate) for flight refunds.

Refund Steps

Booking.com

  • If using the app for car rentals, click ‘Bookings’ at the bottom of the screen
  • If using the website for car rentals, sign in on Booking.com
  • Navigate to the ‘Car rentals’ page
  • Then click ‘Manage booking’

Expedia

  • Go to Trips.
  • Select the booking you wish to cancel.
  • Select Change or cancel.
  • Follow the instructions provided.
  • Be aware of policies, restrictions, and fees before finalizing cancellation.

Refund Methods

Booking.com

  • Original payment method
  • Virtual Credit Card (VCC) reversal (if property charged VCC)

Expedia

  • Amount refunded
  • Less non-refundable fees

Partial Refunds

Booking.com

  • For car rentals, if you cancel less than 48 hours before your rental begins, you’ll receive a refund what you paid minus three days’ rental cost.

Expedia

  • Partial payments are refunded minus non-refundable fees.

Dispute Process

Booking.com

  • Customers can contact the Customer Service team at booking.com/help for assistance with payment issues.

Expedia

Not available

Additional Notes

Booking.com

  • Cancellation fees are determined by the property and listed in your cancellation policy
  • If Booking.com has already paid the property, they will deduct the refund amount from the next payout or require payment from the property
  • Booking.com may cover a portion of the price if a guest uses a Booking Sponsored Benefit
  • For car rentals, reservations of three days or less canceled less than 48 hours before rental will not receive a refund

Expedia

  • Refunds are based on refund basics.
  • If a deposit or partial payment was charged, that amount will be refunded.