Dollar Rent A Car, known for catering to budget-conscious travelers, offers a loyalty program called Dollar Express Rewards. While it shares ownership with Hertz, its rewards system operates independently, providing a unique set of benefits for its members. This guide dives deep into the Dollar Express Rewards program, outlining how you can earn and redeem points, understand its perks, and ultimately maximize your savings on car rentals. If you’re looking for a straightforward loyalty program that rewards your spending with free rental days, understanding the ins and outs of Dollar Express Rewards is key to making the most of your travel budget.
Understanding the Dollar Express Rewards Program
Dollar Rent A Car appeals to travelers seeking value, with a broad network spanning over 600 locations across roughly 65 countries. Although Dollar is part of the Hertz Corporation, along with Thrifty Car Rental, each brand maintains its distinct loyalty program. Dollar Express Rewards is designed to reward frequent renters with points redeemable for free rentals and offers a streamlined rental experience.
Membership in Dollar Express Rewards is free and provides several immediate benefits. Members can bypass the regular rental counter at many locations, often accessing priority service. Additionally, Dollar Express Rewards extends a complimentary additional driver benefit to spouses or domestic partners, adding extra value for couples and families traveling together. Like many car rental loyalty programs, enrollment is open to anyone, making it accessible for all types of travelers looking to save.
However, a notable aspect of the Dollar Express Rewards program is its lack of a tiered elite status system. Unlike programs that offer upgrades and enhanced perks for frequent renters, Dollar Express Rewards maintains a single membership level. The primary exception to this is for U.S. military personnel and government employees, who are often granted complimentary upgrades on both business and leisure rentals as a separate benefit.
Partnering Up: Expanding Your Earning Potential Beyond Dollar
While renting directly with Dollar earns you points in the Dollar Express Rewards program, you also have the option to accrue airline miles or hotel points through Dollar’s partnerships. This flexibility can be particularly advantageous if you don’t rent cars frequently enough to maximize Dollar Rewards points, or if you prioritize airline or hotel loyalty. Here’s a breakdown of Dollar’s partner programs:
- Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: Earn 50 miles per qualifying rental day.
- All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club: Collect 300 miles per qualifying rental.
- American Airlines AAdvantage: Receive 50 miles per qualifying rental day.
- Avianca LifeMiles: Get 50 miles per qualifying rental day.
- Delta Air Lines SkyMiles: Earn a flat 500 miles per qualifying rental.
- Emirates Skywards: Accumulate 500 miles for rentals up to 29 days, and 1,000 miles for rentals of 30 days or more.
- Frontier Miles: Earn 50 miles per day on rentals up to 4 days, or 500 miles on rentals of 5 days or longer.
- IHG Rewards Club: Collect 125 points per qualifying rental day.
- Japan Airlines (JAL) Mileage Bank: Earn 300 miles per qualifying rental.
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards: Gain 600 miles per qualifying rental.
- Spirit Airlines Free Spirit: Earn 50 miles per day for rentals up to 4 days, or 500 miles for rentals of 5 days or more.
- United Airlines MileagePlus: Earn 50 miles per day for rentals up to 4 days, or 500 miles for rentals of 5 days or more.
It’s important to note that choosing to earn frequent flyer miles with U.S. airline partners instead of Dollar Rewards points typically involves a daily surcharge, ranging from $0.75 to $1.50, depending on the airline program. Despite opting for partner rewards, you still retain your Dollar Express perks, such as counter bypass, making it a potentially worthwhile trade-off depending on your travel goals.
Earning Dollar Express Rewards Points: Straightforward and Simple
The Dollar Express Rewards program is designed for simplicity when it comes to earning points. The earning structure is straightforward: you earn a flat rate of 1 point for every dollar spent on qualifying Dollar rentals. Since there are no elite status tiers within the program, there are no bonus earning opportunities to track – what you spend is directly reflected in the points you earn.
According to Dollar’s official FAQs, a “qualifying rental” is defined as any rental within the U.S. or Canada that is not prepaid. To ensure you receive your points, it’s crucial to include your Dollar Express Rewards member ID when making your reservation. Remember, while Dollar, Thrifty, and Hertz are under the same corporate umbrella, their loyalty programs remain separate. Points earned with Dollar Express Rewards cannot be earned or redeemed with Thrifty or Hertz, emphasizing the need to focus your rentals within the Dollar brand to maximize your rewards within this specific program.
Redeeming Your Dollar Express Points: Free Rental Days Await
Dollar Express Rewards points are redeemed for free rental days, offering a tangible return on your rental spending. You can redeem points for daily, weekly, or weekend rentals on a range of vehicle classes, from compact and midsize cars up to standard and full-size vehicles.
Redemption values start at 500 points, but maximizing your points for weekly rentals generally provides the best value. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the redemption rates:
| Reward | Points Required |
|---|---|
| One Free Weekend Rental Day | 500 |
| Two Free Weekend Rental Days | 1,000 |
| Three Free Weekend Rental Days | 1,500 |
| Four Free Weekend Rental Days (Max) | 2,000 |
| One Free Weekday Rental Day | 625 |
| Two Free Weekday Rental Days | 1,250 |
| Three Free Weekday Rental Days | 1,875 |
| Four Free Weekday Rental Days | 2,500 |
| One Free Weekly Rental | 2,550 |
| Two Free Weekly Rentals (14 Days Max) | 5,000 |
It’s important to be aware of certain conditions when redeeming points. Blackout dates may apply, limiting redemption availability during peak travel times. Additionally, point redemptions are currently restricted to rentals within the U.S. and Canada. Points within your Dollar Express Rewards account remain active as long as you have account activity—either earning or redeeming points—at least once every 24 months, giving you ample time to accumulate and utilize your rewards.
Smart Spending: Credit Cards for Dollar Car Rentals
To further enhance your Dollar rental experience, strategic credit card usage can provide additional benefits. Prioritize using a credit card that offers primary car rental insurance and earns bonus rewards on travel purchases. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® are excellent choices.
Both Chase Sapphire cards include primary rental car coverage, allowing you to confidently decline the rental agency’s collision damage waiver and still be protected against damage or theft. Since car rentals are typically categorized as travel expenses by credit card issuers, you’ll also earn bonus points on your spending. The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3x points per dollar on travel (a 6% return based on valuations), while the Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 2x points per dollar (a 4% return).
When it comes to refueling your rental car, consider using a credit card that maximizes rewards on gas purchases. Options like the Citi Premier® Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card can offer elevated rewards on gas, adding to your overall savings and rewards accumulation.
Unlock Extra Savings on Dollar Rentals: Beyond Loyalty Points
Beyond the Dollar Express Rewards program, several avenues exist to reduce the cost of your Dollar car rentals.
Deals and Discount Codes
Dollar Rent A Car frequently promotes deals and discount codes on its dedicated specials page. This page includes a search tool to filter location-specific deals. You can also find various association discounts listed, such as for members of AAA and BJ’s Wholesale Club. However, the specials page may not always reflect every available discount. A quick online search before booking can often reveal additional codes and savings opportunities.
AutoSlash: Your Rate Monitoring Ally
AutoSlash is a valuable online tool designed to find the lowest possible rental car rates. It automatically searches for and applies discounts, and crucially, continues to track your reservation for price drops even after booking. AutoSlash also features a coupons page, compiling discount codes that can be directly used when booking through Dollar’s website, providing another layer of potential savings.
Dollar 4Business: Savings for Small Business Owners
If you’re renting cars for business purposes as a small business owner, enrolling in the Dollar 4Business program is highly beneficial. This free program offers a 7% discount on the base rental rate for all business-related rentals. Additional perks include waived young renter fees, complimentary additional drivers, unlimited mileage, and waived change fees. Importantly, Dollar 4Business members still earn points through the standard Dollar Express Rewards program, allowing for double-dipping on savings and rewards.
Final Verdict: Is the Dollar Rental Car Loyalty Program Worth It?
Dollar Rent A Car and its Dollar Express Rewards program are tailored for travelers who prioritize value and straightforward rewards. For casual travelers, the program offers a simple way to make rentals more rewarding, with the added convenience of counter bypass and potential time savings. However, for frequent renters seeking elite status perks like upgrades, the lack of tiers in Dollar Express Rewards might be a drawback. If your priority is a no-frills loyalty program that directly translates rental spending into free rental days, and you primarily rent with Dollar for its value proposition, then Dollar Express Rewards is a worthwhile program to join and utilize.
