Rental car rewards come in three kinds. Some programs pay points on every dollar. Some count rentals, and some only skip the counter. This guide compares six programs from the companies’ own pages, as live in early October 2026.
What is the best rental car rewards program?
For fast status, Hertz Gold+ is the best program. Five Star status takes 3 rentals or $1,000 in a calendar year. For the lowest-priced free day and points that last, Enterprise Plus wins. A free day starts at as few as 400 points, and points expire 36 months after the last qualifying rental.
For frequent business renters, National Emerald Club is the pick. It counts one credit per rental, so a short trip earns as much as a long one. Members also pick any midsize car on the aisle. Avis Preferred starts free days at 700 points and tops out with a guaranteed car. For a head-to-head, see our Hertz vs Enterprise comparison.
How do the six rental car programs compare?
Each row below comes from the program’s own pages, seen in early October 2026.
| Program | What it pays | Cheapest free day | First status tier | Points last |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hertz Gold+ | 1 to 1.5 points per $1 | 950 points | Five Star: 3 rentals or $1,000 | 5 years; all after 12 months idle |
| Enterprise Plus | 1 point per $1, plus 10% to 20% bonus | 400 points | Silver: 6 rentals | 36 months after last rental |
| National Emerald Club | 1 credit per rental | 7 credits | Executive: 12 paid rentals or 40 paid days | Not covered here |
| Avis Preferred | 1 to 1.5 points per $1, after opting in | 700 points | Preferred Plus: 10 rentals or $4,000 | 60 months; forfeited if inactive |
| Budget Fastbreak | Counter bypass and member deals | Not listed | Not listed | Not applicable |
| Alamo Insiders | 5% off pay-later base rates | Not listed | Not listed | Not applicable |
Hertz Gold+: the fastest route to status
Hertz Gold+ is free to join. Its 2025 annual report lists it as the former Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. Gold earns one point per $1, Five Star 1.25 and President’s Circle 1.5. President’s Circle takes 15 rentals or $3,000. Free days start at 950 points.
The fine print matters. Hertz charges more points on Peak Reward dates. A free-day rental must be booked at least a day ahead. Points last five years, but the whole balance is forfeited after 12 straight months with no rental activity. Hertz also sells points, at $0.20 each. It matches status from other companies, up to President’s Circle.
Partners add miles and perks. Delta SkyMiles members earn up to 8 miles per $1. Marriott Bonvoy members get 500 points per rental, and AAA members get up to 20% off base rates. A member picks partner rewards or Gold+ points for each rental. Hertz reports about 11,000 locations in about 160 countries, across its Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty brands.
Enterprise Plus: the lowest-priced free day
Enterprise Plus is free, and it earns one point for every qualifying rental dollar. Silver, Gold and Platinum add 10%, 15% and 20% bonus points. A free day covers the base rate only. The 400-point price is a floor, because Enterprise says the points needed vary with the rental.
Status counts rentals. Silver takes 6 to 11 rentals. Gold takes 12 rentals or 40 days. Platinum takes 24 rentals or 85 days. Each tier adds one, two or four free upgrades a year. A tier lasts through February of the next year, plus 12 months. Enterprise has over 8,000 locations worldwide. A National rental in the U.S. or Canada can also count toward Enterprise Plus.
National Emerald Club: the aisle and the rental count
National counts rentals instead of dollars. A free day costs 7 credits, or 6 at Executive and 5 at Executive Elite. Executive takes 12 paid rentals or 40 paid days. Executive Elite takes 25 paid rentals or 85 paid days. A member can pick any midsize or larger car on the Emerald Aisle and pay the midsize rate.
Members choose their reward. They can take free rental days, miles or hotel rewards. Delta and American Airlines members get 2 miles per $1. Southwest members get 600 points per rental. National also charges no second driver fees. Rentals at Enterprise locations earn Emerald Club free days too.
Avis Preferred: counter bypass first, points second
Every Avis Preferred member gets counter bypass. Points are a separate step, because a member must opt in to earn them. New members earn 100 bonus points for a rental in their first three months. Points run 1, 1.25 or 1.5 per $1 by tier, and double that on accessories.
Free days start at 700 points. Avis groups them into four levels by the standard base rate, at 700, 1,400, 2,100 and 3,500 points a day. Preferred Plus takes 10 to 19 rentals or $4,000 to $5,999. President’s Club takes 20 rentals or $6,000 and adds a guaranteed car with 24 hours’ notice. Rentals count only if they start and end in the same calendar year.
Avis Preferred has two limits to know. Members must be 25 or older and live in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands or Canada. Points last 60 months, but they are forfeited if the member becomes inactive over a 12-month period. Avis Budget Group reports about 10,000 rental locations.
Budget Fastbreak and Alamo Insiders: skip the line, save a little
Two more programs focus on speed and discounts. Budget Fastbreak is a free membership that lets a member flash a license, take the keys and bypass the line. Avis Budget Group describes it as a program that expedites rental services and offers exclusive deals. Alamo Insiders is also free. It takes 5% off base rates on pay-later reservations, and the discount covers the base rate only.
How many rentals does it take to earn status?
The ladders use different units. For illustration, the table lines up the first and top tiers that each program names. It uses rentals or spend in a calendar year.
| Program | First tier | Top tier |
|---|---|---|
| Hertz Gold+ | Five Star: 3 rentals or $1,000 | President’s Circle: 15 rentals or $3,000 |
| Enterprise Plus | Silver: 6 rentals | Platinum: 24 rentals or 85 days |
| Avis Preferred | Preferred Plus: 10 rentals or $4,000 | President’s Club: 20 rentals or $6,000 |
| National Emerald Club | Executive: 12 paid rentals or 40 paid days | Executive Elite: 25 paid rentals or 85 paid days |
Hertz sets the lowest bar at the first tier. Avis and National ask for at least 10 rentals. At the top, Hertz again asks for the fewest rentals, 15 against 20 to 25. Enterprise and National both offer a day-count route of 85 days to the top.
Can you earn airline miles on a rental?
Yes, at Hertz and National. Hertz lists Delta SkyMiles at up to 8 miles per $1 and Marriott Bonvoy at 500 points per rental. National lists Hilton Honors at 500 points per rental, along with Delta, American and Southwest. A Hertz member picks miles or Gold+ points for each rental. National members can choose miles or hotel rewards in place of free days.
Partner rates use different units. A per-rental partner pays the same for a one-day rental as for a ten-day rental. A per-dollar partner pays more on a long rental. Our guide to airline loyalty programs shows what the miles are worth on the airline side.
What does a free rental day cover?
A free day covers the base rate only. Hertz points apply to the base rate and not to taxes, fees or add-ons. Enterprise’s free day covers time and mileage only. The renter pays taxes, fees and extras. Hertz says points are not earned on taxes, fees or options. Enterprise says none are earned on fuel, taxes and surcharges. Plan on paying those costs even when the day is free.
Do rental car points expire?
Yes, in every program with points, but the rules differ. Hertz forfeits all points after 12 months with no rental activity. Avis forfeits points without notice when a member becomes inactive, a status the terms define over a 12-month period. Enterprise lets points last 36 months from the last qualifying rental or earning event. A member who skips a year of renting keeps Enterprise points but loses Hertz and Avis points.
Which rental car program should you choose?
- Frequent airport renters: Hertz Gold+. Five Star takes 3 rentals, and Delta flyers earn miles.
- Occasional renters: Enterprise Plus. Points last 36 months, and a free day starts at 400 points.
- Weekly business renters: National Emerald Club. Every rental earns a credit, and the aisle lets you pick the car.
- Renters who value speed over points: Avis Preferred or Budget Fastbreak. Both skip the counter.
- Renters who want a small discount: Alamo Insiders. It takes 5% off pay-later base rates.
- Renters with status at another company: Hertz, which will match it.
What can loyalty teams learn from rental car programs?
Rental programs show how much a unit choice shapes a customer base. Hertz and Avis count dollars. National counts rentals. Enterprise counts dollars for points and rentals for status. Each unit favors a renter. Dollars favor long, costly rentals. Rentals favor frequent short ones.
Expiry rules work the same way. Hertz and Avis clear idle balances after 12 months, and Hertz also sells points at $0.20 each. Enterprise holds points for 36 months. Hertz says its points have no cash value. A rental company sets these rules to match how often its customers rent.
Three of the six programs share one parent, Enterprise Holdings. A National rental can credit to Enterprise Plus. That is a partner link between brands. On GRAVTY, Loyalty Juggernaut’s platform, Global Hotel Alliance settles Discovery Dollars across more than 60 brands, and each brand keeps its own tier benefits and rules. Deutsche Telekom runs one program with 4,500 partners across 9 countries. Business teams change program logic in Visual Rules, a patented no-code rules engine. Our guides to partner settlement and airline loyalty programs cover the partner side in depth.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best rental car rewards program?
Hertz Gold+ is the best program for fast status, because Five Star takes 3 rentals or $1,000. Enterprise Plus is best for the lowest-priced free day and points that last 36 months. National Emerald Club is best for weekly business renters, because every rental earns a credit.
Which rental car company gives free days the fastest?
Enterprise Plus gives free days the fastest at its lowest price, which is 400 points against 950 at Hertz and 700 at Avis. National gives a free day after 7 rentals at any price. Each lowest price is a floor, and costs rise with the car and dates.
Are rental car loyalty programs free?
Yes, Hertz Gold+, Enterprise Plus, National Emerald Club, Avis Preferred, Budget Fastbreak and Alamo Insiders are free to join. Hertz also sells extra points at $0.20 each. Avis members must opt in to earn points, and Avis requires members to be 25 or older.
Do rental car points expire?
Yes, rental car points expire. The rules differ by company. Hertz points last five years. They are forfeited after 12 months with no rental activity. Avis points last 60 months. They are forfeited when a member becomes inactive. Enterprise points expire 36 months after the last qualifying rental.
Which rental car programs let you skip the counter?
Avis Preferred and Budget Fastbreak both skip the counter for every member. Hertz Gold+ also lets members skip the line at select locations. National Emerald Club members pick a car on the aisle and go. Budget Fastbreak members flash a license, take the keys and bypass the line.
Can you transfer rental car status between companies?
Hertz matches status from other rental car companies, up to President’s Circle. The match is available once every five years, and a member sends proof of status by email. The matched tier lasts through December 31 of the second calendar year after approval.