Hertz and Enterprise both run free rental car programs, and both pay in free rental days. They count differently. Hertz Gold+ puts status within quick reach and sells extra points. Enterprise Plus prices free days lower and lets idle points last three years.
Is Hertz or Enterprise better for rewards?
For airport renters who want status fast, Hertz Gold+ is the stronger program. Five Star status takes 3 rentals or $1,000 of rental spend in a calendar year. It brings a free upgrade and a choice of cars on the Five Star lot. Gold+ also pays miles through partners such as Delta SkyMiles, at up to 8 miles per $1.
For renters who want points to last, Enterprise Plus is the stronger program. A free rental day starts at as few as 400 points, against as few as 950 at Hertz. Points expire 36 months after the last qualifying rental. Hertz clears the whole balance after 12 months with no rental activity. For the wider field, see our ranking of rental car rewards programs.
How do Hertz Gold+ and Enterprise Plus compare?
Each row below comes from the program’s own pages, seen in early October 2026.
| Feature | Hertz Gold+ | Enterprise Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to join | Free | Free |
| Points earned | 1 per $1 of base rate; 1.25 at Five Star; 1.5 at President’s Circle | 1 per qualifying $1; 10%, 15% or 20% bonus at Silver, Gold or Platinum |
| Free rental day from | 950 points | 400 points |
| Mid tier | Five Star: 3 rentals or $1,000 | Silver: 6 to 11 rentals |
| Top tier | President’s Circle: 15 rentals or $3,000 | Platinum: 24 rentals or 85 days |
| Upgrades | Free upgrade at Five Star; guaranteed at President’s Circle | 1, 2 or 4 free upgrades a year at Silver, Gold or Platinum |
| Status lasts | Rest of the year earned and all of the next | Through February of the next year, plus 12 months |
| Points expire | After 5 years; all points after 12 months idle | 36 months after the last qualifying rental |
| Partners | Delta SkyMiles, Marriott Bonvoy, AAA | National Car Rental rentals count |
| Network | About 11,000 locations in about 160 countries, across Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty | Over 8,000 locations worldwide |
The network rows use each company’s own wording. Hertz’s 2025 annual report says it ran about 11,000 company-operated and franchisee locations in about 160 countries, across its Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty brands. Enterprise says it has over 8,000 locations worldwide. The two counts are not built the same way, and a member should check coverage near them. Hertz points redeem at all corporate and participating franchise locations.
How do you earn points at each company?
Both programs pay on the base rate. A Hertz member earns one point per $1 at Gold, 1.25 at Five Star and 1.5 at President’s Circle. Taxes, fees and options such as protection earn nothing. A member picks partner rewards or Gold+ points for each rental. A rental earns one kind and never both.
Enterprise pays one point for every qualifying rental dollar at participating locations worldwide. Fuel, taxes and surcharges earn no points. Silver, Gold and Platinum add 10%, 15% and 20% bonus points. A National rental in the U.S. or Canada can credit to Enterprise Plus when the member lists the Enterprise Plus number as the partner rewards choice.
What does a free rental day cost?
A free day at either company 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 prices below are the lowest each company posts. Hertz adds Peak Reward dates that cost more points, and Enterprise says the points needed vary with the rental.
For illustration, the table converts each lowest price into base-rate spend. It divides the points by the earning rate. National counts rentals, so its row shows rentals.
| Program and tier | Earning rate | Lowest free day | Base-rate spend for one free day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hertz Gold | 1 point per $1 | 950 points | About $950 |
| Hertz Five Star | 1.25 points per $1 | 950 points | About $760 |
| Hertz President’s Circle | 1.5 points per $1 | 950 points | About $633 |
| Enterprise Plus | 1 point per $1 | 400 points | About $400 |
| Enterprise Silver | 1.10 points per $1 | 400 points | About $364 |
| Enterprise Gold | 1.15 points per $1 | 400 points | About $348 |
| Enterprise Platinum | 1.20 points per $1 | 400 points | About $333 |
| National Emerald Club | 1 credit per rental | 7 credits | 7 rentals, at any price |
| National Executive | 1 credit per rental | 6 credits | 6 rentals, at any price |
| National Executive Elite | 1 credit per rental | 5 credits | 5 rentals, at any price |
Hertz also sells points at $0.20 each. A member can buy 50 to 500 points at a time, no more than once every six months, with a balance of at least 500. At that price, 950 points cost $190. The points must be used right away on a rental.
For illustration, take a renter who already holds Five Star at Hertz and Silver at Enterprise, with six rentals and $900 of base rate in a year. At Hertz, that earns 1,125 points, enough for one entry-level free day. At Enterprise, it earns 990 points, enough for two days at the lowest price. At National, it earns six credits, one short of a free day.
How does status work at each company?
Hertz has three tiers. Five Star takes 3 rentals or $1,000. President’s Circle takes 15 rentals or $3,000 and adds a guaranteed upgrade, its own lot and a dedicated call center line. Hertz calls Five Star its fastest route to higher status, based on rentals or spend against other major U.S. programs.
Enterprise has four tiers. Silver takes 6 to 11 rentals. Gold takes 12 rentals or 40 days. Platinum takes 24 rentals or 85 days. Members get members-only check-in and a dedicated phone number. A rental that uses free days still counts if it has at least one paid rental day.
Enterprise keeps status longer. A tier lasts through February of the next year, plus 12 months. The terms give an example of a Gold member who qualifies on October 1 and keeps the tier for 17 months. Hertz status lasts the rest of the year and all of the next.
Does Hertz match status from other rental companies?
Yes. Hertz says it will match status from other rental car companies. The match goes up to President’s Circle and is available once every five years. It lasts through December 31 of the second calendar year after approval. A member who does not requalify drops to Gold. The member emails proof such as a member card or a monthly statement.
How does National’s Emerald Club compare with Hertz?
National is the third name here. Its site carries the Enterprise Holdings copyright line. Emerald Club counts rentals instead of dollars.
A member earns one credit per rental that qualifies. A free day costs seven credits. Executives need six, and Executive Elite members need five.
Status takes 12 paid rentals or 40 paid days for Executive and 25 paid rentals or 85 paid days for Executive Elite. National’s signature perk is the Emerald Aisle. A member can pick any midsize or larger car and pay the midsize rate. Members also pay no second driver fees. Gold+ members add a free additional driver at Hertz, for a spouse or domestic partner.
The reward choice differs. National lets members choose free rental days, miles or hotel rewards. It pays 2 miles per $1 for Delta and American Airlines members and 600 points per rental for Southwest. Hertz pays up to 8 Delta miles per $1, with Marriott Bonvoy at 500 points per rental. Counting rentals favors short trips. A $40 rental and a $400 rental earn the same credit.
Which should you choose?
- Frequent airport renters: Hertz Gold+. Five Star takes 3 rentals, and the program pays miles through Delta.
- Renters who rent a few times a year: Enterprise Plus. Points last 36 months, while Hertz clears every point after 12 idle months.
- Business travelers who rent every week: National Emerald Club. Credits count rentals, and the Emerald Aisle lets you pick the car.
- Renters who want a low-cost free day: Enterprise Plus. Its lowest price is 400 points, against 950 at Hertz.
- Renters who hold status at another company: Hertz. It will match that status, up to President’s Circle.
What can loyalty teams learn from the two designs?
The three programs count three different things. Hertz counts dollars and sets a high price for the first free day. Enterprise counts dollars, adds a rental-count ladder and sets a lower price. National counts rentals and ignores the price of the car. Each choice picks a customer. Dollars reward the renter who spends more per trip, while rentals reward the one who rents most often.
The expiry rules show the same split. Hertz forfeits a balance after 12 idle months, and it also sells points to members who want to top up. Enterprise lets points last 36 months. Hertz also states that its points have no cash value. Selling points and clearing idle balances are two ways to manage what members hold.
One company runs several programs side by side. A National rental can credit to Enterprise Plus. An Enterprise rental can credit to Emerald Club. That is a partner link between two brands of one company.
GRAVTY is the platform from Loyalty Juggernaut. Global Hotel Alliance uses it to settle Discovery Dollars across more than 60 brands, and each brand keeps its own tier benefits and rules.
One program on it runs 4,500 partners across 9 countries. That is Deutsche Telekom. Business teams change the rules in Visual Rules, a patented no-code rules engine. Our guide to partner settlement covers how linked programs reconcile.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hertz or Enterprise better for rewards?
Hertz Gold+ is better for airport renters who want status fast, because Five Star takes 3 rentals or $1,000. Enterprise Plus is better for renters who want points to last, because they expire after 36 months. Its free day also starts at 400 points, against 950 at Hertz.
How many points do you need for a free rental day?
A free rental day starts at 950 points at Hertz and 400 points at Enterprise. Both are the lowest prices, and the real cost varies. Hertz charges more on peak reward dates. Enterprise says points needed vary with the rental. National charges 7 credits.
Do Hertz Gold+ points expire?
Yes, Hertz Gold+ points expire after five years, and the whole balance is forfeited after 12 straight months with no rental activity. Moving points to a family member does not count as activity. Hertz says the five-year limit does not apply to residents of Canada.
Do Enterprise Plus points expire?
Yes, Enterprise Plus points expire 36 months after the last qualifying rental or points earning event. Enterprise says points never expire for an active member with at least one qualifying rental every three years. A free rental day covers the base rate only.
Is National or Hertz better?
National suits business travelers who rent often, because credits count rentals and the Emerald Aisle lets a member pick any midsize or larger car at the midsize rate. Hertz suits renters who want faster status and Delta miles. National pays Delta members 2 miles per $1.
Does Hertz match status from other rental companies?
Yes, Hertz matches status from other rental car companies, up to President’s Circle. The offer is available once every five years. A member sends proof of status by email. The matched tier lasts through December 31 of the second calendar year after approval.