Like many savvy travelers, you might have prioritized the cheapest rental car option in the past. However, overlooking rental car loyalty programs could mean missing out on significant perks. If you’re planning to rent a vehicle soon, enrolling in a rental car rewards program is a smart move. These programs are free to join and offer valuable benefits, from complimentary car upgrades to points redeemable for free rental days.
This guide provides an in-depth look at some of the best car rental rewards programs available, helping you understand their benefits and choose the programs that best fit your travel needs.
Alamo Insiders
Alamo Insiders stands out by offering straightforward savings. Unlike many programs with tiered statuses and point systems, Alamo Insiders provides immediate value with a 5% discount on base rates in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
While Alamo Insiders doesn’t have its own points system, members can still accumulate rewards by opting to earn points or miles with partner airlines and hotels. These partners include popular names like American AAdvantage, Hilton Honors, and Southwest Rapid Rewards. For a complete list of participating partners, refer to Alamo’s partner page.
Related: Credit cards that offer elite status for car rentals
Avis Preferred
With a vast network of over 5,000 locations across more than 170 countries, Avis offers a globally accessible car rental service. Joining Avis Preferred loyalty program is highly recommended for frequent renters.
Avis Preferred features three elite status tiers, each offering increasing benefits: Preferred, Preferred Plus, and President’s Club.
Avis Preferred
As a base-level Preferred member, you’ll begin earning rewards immediately. You accrue 1 point for every dollar spent on car rentals and 2 points per dollar on accessories. These points can be redeemed for car rentals starting at just 700 points per day, with the advantage of no blackout dates.
A key perk of Avis Preferred is the ability to bypass rental counter lines at most locations worldwide, saving you valuable time and streamlining your rental experience.
Avis Preferred Plus
Reaching Avis Preferred Plus status is achieved by renting at least 10 times or spending $4,000 within a calendar year. This elevated tier increases your earning potential to 1.25 points per dollar spent on rentals and 2.5 points per dollar on optional extras.
Preferred Plus members enjoy all the benefits of the Preferred tier, plus the added bonus of a complimentary one-class car upgrade when reserving a midsize or larger vehicle, subject to availability.
How to attain this status: Holders of United MileagePlus Premier Silver or United Premier Gold elite status can link their accounts to upgrade their Avis status. Furthermore, The Platinum Card® from American Express provides complimentary Avis Preferred Plus status upon enrollment.
Avis President’s Club
The highest tier, Avis President’s Club, is unlocked after 20 rentals or $6,000 in spending within a calendar year. President’s Club members earn 1.5 points per dollar on car rentals and 3 points per dollar on accessories, maximizing reward accumulation.
Benefits of Avis President’s Club status include:
- Two-class upgrade when reserving a midsize car or higher (excluding large SUVs and Signature Fleet, availability dependent).
- Guaranteed car up to a full-size with a confirmed 24-hour advance reservation, ensuring vehicle availability.
- Dedicated Avis Preferred Plus customer service and reservation line for prioritized support.
How to attain this status: Certain United cobranded credit cards offer complimentary Avis President’s Club status: United ClubSM Infinite Card and the United ClubSM Business Card. Additionally, United MileagePlus Premier Platinum elite status holders or higher also receive this valuable rental car status.
The information for the United Club Business has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: How to never pay full price for a rental car
Budget Fastbreak
Budget’s Fastbreak loyalty program is designed for efficiency, offering a streamlined rental experience. Joining Budget Fastbreak is free and provides members with expedited pick-up and drop-off processes.
Similar to Alamo Insiders, Budget Fastbreak does not incorporate elite status tiers. Instead, Budget focuses on providing periodic promotional offers to its members. These promotions can include incentives like Budget Bucks, which can be used towards future rentals.
Related: Save money on your next trip: Use these tips to never pay full price for a rental car
Dollar Express Rewards
The Dollar Express Rewards program focuses on rewarding renters with points towards free rentals. Members also gain access to valuable perks like priority service, expedited rental returns, and a complimentary authorized additional driver (spouse or domestic partner).
Dollar Rewards operates without elite status tiers. Members earn 1 point for every dollar spent on eligible rentals within the U.S. and Canada. Free rental redemptions begin at 500 points for weekend days and 625 points for weekdays (excluding taxes and fees).
Related: How you can redeem points and miles for car rentals
Enterprise Plus
Enterprise Plus features a four-tiered elite status program, offering increasing rewards and recognition: Plus (basic membership), Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Enterprise’s elite status benefits center around bonus points accrual on qualifying rentals and complimentary vehicle upgrades.
Here’s a breakdown of each Enterprise Plus tier:
Enterprise Plus
Basic Plus status is granted upon enrollment and lasts through your fifth rental. Members earn 1 point per dollar on qualifying rentals from the outset.
Enterprise Silver
Enterprise Silver status is achieved after six rentals. Silver members receive a 10% bonus on points earned from qualifying rental dollars, accelerating reward accumulation. They also receive one complimentary car upgrade per year.
Enterprise Gold
To reach Enterprise Gold status, renters need either 12 qualifying rentals or 40 rental days. Gold members earn a 15% bonus on points from qualifying rental spending and receive two complimentary car upgrades annually.
Enterprise Platinum
Enterprise’s top-tier Platinum status requires 24 qualifying rentals or 85 rental days. Platinum members enjoy a 20% bonus on points earned from qualifying rentals, the highest earning rate in the program, and four complimentary car upgrades per year.
Enterprise points can be redeemed for free rental days with no blackout dates. Point values for free rentals vary based on rental specifics, but redemptions start at 400 points.
For those seeking to fast-track Enterprise elite status, the program offers a status match opportunity with over 40 travel loyalty programs. If you hold elite status with an airline, hotel, or another car rental program, it’s worth checking Enterprise’s website to see if you can match your current status.
Related: Everything you need to know about rental car elite status
Fox Rewards
Fox Rewards program is designed for simplicity, allowing members to earn rewards quickly. Members earn a straightforward 4 points per dollar spent (excluding taxes and fees). Points can be redeemed in two ways: gift cards or FoxBucks.
Fox Rewards partners with Tango Card, enabling point redemption for gift cards from various retailers, including 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 certificate.
Alternatively, FoxBucks provide a direct way to utilize points for car rentals. Redeeming rental car rewards points via FoxBucks starts at 1,600 points for $20 in FoxBucks and reaches 8,000 points for $100 in FoxBucks.
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
Hertz’s loyalty program, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, is free to join and designed for a seamless rental experience. Members can skip the rental counter and proceed directly to vehicle pick-up. The program also allows members to earn redeemable reward points towards free rentals.
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards features three elite tiers: Gold (basic membership), Five Star, and President’s Circle. Here’s a breakdown of each tier and their benefits:
Hertz Gold
Becoming a Hertz Gold member is as simple as signing up. While the basic tier has fewer perks compared to elite levels, it offers a solid foundation:
- Earn 1 point per dollar spent.
- Access to Hertz Ultimate Choice at select locations, allowing you to choose your specific car.
- Free additional driver for a spouse or domestic partner within the U.S.
Hertz Five Star
Five Star status is achieved after completing 10 Hertz rentals or spending $2,000 on rentals within a year. Key benefits include:
- Earn 1.25 points per dollar spent, accelerating point accumulation.
- Upgrades based on car availability at the time of rental.
- Expanded car selection within Hertz Ultimate Choice lots, offering Five Star members a wider range of vehicles to choose from.
Alternative ways to earn status: Delta Medallion Silver or Gold status holders can status match to Five Star status.
Hertz President’s Circle
President’s Circle status is attained after 15 Hertz rentals or $3,000 in rental spending within a calendar year. President’s Circle members receive all the benefits of lower tiers, plus enhanced advantages:
- Earn 1.5 points per dollar spent, the highest earning rate in the program.
- Guaranteed car upgrades upon rental.
- Widest car selection within Hertz Ultimate Choice lots, exceeding that of Gold or Five Star members.
- Dedicated Hertz phone number for President’s Circle members, providing prioritized customer service.
Alternative ways to earn status: Several premium credit cards offer Hertz President’s Circle benefits: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card*, The Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment required), and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (enrollment required). Delta Platinum or Diamond Medallion status holders can also enroll in Hertz Gold Plus Rewards to receive complimentary President’s Circle status.
*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.
Related: Stacking rental car perks with Hertz and the Venture X
National Emerald Club
National’s loyalty program, Emerald Club, features three tiers: Emerald Club, Executive, and Executive Elite. Each tier offers a progression of benefits.
Emerald Club
Emerald Club members enjoy the signature benefit of bypassing the counter and selecting any car from the Emerald Aisle when renting a midsize vehicle or larger. Members can choose to earn free rental days or points/miles with National’s partner programs.
Additional Emerald Club perks include:
- Expedited service when renting in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
- Free rental days earned after accumulating seven rental credits.
- No second-driver fees, adding value for couples or families traveling together.
- Complimentary one-class upgrade at participating locations in the U.K., Ireland, France, Spain, and Germany (subject to availability).
Emerald Club Executive
Emerald Club Executive status is reached after 12 paid rentals or 40 paid rental days within a calendar year. Alternatively, holders of premium travel rewards cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (enrollment required) receive automatic Executive status.
Executive members receive all base member perks, along with:
- Free rental day earned after six rental credits, accelerating free rental earning.
- Executive Area Access: Pay the midsize rate but select any car (including full-size and above) from the Executive Area in the U.S., offering greater car choice at a lower price.
- Guaranteed upgrades when reserving a midsize or larger car in the U.S. and Canada.
- Exclusive pricing on upgrades to Premier Selection vehicles at rental lots in the U.S. and Canada.
Emerald Club Executive Elite
The top-tier Emerald Club Executive Elite status is achieved after 25 rentals or 85 rental days per calendar year. Executive Elite members gain access to premium benefits:
- Free rental days earned after just five rental credits (on any car class excluding exotic vehicles and trucks), the fastest accrual rate in the program.
- Guaranteed car (up to full-size) with 24 hours’ notice, ensuring vehicle availability even on short notice.
- Private airport delivery for members arriving by private aircraft at smaller airports in the U.S. or Canada (within 50 miles of a National branch), offering ultimate convenience.
National Emerald Club also provides a valuable status match program with over 40 loyalty programs. Travelers have successfully used Hilton Honors Gold status to match to Emerald Club Executive and United Airlines Premier 1K to achieve Executive Elite. Checking to see if you can match your existing status to Emerald Club status is highly recommended.
Related: Credit cards that offer elite status for car rentals
Thrifty Blue Chip Rewards
Thrifty Blue Chip has streamlined its loyalty program, eliminating elite status tiers and point earning. Instead of points, Thrifty Blue Chip members receive a consistent discount of up to 15% on all rentals.
Blue Chip membership also provides practical benefits such as:
- Free authorized additional driver (spouse or domestic partner).
- Quicker pick-ups and returns, saving time at the rental counter.
- Other member-exclusive offers and benefits.
Best Credit Cards to Use for Car Rentals
Optimizing rewards when renting a car involves using the right credit card. Certain credit cards offer bonus points on all car rentals purchased directly from rental agencies.
Furthermore, some cards provide primary car rental coverage, which covers damage, theft, or loss to the rental vehicle without needing to file a claim with your personal auto insurance. To activate this coverage, simply decline the rental company’s primary rental insurance and pay for the rental using a card that offers this benefit.
Bottom Line
While renting a car might not be as glamorous as flying or staying in a luxury hotel, it’s often a necessary part of travel, especially for exploring destinations beyond major city centers.
If your credit card or airline loyalty program offers complimentary elite status with car rental agencies, enroll immediately. Even without automatic elite status, joining multiple rental car rewards programs is advantageous. You can accumulate points for free rentals, access exclusive discounts, and expedite the rental process, making your overall travel experience smoother and more rewarding. The perks and benefits of car rental loyalty programs make them a valuable tool for any traveler.
