National Emerald Club: A guide to earning, redeeming, and elite status with this car rental loyalty program

Choosing the right rental car company is crucial for today's traveler. National Car Rental offers a loyalty program that rewards its members with rental credits toward free days, while elite status tiers help accelerate your path to a free rental.

Here’s everything you need to know about National's Emerald Club.

Overview of the National Emerald Club program

The key difference with National is that, unlike Hertz or Avis, it doesn’t use a points system. Instead, National lets customers earn credits toward free rental days.

National Emerald Club members earn credits based on qualifying rentals and the number of days rented. Your total rental days are divided by four to calculate your credits.

• Rentals of one to seven days earn one rental credit.
• Rentals of eight or more days earn one credit for every four days. For example, an eight to 11-day rental earns two credits, while a 12 to 15-day rental earns three credits.

This program benefits frequent short-term renters more than those who rent for longer periods. After earning seven credits, you receive a free rental day for a midsize car.

National provides a mobile app for contactless checkout, which is especially handy at airports without an Emerald Aisle. Through the app, you can choose your vehicle by year, make, model, color, and mileage in advance, and National will hold it for 15 minutes.

Since National is owned by Enterprise Holdings, you can also reserve cars from any Enterprise location via National's website. You’ll earn credits toward free days and elite status at participating Enterprise locations by adding your Emerald Club number, but you won't receive Emerald Club elite benefits when renting from Enterprise.

National Emerald Club Elite Status Overview

Joining Emerald Club grants you immediate perks, but achieving elite status unlocks even more. Here's a breakdown of the entry-level Emerald Club status, along with Executive and Executive Elite tiers.

Emerald Club Basic Membership

Emerald Club provides several benefits even for basic members, including:

• Accumulate rental credits on each transaction, or opt to earn airline miles or hotel points through one of National's partner programs.
• Free rental days begin at seven credits.
• Emerald Aisle access: When reserving a midsize vehicle at any Emerald Aisle location, you can skip the counter and go directly to the Emerald Aisle. Select any car (midsize or larger) available there and only pay the midsize rate in the U.S. and Canada.
• Enjoy a complimentary upgrade to a higher car class (subject to availability) at select locations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Spain, and Germany.
• No fees for additional drivers.
• Utilize Drop & Go service, allowing you to return your vehicle and receive an emailed receipt.
• Members can enjoy access to Priority Service, offering expedited assistance at selected airport locations across Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Emerald Club Executive Membership

You can achieve National Emerald Club Executive status after completing 12 paid rentals or accumulating 40 paid rental days within a single calendar year. Additionally, you may qualify for Executive status as a benefit of various premium travel rewards cards, including The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. (Enrollment is necessary.)

In addition to the standard benefits for members, Executive members receive the following advantages:

• Free rental days only require six credits.
• Executive Area access: Select any vehicle (full-size and larger) in the Executive Area at designated rental locations in the U.S. and Canada while paying only the midsize rate.
• Enjoy a guaranteed complimentary upgrade when you book a full-size through luxury vehicle in the U.S. and Canada.
• Benefit from reduced rates when upgrading to Premier Selection vehicles at rental locations in the U.S. and Canada. Premier Selection typically features high-end, luxury cars like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Lexus IS 250.

Emerald Club Executive Elite Membership

The pinnacle of National Emerald Club's status is Executive Elite, attainable after completing 25 paid rentals or 85 paid rental days in a calendar year. Executive Elite encompasses all the benefits of the lower tiers, plus some extra perks, including:

• Free rental days cost only five credits (available for any car class except trucks and exotic vehicles, with no blackout dates).
• Receive a guaranteed vehicle (up to full-size) when you reserve at the midsize rate with at least 24 hours' notice in the U.S. or Canada.
• Enjoy complimentary delivery to most private airports in the U.S. or Canada located within 50 miles of a National rental site.

Accumulate points and miles with Emerald Club

Members of the Emerald Club have the option to earn points or miles through one of National's 14 partners instead of receiving rental credits for their rentals. You can view the complete list of partners here, but here’s a brief overview of potential earnings with some popular programs:

• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: 50 miles for each day rented
• American Airlines AAdvantage: 50 miles for each day rented
• Delta SkyMiles: 2 miles per dollar spent
• Hilton Honors: 500 points for each rental
• Southwest Rapid Rewards: 600 points for each rental

To update your earning preference, sign in to your Emerald Club account, go to your profile, click on "Rewards," and select "Modify" next to "Rewards Preferences."

Be aware that National applies a "frequent traveler surcharge" on bookings that accumulate points or miles in partner programs. This fee varies by program but usually ranges from 50 cents to $2 per rental day. Always weigh whether it’s more beneficial to earn credits towards a free rental or to pay a bit more for points or miles instead.

Strategies for optimizing Emerald Club car rentals

At TPG, we frequently discuss ways to save on rental cars and utilizing points and miles for your road trips. Here are some additional tips to help you make the most of your car rentals with National Emerald Club:

• Utilize coupon codes: Like many rental car agencies, you can secure significantly better rates by using coupon or corporate codes. These codes are often available to employees of large companies and members of various organizations, in addition to offers featured on National's Specials page.
• Rent from locations with Emerald Aisle: Reserve a qualifying midsize rate and choose a location that allows you to pick your vehicle. This could give you the chance to select a larger or higher-quality car at no extra cost.
• Explore Premier Selection vehicles: For an added fee, you can reserve unique cars such as Corvettes and Maseratis from National's Premier Selection fleet. Keep in mind that luxury cars are often not covered by credit card rental insurance, but you might consider the optional American Express Premium Car Rental Protection plan for added coverage.
• Consider using AutoSlash: Although you need to book an eligible rate to enjoy Emerald Club benefits and rental credits, AutoSlash can help you discover better rates. This useful tool allows you to compare rates before making a reservation and find lower prices even after you’ve booked.

Lastly, regardless of which rental car provider you choose, it's beneficial to pay with one of the top credit cards for rental car coverage. This may enable you to decline the extra coverage options presented by the rental company, leading to additional savings.

In summary

The National Emerald Club provides valuable benefits, particularly for those who frequently rent midsize or larger vehicles for shorter durations. With over 1,500 locations available worldwide, you’re sure to find a rental site that meets your travel requirements.