Like many savvy travelers, you might have opted for the cheapest rental car in the past, overlooking the potential benefits of Rental Car Loyalty Programs. However, if you’re planning any trips that require four wheels, now is the perfect time to explore and enroll in these rewarding programs. Joining a rental car rewards program is not only free, but it can also unlock a treasure trove of benefits, from complimentary vehicle upgrades to accumulating points redeemable for free rental days.
Let’s delve into a comprehensive guide to the best car rental loyalty programs available, outlining what you need to know to maximize your travel experience.
Alamo Insiders
Alamo Insiders stands out by offering simplicity and immediate savings. Unlike many programs that feature tiered elite statuses, Alamo Insiders provides straightforward benefits from the moment you join. Members enjoy a consistent 5% discount on base rates for rentals in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
Beyond discounts, Alamo Insiders allows members to double-dip on rewards. You can choose to earn points or miles with Alamo’s extensive network of airline and hotel partners. This includes major names like American AAdvantage, Hilton Honors, and Southwest Rapid Rewards. For a complete list of partners, visit Alamo’s partner page.
Related: Maximize your benefits: Credit cards offering elite status for car rentals
Avis Preferred
With a vast global presence encompassing over 5,000 locations across 170 countries, Avis provides extensive reach for travelers. Enrolling in the Avis Preferred loyalty program is a strategic move for frequent renters seeking both convenience and rewards.
Avis Preferred features a tiered elite status structure, offering escalating benefits as you rent more frequently: Preferred, Preferred Plus, and President’s Club.
Avis Preferred
As a base-level Preferred member, you immediately start earning rewards. You’ll accrue 1 point for every dollar spent on car rentals and an accelerated rate of 2 points per dollar on accessories. These points are valuable and can be redeemed for car rentals starting at just 700 points per day, with the added flexibility of no blackout dates.
A key advantage of Avis Preferred is time-saving. Members can bypass long queues at the rental counter in most locations worldwide, streamlining the pickup process and getting you on the road faster.
Avis Preferred Plus
Reaching Avis Preferred Plus status is achieved by renting 10 times or spending $4,000 within a calendar year. This elevated tier boosts your earning potential to 1.25 points per dollar on rental costs and 2.5 points per dollar on optional add-ons.
In addition to all the benefits of the Preferred tier, Preferred Plus members receive complimentary upgrades. When reserving a midsize car or larger, you’ll be eligible for a one-class upgrade, based on availability at the time of rental.
Fast Track to Status: Existing elite status can expedite your Avis Preferred Plus membership. United MileagePlus Premier Silver or Gold members can link their accounts to elevate their Avis status. Furthermore, The Platinum Card® from American Express holders receive complimentary Avis Preferred Plus status upon enrollment.
Avis President’s Club
The pinnacle of Avis loyalty, President’s Club status is awarded to renters who complete 20 rentals or spend $6,000 within a calendar year. President’s Club members enjoy the highest earning rate within the program: 1.5 points per dollar on car rentals and 3 points per dollar on accessories.
President’s Club status unlocks a suite of premium benefits:
- Enhanced Upgrades: Receive a guaranteed two-class upgrade when reserving a midsize car or larger (excluding large SUVs and Signature Fleet vehicles, subject to availability).
- Guaranteed Car Availability: Enjoy a guaranteed car rental, up to a full-size vehicle, with a confirmed reservation made 24 hours in advance.
- Dedicated Customer Service: Access a dedicated Avis Preferred Plus customer service and reservation line for prioritized assistance.
Accelerated Path to President’s Club: Certain United co-branded credit cards offer automatic Avis President’s Club status as a cardholder perk. These include the United ClubSM Infinite Card and the United ClubSM Business Card. Additionally, United MileagePlus Premier Platinum elite status holders and higher tiers also receive this valuable rental car status perk.
Note: Information regarding the United Club Business card has been independently collected by The Points Guy and not reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Smart saving strategies: How to avoid paying full price for rental cars
Budget Fastbreak
Budget’s Fastbreak loyalty program focuses on efficiency and occasional bonus offers. Joining Fastbreak is free and designed to expedite both the pickup and return processes for your rental car.
Similar to Alamo Insiders, Budget Fastbreak does not incorporate elite status tiers. Instead, Budget periodically provides attractive promotions exclusively to its Fastbreak members. These offers can include valuable incentives like $25 in Budget Bucks, which can be used toward future rentals after completing two rentals within a specified timeframe (e.g., by December 31st).
Related: Travel smarter, not harder: Tips to secure the best rental car prices
Dollar Express Rewards
The Dollar Express Rewards program is structured around earning points towards free rental days. Members also gain access to valuable benefits that enhance the rental experience, such as priority service, expedited rental returns, and the perk of a complimentary authorized additional driver (for a spouse or domestic partner).
While Dollar Rewards doesn’t have elite status levels, it offers a straightforward earning structure of 1 point per dollar spent on qualifying rentals within the U.S. and Canada. Free rental car redemptions start at 500 points for weekend days and 625 points for weekdays (excluding taxes and mandatory fees).
Related: Unlock free rentals: How to redeem points and miles for car rentals
Enterprise Plus
Enterprise Plus features a four-tiered elite status program, providing increasing benefits with each level: Plus (basic membership), Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Enterprise’s elite status perks are centered around bonus points accumulation and complimentary vehicle upgrades. Here’s a breakdown of each tier:
Enterprise Plus
Enrolling in Enterprise Plus automatically grants you Plus status, which is maintained through your first five rentals. As a Plus member, you earn a solid base of 1 point per dollar on qualifying rentals.
Enterprise Silver
Achieving Enterprise Silver status requires six qualifying rentals. Silver members receive a 10% bonus on points earned for each qualifying rental dollar, accelerating your rewards accumulation. Additionally, Silver status includes one complimentary car upgrade per year.
Enterprise Gold
To reach Enterprise Gold status, you need to complete either 12 qualifying rentals or accrue 40 rental days. Gold members receive a 15% bonus on points earned per qualifying rental dollar, further boosting your earnings. The upgrade benefit also increases to two complimentary car upgrades per year.
Enterprise Platinum
Enterprise’s top-tier Platinum status is earned after 24 qualifying rentals or 85 rental days. Platinum members enjoy the highest bonus earning rate of 20% bonus points on qualifying rental dollars. The complimentary upgrade benefit is maximized at four upgrades per year.
Enterprise points are redeemable for free rental days with no blackout dates, offering significant flexibility. The number of points required for a free rental day varies depending on the specifics of the rental, but redemptions start at just 400 points.
For travelers aiming to fast-track their way to Enterprise elite status, the program offers a generous status match program with over 40 different travel loyalty programs. If you hold elite status with an airline, hotel, or another car rental program, it’s worth checking Enterprise’s status match website to see if you can leverage your existing status.
Related: Elevate your rental experience: Everything you need to know about rental car elite status
Fox Rewards
The Fox Rewards loyalty program is designed for simplicity, focusing on a straightforward points earning and redemption system. Members earn a consistent 4 points for every dollar spent on rentals (excluding taxes and fees). As your points balance grows, you have two primary options for redemption: gift cards or FoxBucks.
Fox Rewards partners with Tango Card, providing a wide selection of gift card options from popular retailers like Amazon, Apple, and Starbucks. Gift card redemptions start at 2,500 points for a $25 gift certificate and scale up to 12,500 points for a $125 gift certificate.
Alternatively, you can redeem points for FoxBucks, which function as credits to pay for your car rentals. Redeeming rental car rewards points for FoxBucks starts at 1,600 points for $20 in FoxBucks and goes up to 8,000 points for $100 in FoxBucks.
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
Hertz’s loyalty program, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, is another program that is free to join and designed to enhance the rental experience. Members can bypass the rental counter and proceed directly to vehicle pickup. Furthermore, you’ll accumulate redeemable reward points that can be used towards free rentals.
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards features a three-tiered elite structure: Gold (basic membership), Five Star, and President’s Circle. Here’s a breakdown of the qualification requirements and benefits for each tier:
Hertz Gold
Becoming a Hertz Gold member is as simple as signing up for the program. While the base-level benefits are relatively modest, they offer a solid foundation:
- Points Earning: Earn 1 point for every dollar spent on rentals.
- Hertz Ultimate Choice Access: At participating Hertz locations, access Hertz Ultimate Choice, allowing you to select your preferred vehicle from a designated zone.
- Free Additional Driver: In the U.S., spouses or domestic partners are automatically included as free additional drivers.
Hertz Five Star
Hertz Five Star status is achieved after completing 10 Hertz rentals or spending $2,000 on rental cars within a year. Key benefits of Five Star status include:
- Accelerated Points Earning: Earn 1.25 points per dollar spent, a boost over the base Gold level.
- Upgrade Eligibility: Receive complimentary upgrades based on vehicle availability at the time of rental.
- Expanded Ultimate Choice: When renting from a Hertz location with an Ultimate Choice lot, Five Star members gain access to a wider selection of vehicles compared to Gold members.
Status Match Opportunities: Leverage existing airline elite status to fast-track your Hertz status. Delta Medallion Silver or Gold status holders can often match their status to Hertz Five Star.
Hertz President’s Circle
Reaching the top-tier President’s Circle status requires 15 Hertz rentals or $3,000 in rental car spending within a calendar year. President’s Circle members enjoy all the benefits of lower tiers, plus enhanced perks:
- Maximum Points Earning: Earn 1.5 points per dollar spent, the highest earning rate in the program.
- Guaranteed Upgrades: Receive guaranteed car upgrades, enhancing your rental experience.
- Premier Ultimate Choice: At Ultimate Choice locations, President’s Circle members have access to the widest and most premium vehicle selection, exceeding even Five Star access.
- Dedicated Customer Support: Access a dedicated Hertz phone line specifically for President’s Circle members, ensuring prioritized service.
Credit Card Perks for President’s Circle: Several premium credit cards offer complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status as a cardholder benefit. These include the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card*, The Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment required), and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (enrollment required). Delta Platinum and Diamond Medallion status holders can also enroll in Hertz Gold Plus Rewards and receive complimentary President’s Circle status.
*Enrollment through the Capital One website or mobile app is required to activate Hertz President’s Circle status for eligible cardholders. Status is maintained for the duration of the offer. Standard Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment processes will not automatically trigger the complimentary status upgrade. Additional terms apply.
Related: Maximize your rewards: Stacking rental car perks with Hertz and the Venture X card
National Emerald Club
National’s loyalty program, Emerald Club, is structured with three tiers: Emerald Club (base), Executive, and Executive Elite. Let’s examine the benefits of each:
Emerald Club
Emerald Club membership provides immediate time-saving benefits. Members can bypass the rental counter and directly select any car from the Emerald Aisle when renting a midsize vehicle or larger. You have the flexibility to choose between earning free rental days or accumulating points or miles with one of National’s partner programs. Additional perks include:
- Expedited International Service: Enhanced services when renting in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
- Free Rental Days: Earn free rental days after accruing seven rental credits.
- No Second-Driver Fees: Avoid second-driver fees, saving money for couples or families traveling together.
- International Upgrades: Complimentary one-class upgrades at participating locations in the U.K., Ireland, France, Spain, and Germany (subject to availability).
Emerald Club Executive
Emerald Club Executive status is attained after 12 paid rentals or 40 paid rental days within a calendar year. Alternatively, select travel rewards credit cards offer automatic Executive status, including The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (enrollment required).
Executive members receive all the base Emerald Club benefits, plus:
- Faster Free Rental Days: Earn a free rental day after just six rental credits, accelerating reward accumulation.
- Executive Area Access: Pay the midsize rate but choose any car (including full-size and above) from the Executive Area in the U.S., offering greater vehicle selection at a lower price point.
- Guaranteed Upgrades: Receive guaranteed upgrades when reserving a midsize car or larger in the U.S. and Canada.
- Premier Selection Access: Exclusive pricing when upgrading to Premier Selection vehicles at rental locations in the U.S. and Canada.
Emerald Club Executive Elite
The highest tier, Emerald Club Executive Elite, is achieved after 25 rentals or 85 rental days per calendar year. Top-tier Executive Elite members enjoy premium benefits:
- Fastest Free Rental Days: Earn free rental days after only five rental credits (applicable to any car class excluding exotic vehicles and trucks).
- Guaranteed Car Availability: Guaranteed car rental (up to full-size) with 24 hours’ notice, ensuring vehicle availability even during peak periods.
- Private Airport Delivery: In select circumstances, enjoy private airport delivery if arriving by private aircraft at smaller airports in the U.S. or Canada (within 50 miles of a National branch).
National Emerald Club also offers a valuable status match program, matching status from over 40 other loyalty programs. TPG staff members have successfully used Hilton Honors Gold status to match to Emerald Club Executive and United Airlines Premier 1K to achieve Executive Elite. It’s highly recommended to check if you can match your existing status to gain Emerald Club benefits.
Related: Unlock rental perks: Credit cards offering elite status for car rentals
Thrifty Blue Chip Rewards
Thrifty Blue Chip Rewards focuses on straightforward discounts rather than a tiered elite status or points-based system. Thrifty Blue Chip members receive an automatic discount of up to 15% on all rentals.
Blue Chip membership also provides practical benefits like a complimentary authorized additional driver (spouse or domestic partner), expedited pickup and return processes, and other convenience-focused perks.
Best Credit Cards to Maximize Rental Car Rewards
When renting a car from any agency, maximizing your rewards accumulation hinges on using the right credit card. Certain credit cards offer bonus points or miles for all car rentals charged directly to the card.
Furthermore, some premium cards provide valuable primary car rental coverage. This coverage protects against loss, theft, or damage to the rental vehicle without requiring you to file a claim with your personal auto insurance provider. To activate primary coverage, simply decline the rental agency’s primary rental insurance and pay for the rental with a card offering this benefit.
Bottom Line
While renting a car might not be the most glamorous aspect of travel compared to flying or hotel stays, it’s often a necessary component, especially for exploring destinations beyond major tourist hubs.
If your credit card portfolio or airline loyalty program memberships include complimentary elite status with rental car agencies, enroll in those programs. Even without automatic elite status, joining multiple rental car loyalty programs is still advantageous. You can earn points towards free rentals, access exclusive discounts, and streamline the rental process by skipping counters. Car rental loyalty programs offer tangible perks and benefits that can enhance your travel experience and save you money.
