From savings to upgrades, the benefits of elite status are popular with discerning travelers. But the elite status of rental cars isn’t always overlooked. Rental car status can pay off – it helped a TPG staffer rent a $100,000 BMW 7 Series for $3 a day. Whether you’re planning a road trip or looking for a vehicle to explore your destination, a rental car location can help you skip the lines, pick up the keys, and be on your way in record time.
Many rental car higher status levels can be achieved by holding the right credit cards or airline or hotel status, making them more accessible than you might think.
We’ll explore the different elite levels offered by the major rental car companies and how you can earn and get the most out of your rental car status. Don’t forget to check out our post on how to save money on rental cars using AutoSlash in particular.
Related: How to Skip Long Rental Car Pick-Up Lines for Free
Avis rental car elite status
Called Baseline membership with Avis Avis preferred. Anyone can join, and it’s completely free — and right now, Avis is offering 100 bonus points to new members who rent a car within three months. to join. Redemption starts at 700 points per day.
Basic membership allows you to go directly to your car, which has saved me a lot of time over the years. You can also earn Avis Preferred points on fares paid, although you’ll forego earning airline miles or hotel points if you choose this option. Higher status levels allow you to earn points faster and provide additional benefits such as free vehicle upgrades. Here is an overview:
Avis preferred | Avis Preferred Plus | Avis President Club | |
---|---|---|---|
qualification | Free to join | 10 rent or spend $4,000 per calendar year | 20 rent or spend $6,000 per calendar year |
Point accumulation rate | 1 point per dollar spent on fares
2 points per dollar spent on accessories |
1.25 points per dollar spent on fares
2.5 points per dollar spent on accessories |
1.5 points per dollar spent on fares
3 points per dollar spent on accessories |
Fast service | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Dedicated support phone number | ✓ | ||
upgrade | Free one-car-class upgrade when booking midsize or above | Free two-car-class upgrade when booking Midsize or above | |
Guarantee vehicle | Up to full size with 24-hour notice |
You can also reach Avis Preferred Plus status after earning 60,000 American Airlines loyalty points, earning United Airlines Premier Silver or Gold status, or holding a Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (registration required). Platinum Card® from American Express Or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Registration required for select benefits).
Avis Presidents Club is available to those who earn 100,000 American Airlines loyalty points or have United Premier Platinum, Premier 1K or United Global Services status.
Primary Card Members of the United Club℠ Infinite Card, United Presidential Plus℠ Card, United Club Business℠ Card and United Presidential Plus Business Card (no longer available to new applicants) are eligible for instant President’s Club status.
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Avis also has an unreleased Chairman’s Club status tier that is invite-only.
Information for the United Presidential Plus Card, United Club Business Card and United Presidential Plus Business Card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Enterprise Rental Car Elite Status
This The Enterprise Plus program works similarly to Avis Preferred. Anyone can do it join in Start earning points as a Base Member and for qualifying rentals (you earn 1 point per dollar spent as a Basic Member). You can then redeem these points for free rental days. The program also has three elite status levels with additional benefits. Here are the details:
plus | of silver | Gold | Platinum | |
---|---|---|---|---|
qualification | Free to join | Six qualifying rentals | 12 qualifying rentals or 40 days | 24 qualifying rentals or 85 days |
Points accrual bonus | 10% | 15% | 20% | |
Free car upgrades | One per year | Two per year | Four per year |
While benefits are limited, a higher status with Enterprise can help you get free fares faster.
Related: Credit Card Rental Car Insurance: The Best Cards and How They Work
Hertz Rental Car Elite Status
Called the Hertz Loyalty Program Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. Like Enterprise and Avis’ programs, it’s free join in. Basic members enjoy a designated aisle where they can choose any car at certain Hertz locations. You can earn 1 Gold Plus Rewards point per dollar spent on qualifying rentals and optional charges like satellite radios and car seats, and you can redeem your points for a free rental. Members can also transfer points to their spouses or domestic partners.
If you reach an elite status level, you’ll earn more points per dollar and get access to more vehicle choices and free upgrades. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to qualify and the benefits you’ll receive:
Gold | Five star | President circle | |
---|---|---|---|
qualification | Free to join | 10 rentals or $2,000 | 15 rentals or $3,000 |
Points accrual bonus | 25% | 50% | |
upgrade | as available | assured | |
Ultimate Choice aisle | Gold wing | Five star wing | President Circle Wing |
No other driver fees | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Tire benefit experience | Five stars for a day | President’s Circle for a day | |
Dedicated customer service line | ✓ |
Like Avis, Hertz offers elite status for some frequent flyers. Delta Air Lines’ Diamond and Platinum Medallion members enjoy complimentary President’s Circle status, while Silver and Gold Medallion members receive complimentary five-star status. All Medallion members are also eligible to earn bonus SkyMiles when renting with Hertz – with details on Delta’s website. Link your accounts To start enjoying complimentary elite status with Hertz.
The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offer complimentary Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle status. (Registration is required for select benefits.)
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card also offers Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle status (registration required).*
*Eligible cardholders will remain at the upgraded status level until December 31, 2024, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app upon enrollment. Please note that enroll through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (eg, at hertz.com). Cardholders will not be automatically found to be eligible for the Program, and Cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status level. Additional terms apply.
Related: How You Can Redeem Points and Miles for Car Rentals
National Rental Car Elite status
National’s loyalty program is known as the National Emerald Club and offers two elite status tiers.
As with other programs, the basic membership level is free join in And allows you to skip the counter and choose any car in the Emerald Aisle when you rent a Midsize or above. Sapphire wing is one of the best ways to go faster on the road. You’ll also earn rental credits that you can redeem for free rental days, airline miles, or hotel rewards. Tenants who reach the elite status level can enjoy additional benefits:
The Emerald Club | executive | Executive Elite | |
---|---|---|---|
qualification | Free to join | 12 paid rentals or 40 rental days in a calendar year | 25 paid rentals or 85 rental days in a calendar year |
Free day accumulation rate | One free day every seven credits | Six credits per free day | One free day for every five credits |
Choice of car | Choose any car (mid-size and above) in the Emerald wing and pay only mid-size rates | Choose any car (full-size and above) in the executive area and pay only mid-size rates | Choose any car (full-size and above) in the executive area and pay only mid-size rates |
No other driver fees | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Upgrades are guaranteed when you reserve a full-size through luxury car | ✓ | ✓ | |
Guarantee vehicle | Up to full-size with 24-hour notice |
The National also has an invitation-only level called VIP, although the criteria to get to that are somewhat mysterious.
As an Amex Platinum or Amex Business Platinum cardholder, you can earn complimentary National Emerald Club Executive status (registration required).
Chase Sapphire Reserve® also offers complimentary National Emerald Club Executive Status (registration required).
Related: VIP Treatment: Your Guide to Invite-Only Airline and Hotel Elite Status
Six rental cars elite status
German rental car company Sixt has grown significantly in the US since entering the market in 2011. Sixth Loyalty Program Offers many of the same benefits listed above, including the ability to skip lines and collect points or miles for your fare. The Sixth Status program also has three elite status tiers (one by invitation only). Here are the details of each:
Express | Gold | Platinum | diamond | |
---|---|---|---|---|
qualification | Free to join | Three fares | 10 rentals | By invitation only |
upgrade | upon availability | assured | ||
discount | up to 10% | up to 15% | up to 20% | |
There are no other driver fees in the US | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
VIP counter, parking and lounge access | ✓ |
Related: Which Car Rental Company Is Right for You?
Earn elite status with a credit card
In addition to the partnerships and methods for earning elite status listed above, it is possible to earn rental car elite status just by holding the card. Here are some great options for travelers:
In addition, FoundersCard members receive free Avis Preferred Plus status.
Remember, many credit cards offer basic rental car insurance coverage, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the United℠ Explorer Card. Many credit cards offer bonus points for rental car purchases, and you can also use online shopping portals like Rakuten to earn more points at rental car companies.
*Eligible cardholders will remain at the upgraded status level until December 31, 2024, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app upon enrollment. Please note that enroll through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (eg, at hertz.com). Cardholders will not be automatically found to be eligible for the Program, and Cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status level. Additional terms apply.
Related: Best Gas Credit Cards
Using position match
Another way to snag a rental car’s elite status is to match your status from another program. You must have heard Airline and hotel status matches, which allow you to bypass elite qualification requirements if you hold status with a competitor. The idea is simple: If you earn status in one program (or get it automatically through a credit card), Status Match allows you to earn the same elite level with other programs. (Generally, you can only maintain “free” status for the first year; beyond that, you must meet the general eligibility requirements.)
Some car rental agencies also offer this. Some will only match the status of competitors, while others will match the status of airlines and hotels. Here are some examples with links to their status match request forms:
You can also check StatusMatcher’s rental car status match page To get an idea of how you can get rental car status more easily.
Related: The Complete Guide to Renting a Car Matches Elite Status
Bottom line
Renting a car isn’t as glamorous as flying around the world or staying in a luxury hotel, but it can still be rewarding — especially when you have elite status. With long lines at many rental counters, elite status can not only help ensure your reservation is honored but also allow you direct access to your assigned vehicle at many airports. If your credit card or airline loyalty program includes automatic elite status with one or more rental car agencies, be sure to sign up.
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For Amex Business Platinum rates and fees, click here.