Traveling for vacation? Here’s everything you should know about rental car elite status.

From cost savings to vehicle upgrades, the perks of elite status are favored by savvy travelers. However, rental car elite status often goes underappreciated. This status can really pay off — it enabled one TPG staff member to rent a $100,000 BMW 7 Series for just $3 per day. Whether you’re planning a road trip or need a car to discover your destination, rental car status can help you bypass long lines, grab the keys, and hit the road in no time.

Numerous tiers of rental car elite status can be achieved by having the right credit cards or airline and hotel memberships, making them more attainable than you might expect.

We’ll delve into the various elite tiers provided by major rental car companies and how you can earn and maximize your rental car status. Be sure to check out our article on how to save money on rental cars, especially by using AutoSlash.

Avis rental car elite membership

The entry-level membership with Avis is known as Avis Preferred. Anyone can sign up, and it’s completely free. Currently, Avis is offering 100 bonus points to new members who rent a car within three months of signing up. Redemptions begin at 700 points per day.

Basic membership lets you head straight to your car, saving you plenty of time over the years. You can earn Avis Preferred points on paid rentals, although this means missing out on earning airline miles or hotel points. Higher status tiers allow for faster point accumulation and offer extra perks such as free vehicle upgrades. Here’s a summary:

You can also achieve Avis Preferred Plus status by earning 60,000 American Airlines Loyalty Points, obtaining United Airlines Premier Silver or Gold status, by possessing a Chase Sapphire Reserve® card (enrollment required), or by holding The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (select benefits require enrollment).

Avis President's Club is accessible to individuals who earn 100,000 American Airlines Loyalty Points or hold status as United Premier Platinum, Premier 1K, or United Global Services.

Primary cardholders of the United Club℠ Infinite Card, the United Presidential Plus℠ Card, the United Club Business℠ Card, and the now-unavailable United Presidential Plus Business Card can instantly qualify for President's Club status.

Avis also offers an exclusive Chairman's Club status tier, which is available by invitation only.

The information regarding the United Presidential Plus Card, United Club Business Card, and United Presidential Plus Business Card has been gathered independently by Dinogo. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.

Enterprise rental car elite membership

The Enterprise Plus program operates similarly to Avis Preferred. Anyone can enroll as a basic member and start earning points on qualifying rentals (you earn 1 point for every dollar spent as a basic member). These points can be redeemed for complimentary rental days. The program also features three elite status tiers that offer additional perks. Here are the specifics:

Though the benefits may be limited, achieving elite status with Enterprise can expedite your access to free rentals.

Hertz rental car elite membership

The Hertz loyalty program is known as Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. Similar to the programs offered by Enterprise and Avis, signing up is completely free. Basic members benefit from dedicated aisles where they can select any vehicle at select Hertz locations. You can earn 1 Gold Plus Rewards point for every dollar spent on qualifying rentals and optional extras like satellite radio and car seats, and your points can be redeemed for free rentals. Members also have the option to transfer points to their spouses or domestic partners.

Upon reaching elite status tiers, you'll earn additional points per dollar and gain access to a wider range of vehicle options and complimentary upgrades. Here’s a comprehensive overview of how to qualify and the advantages you’ll receive:

Similar to Avis, Hertz offers elite status to certain frequent flyers. Members of Delta Air Lines Diamond and Platinum Medallion can 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 — further details are available on Delta's website. Link your accounts to start enjoying complimentary elite status with Hertz.

Both The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express provide complimentary Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle status. (Enrollment is necessary for certain benefits.)

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card also grants Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle status (enrollment required).*

*Upon enrollment, available via the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will maintain that status level for the duration of the offer. Please note that enrolling through the standard Hertz Gold Plus Rewards registration process (e.g., at Hertz.com) will not automatically recognize a cardholder as eligible for the program, and cardholders will not be upgraded to the corresponding status tier automatically. Additional terms apply.

National rental car elite membership

National's loyalty program is called National Emerald Club and features two elite status levels.

Like the other programs, the basic membership tier is free to join and allows you to bypass the counter and choose any vehicle from the Emerald Aisle when renting a midsize car or larger. The Emerald Aisle is one of the quickest ways to get on the road. Additionally, you'll earn rental credits that can be redeemed for free rental days, airline miles, or hotel rewards. Renters who achieve elite status can enjoy extra benefits:

National also offers an exclusive invite-only tier known as VIP, although the specific criteria for attaining it remain somewhat unclear.

If you're an Amex Platinum or Amex Business Platinum cardholder, you can enjoy complimentary National Emerald Club Executive status (enrollment is necessary).

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card also provides complimentary National Emerald Club Executive status (enrollment required).

Sixt rental car elite membership

The German rental car company Sixt has seen remarkable growth in the U.S. market since its launch in 2011. The Sixt loyalty program provides many similar benefits as mentioned earlier, such as the ability to bypass lines and earn points or miles for your rentals. The Sixt Status program features three elite tiers (including one that is invitation-only). Here’s a breakdown of each tier:

Achieving elite status through credit cards

Besides the various partnerships and strategies for obtaining elite status outlined previously, you can also attain rental car elite status simply by holding a specific card. Here are some top choices for travelers:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express ($695 annual fee; see rates and fees) and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express ($695 annual fee; see rates and fees) grant complimentary elite status with Avis, National, and Hertz (enrollment necessary).
• The Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides elite status with National and Avis.
• The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers Hertz President's Circle status*.

Moreover, members of FoundersCard enjoy complimentary Avis Preferred Plus status.

Keep in mind that numerous credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the United℠ Explorer Card, provide primary insurance coverage for rental cars. Many of these cards also reward you with bonus points for car rental purchases, and you can further maximize your points by utilizing online shopping portals like Rakuten when booking rentals.

*Upon enrollment, which can be accessed via the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will retain that status level for the entire duration of the offer. Please be aware that enrolling through the standard Hertz Gold Plus Rewards process (e.g., at Hertz.com) won’t automatically recognize a cardholder’s eligibility for the program, nor will it result in an automatic upgrade to the relevant status tier. Additional terms may apply.

Utilizing a status match

One effective method to obtain elite status with rental car companies is by matching your status from a different program. You might be familiar with airline and hotel status matches, which allow you to skip elite qualification criteria if you already hold status with a competing company. The concept is straightforward: when you achieve status in one program (or receive it through a credit card), a status match enables you to gain a similar elite level in other programs. (Typically, this "complimentary" status is valid for the first year; after that, you’ll need to fulfill the standard qualification criteria.)

Some car rental companies provide this option as well. Some will only match statuses with their direct competitors, while others extend this matching to include airlines and hotels too. Below are a few examples, along with links to their status match request forms:

• Enterprise Plus
• Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
• National Emerald Club
• Sixt Status

You can also visit StatusMatcher's rental car status match page to explore how you might achieve rental car status more conveniently.

In summary

While renting a car may not have the allure of jet-setting around the globe or indulging in a five-star stay, it can still offer valuable benefits — particularly if you possess elite status. With the persistent long lines at many rental counters, having elite status not only helps guarantee that your reservation is honored but also enables you to go directly to your designated vehicle at numerous airports. If your credit card or airline loyalty program provides automatic elite status with one or more rental car companies, make sure to register for it.