Car Rental Loyalty Programs: Are They Worth It?
Car Rental Loyalty Programs: Are They Worth It?
Car rental loyalty programs promise faster pickups, free upgrades, and points toward free rentals. But are they actually worth the effort of signing up and staying loyal to one brand? The short answer: if you rent more than twice a year, absolutely yes. Even if you rent just once a year, signing up is free and the benefits start immediately.
Here is a detailed comparison of every major program.
The Big Five Programs
1. Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
Tiers: Member → Gold → Five Star → President's Circle
Key Benefits:
- Skip the counter from Gold tier onwards
- Car assigned to your name and parking space number
- Points earn free rental days (700 points = 1 free day)
- President's Circle guarantees upgrades and premium vehicles
- Points never expire if you rent at least once every 18 months
Best for: Frequent renters who value speed and guaranteed upgrades.
Points earning: 1 point per EUR spent, bonus points for premium vehicles and partner bookings.
2. Avis Preferred
Tiers: Preferred → Preferred Plus → Chairman's Club
Key Benefits:
- Choose your own car from the Preferred aisle (Preferred Plus and above)
- No counter visit — go straight to the car
- Points toward free rental days (100 points = 1 free weekend day)
- Chairman's Club includes guaranteed one-class upgrades
- Partner airline miles earning
Best for: Business travellers who want to choose their exact car.
Points earning: 1 point per USD 1 spent on qualifying rentals.
3. National Car Rental Emerald Club
Tiers: Emerald Club → Executive → Executive Elite
Key Benefits:
- Executive aisle access — Choose any car from the aisle (often mid-size to premium at compact rates)
- No counter, no paperwork
- One free rental day per 7 qualifying rental days
- Executive Elite includes guaranteed one-class upgrades worldwide
- Generous partner airline earning rates
Best for: Travellers who want the best car selection process. The Executive aisle is widely regarded as the best pickup experience in car rental.
4. Enterprise Plus
Tiers: Member → Silver → Gold → Platinum
Key Benefits:
- Points toward free rental days
- Weekend and weekly bonus point promotions
- Partner airline miles
- Free additional driver (at participating locations)
- Points can be donated to charity
Earning: 1 point per USD 1 spent. Free rental day redemptions start at 600 points.
Best for: Occasional renters — Enterprise has the most generous earning rates for infrequent travelers.
5. Europcar Privilege
Tiers: Club → Elite → Elite VIP
Key Benefits:
- Priority queue at counter
- Free additional driver (Elite and above)
- Free one-class upgrade (when available, Elite VIP)
- Points toward free rentals
- Partner hotel and airline programs
Best for: European-focused travellers. Europcar's network coverage across Europe is strongest among loyalty programs.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Hertz Gold | Avis Preferred | National Emerald | Enterprise Plus | Europcar Privilege |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free to join | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Skip counter | Yes (Gold+) | Yes (Preferred+) | Yes (All tiers) | No | No |
| Choose your car | No | Yes (Preferred+) | Yes (Executive aisle) | No | No |
| Free upgrades | President's Circle | Chairman's Club | Executive Elite | Platinum | Elite VIP |
| Free additional driver | No | No | No | Some locations | Elite+ |
| Airline partners | 30+ airlines | 20+ airlines | 20+ airlines | 15+ airlines | 15+ airlines |
| Points expiry | 18 months inactivity | 18 months inactivity | 18 months inactivity | 12 months inactivity | 24 months inactivity |
Which Program Should You Choose?
Rent 1-3 Times Per Year
Sign up for all of them (they are all free) and book based on price. Let your loyalty develop naturally with whichever supplier you use most. The basic tier benefits (faster check-in, digital rental agreement) are available immediately.
Rent 4-10 Times Per Year
Consolidate with one or two suppliers to reach mid-tier status faster. National Emerald Club and Hertz Gold offer the best mid-tier experience.
Rent 10+ Times Per Year
Commit to one primary supplier and push for top-tier status. The guaranteed upgrades, dedicated service lines, and partner benefits at the highest tiers deliver significant value:
- Hertz President's Circle (20+ rentals/year)
- National Executive Elite (12+ qualifying rentals)
- Avis Chairman's Club (by invitation, typically 25+ rentals)
Partner Airline Miles
Most loyalty programs let you earn airline miles instead of or in addition to rental points:
| Program | Airline Earning |
|---|---|
| Hertz | 500-1,000 miles per rental with most major airlines |
| Avis | 250-500 miles per rental |
| National | 500-1,500 miles per rental (one of the most generous) |
| Enterprise | 250-500 miles per rental |
| Europcar | 500-1,000 miles per rental |
If you are building toward a specific airline loyalty tier, rental car miles can be a useful supplement.
Tips to Maximise Program Value
1. Stack Benefits
Combine your loyalty status with corporate codes. Many suppliers allow both a loyalty number and a corporate discount code on the same booking.
2. Use Partner Offers
Rental loyalty programs offer periodic promotions with airlines, hotels, and credit cards. These can double or triple your points on qualifying rentals.
3. Status Match
Achieved high status with one supplier? Many competitors will match your status to win your business. Hertz and National are most receptive to status match requests.
4. Rent on Weekends for Bonus Points
Several programs offer bonus points on weekend rentals, which are less common for business travellers. Use weekends to accelerate your point balance.
5. Review Your Annual Value
Once a year, total up what your loyalty program gave you — free days, upgrades, time saved. If the value is less than the premium you paid by not comparing prices, switch your primary supplier.
The Bottom Line
Loyalty programs are free to join and offer real, tangible benefits starting from the first rental. The skip-the-counter benefit alone — saving 20-30 minutes per trip — is worth the signup. For frequent renters, top-tier status with guaranteed upgrades and premium service transforms the rental car experience.
Whichever program you choose, search for the best rates on World Auto Hire first, then apply your loyalty number at booking to stack the savings.