Your comprehensive guide to Hertz Gold Plus Rewards

Hertz stands as one of the largest car rental services globally, boasting locations across more than 150 countries spanning six continents.

Throughout the years, I’ve navigated the nuances of the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program and discovered strategies to make the most of it — although achieving this has become increasingly challenging due to devaluations over time. In this guide, I’ll reveal the top methods for earning and redeeming Hertz points and provide insights into obtaining and utilizing Hertz Gold Plus Rewards elite status.

How to accumulate Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points

Regrettably, the only genuine way to accumulate Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points is by renting cars. Basic members receive one Hertz point for every dollar spent on rentals, whereas members with Hertz elite status earn additional points according to their tier:

• Five Star: 25% bonus, totaling 1.25 points for each dollar
• President's Circle: 50% bonus, resulting in 1.5 points for every dollar

It's important to mention that Hertz points expire after 12 months of inactivity, either through earning or redeeming (down from the previous 18 months). Even if you prevent your points from expiring after a year, any points remaining in your account for over five years without redemption will be lost.

How to use your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points

Redeeming Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points can be a bit complicated. Hertz offers two levels of redemption: Standard and AnyDay. Standard rewards are much more affordable but are limited to certain dates. Conversely, AnyDay rewards are available without blackout dates but require double the points.

Given this, I suggest opting for Standard rewards when redeeming points. AnyDay rentals usually provide poor value unless your rental cost is exceptionally high.

Here’s a brief overview of the Hertz award chart and tips on how to make the most of your redemptions.

Getting the most out of Hertz Standard redemptions

In August 2022, Hertz launched a new reward chart. Currently, Standard rentals cost half as much as AnyDay rentals, starting at 950 points per day for a round-trip rental within the U.S. Here’s a breakdown of pricing for round-trip rentals ranging from compact to premium within the U.S.

Additionally, you can rent Specialty, Adrenaline, and Prestige cars for more points. The Specialty category includes more upscale vehicles and is available at most Hertz locations. The Adrenaline collection features performance cars such as Corvettes and high-end Mustangs, while Prestige includes ultra-luxury options like Cadillac Escalades, Jaguars, Land Rovers, and BMWs.

Specialty round-trip rentals within the U.S. begin at 1,900 points, Adrenaline vehicles at 2,787 points, and Prestige rentals at 3,167 points. You can check the award chart for these redemptions by visiting this page and scrolling down.

Hertz also provides discounts for one-week rentals booked with points. Weekly round-trip standard rentals in the U.S. start at 4,750 points, averaging about 675 points per day — a notable saving compared to reserving seven separate one-day rentals.

Ultimately, one-way rentals — where you drop off your vehicle at a different Hertz location — will cost you double that of a round-trip rental. Therefore, a one-day, one-way Standard rental in the U.S. will require 1,900 points.

How to Reserve Standard Awards with Hertz

So, when can you secure Standard awards? That’s a great question, but there’s no straightforward answer. Unfortunately, each Hertz location has its own selection of Standard award dates; some locations provide more options than others.

To find the list of peak dates, visit this page and input your pickup location. Peak dates can only be booked with AnyDay rewards; any date not specified here can be reserved at the Standard rate.

Peak dates can vary significantly — they might include a holiday weekend or extend over an entire season. Regrettably, Hertz has increasingly broadened its peak dates, which now cover more than half of the year at most locations, as illustrated in the example above. This trend complicates the opportunity to utilize Standard award redemptions.

In areas where Hertz operates multiple locations, it’s advisable to check several sites to find the off-peak dates that align best with your travel plans.

Maximizing Your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Points by Choosing Luxury Rentals

Your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points hold significant value. Since Hertz implements a flat rate for Standard awards, I suggest using these awards for premium rentals to get the most out of your points. Whether you're interested in a compact vehicle or a luxury premium ride, renting something special can enhance your experience while using your points.

For instance, the total price for a one-day rental of a large SUV at Denver International Airport (DEN) in mid-January amounts to $305 after tax, whereas a large sedan or economy car is priced at less than half that amount — yet all three options require the same 950 points.

Therefore, if possible, opt for a larger or more upscale vehicle when redeeming your points. This way, you'll enjoy your rental experience more and derive greater value from your hard-earned Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points — a win-win situation.

Additional insights regarding Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points

In its most recent update to the loyalty program, Hertz has removed cancellation fees for award rentals. This means that if you reserve a car using points after September 1, 2024, and you cancel your booking before the pick-up time, your points will be returned to your account without any charges.

Hertz has also made changes to its points transfer option. In the past, Gold Plus Rewards members could transfer points to their spouse or domestic partner without any limitations on the number of points or transfers. Now, you can transfer points to any family member’s account, but this can only be done once each calendar year.

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards elite status

Hertz provides three status levels, two of which are elite: Five Star and President's Circle. You can earn status based on how frequently you rent cars with Hertz or how much you spend with them.

Hertz Five Star elite status

Five Star is the entry-level tier among the two elite statuses. To qualify, you need to either complete 10 rentals with Hertz or spend $2,000 on rentals within a calendar year. Members of Hertz Five Star elite status enjoy several benefits, although many may not find them particularly valuable. Here are the key advantages:

• Space-available upgrades: You qualify for a complimentary one-class upgrade if the Hertz location you are renting from has available cars.
• Bonus points: You will earn an additional 25% on all rentals, equating to 1.25 points for every dollar spent.
• Greater Ultimate Choice options: At Hertz locations with an Ultimate Choice selection, Five Star members gain access to a broader variety of vehicles.

Regrettably, I find these benefits somewhat limited — while a one-class upgrade is a nice perk, it is not guaranteed. The most significant advantage is the 25% bonus on points, which is assured.

Hertz President's Circle elite status

When it comes to President's Circle status, things become more intriguing. This is Hertz's highest tier of status, offering an enhanced set of benefits:

• Guaranteed upgrades: You qualify for a guaranteed one-class upgrade. However, this upgrade is contingent on the availability of upgraded vehicles at the Hertz location where you are renting.
• Bonus points: You will earn an additional 50% on all rentals, resulting in 1.5 points for every dollar spent.
• Broadest Ultimate Choice options: If renting from a Hertz location with an Ultimate Choice selection, you'll enjoy access to a wider variety of vehicles compared to standard or Five Star members.
• Exclusive Hertz Rewards phone line: You will have access to a dedicated phone number specifically for President's Circle members.

To achieve President's Circle status, you must complete 15 rentals with Hertz or spend $3,000 on rental cars within a single calendar year. These perks are considerably more advantageous than those offered to Five Star members, but I still wouldn’t go out of my way to rent with Hertz just to obtain this status when there are more economical options available.

An overview of Hertz's various partnerships

Hertz has formed partnerships with various travel companies, with the most notable being status matches from Capital One and Delta. Moreover, if you are a AAA member or possess The Platinum Card® from American Express, you can enjoy savings on Hertz rentals along with additional benefits.

Complimentary Hertz status with Capital One

If you hold a Capital One credit card, you might have a great opportunity. Cardholders of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card are eligible for complimentary Five Star status, while those with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card can access the top-tier President's Circle status*. The best part is that authorized users and account managers aged 21 or older can also benefit from this perk — it's not just for the primary cardholder. For more details, visit Capital One's partner page for Hertz.

Sadly, Capital One will be ending this benefit at the close of this year.

*Eligible cardholders can maintain their upgraded status level until Dec. 31, 2024, once they enroll through the Capital One website or mobile app. Please note that signing up through the standard Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment (like at Hertz.com) won't automatically recognize a cardholder's eligibility, nor will it result in an automatic upgrade to the relevant status tier. Additional terms may apply.

Complimentary Hertz status for Delta Medallion elites

If you possess Delta elite status, you might qualify for a complimentary status match to Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. Medallion Gold members can upgrade to Five Star status, whereas Platinum and Diamond members can achieve top-tier President's Circle status.

Visit the Hertz page on Delta's website to benefit from this status match. This partnership allows even Medallion Silver members to accumulate bonus SkyMiles by crediting their rentals to Delta instead of Hertz.

Complimentary Hertz status for Amex Platinum cardholders

A significant advantage of The Platinum Card® from American Express is that it grants cardholders Hertz President's Circle status. To enjoy this benefit, cardmembers need to enroll in Hertz Gold Plus Rewards.

Leverage Hertz benefits with a AAA membership

I maintain an annual AAA membership primarily for the Hertz benefits it offers. Members can use a corporate code that provides discounts of up to 20% on rentals, eliminates fees for young renters aged 20 to 24, and includes savings on prepaid fuel, among other minor advantages.

Cut costs on rental car insurance through credit cards

Similar to other rental car companies, Hertz provides a primary damage waiver for its vehicles. These waivers shield you from theft and damages to the car, covering everything from minor scrapes to total loss. We highly recommend opting for one of these waivers when renting a vehicle, as it can save you significant costs in case of an accident and keep your car insurance premiums from increasing since you can utilize the damage waiver coverage before involving your personal insurance.

However, primary damage waivers do come with a fee. Typically, you'll pay between $14 and $20 per day, which can accumulate quickly if you frequently rent cars. Fortunately, you can obtain one of these damage waivers at no extra charge if you use a card that offers car rental coverage for your payment.

Final thoughts

Hertz points can be quite valuable, especially during off-peak rental periods, and having elite status can also be beneficial if you're a regular renter. Nonetheless, it's often more advantageous to rent from the company that offers you the best rate.