The best credit cards for rental car elite status

Several travel credit cards offer complimentary rental car elite status, giving cardholders access to perks that can make picking up a rental car faster and potentially more rewarding.

Depending on the card and rental car program, benefits can include skipping the rental counter, choosing from a wider selection of vehicles, receiving complimentary upgrades and earning bonus points.

And because some of these status levels would otherwise require numerous rentals or thousands of dollars in annual spending, this can be a valuable — and sometimes overlooked — credit card perk.

Here’s which credit cards offer rental car elite status, what benefits you’ll receive and how to enroll.

Credit cards that offer rental car elite status

Here’s a quick look at which credit cards offer rental car elite status and the status level you’ll receive with each program.

*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply

Related: Hitting the road on your vacation? Everything you need to know about rental car elite status

Best cards for Avis elite status

Five of the cards in this guide provide complimentary Avis elite status, though the status level varies by card.

The Amex Platinum, Amex Business Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve® offer Avis Preferred Plus status.

Meanwhile, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive and United Club provide the higher President’s Club status.

Avis Preferred Plus

Avis Preferred Plus typically requires completing 10 rentals or spending $4,000 in a calendar year.

With Preferred Plus status, you’ll receive benefits including:

• The ability to skip the counter and go straight to your car at most locations
• A complimentary one-class upgrade when reserving a midsize car or above, when available
• A code to receive a discount on rental rates
• Bonus Avis Preferred points with every rental

Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cardmembers will need to enroll in the Avis Preferred program to receive their status. If you already have an Avis Wizard number, you can request an upgrade to your existing account.

Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can activate their Avis benefits through their Chase account. Log in and navigate to your card benefits to see the available rental car offers and enrollment instructions.

Avis President’s Club

The Citi / AAdvantage Executive and United Club Card offer complimentary Avis President’s Club status, which typically requires 20 rentals or $6,000 spent to join.

President’s Club members receive benefits including:

• Complimentary upgrades of two car classes when available
• Guaranteed car availability when you book at least 24 hours in advance
• Expedited rental service
• 50% more points for every dollar you spend if you opt into Avis Preferred points
• A dedicated phone line for reservations and customer support

Citi / AAdvantage Executive primary cardmembers are eligible to enroll in complimentary President’s Club status through Aug. 31, 2028. You can enroll by visiting the Rewards page in your online account.

United Club cardmembers can enroll using this link. United Premier Platinum members and higher are also eligible for complimentary President’s Club status.

Related: Full review of the United Club Card

Best cards for Hertz elite status

The Amex Platinum, Amex Business Platinum and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offer complimentary Hertz Gold+ President’s Circle status.

President’s Circle is Hertz’s top published elite tier and typically requires completing 15 rentals or spending at least $3,000 in a calendar year.

President’s Circle members receive benefits including:

• Guaranteed vehicle availability
• Guaranteed one-car-class upgrades with every rental, when available
• 50% bonus points on Hertz rentals
• Access to the widest selection of vehicles

Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cardmembers must enroll in Hertz Gold+ Rewards to receive President’s Circle status.

Venture X cardholders must enroll through the benefits tab of their Capital One account on the Capital One website or mobile app.* Eligible cardholders can also enroll authorized users through this process.

*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply

Related: Full review of the Capital One Venture X Credit Card

Best cards for National elite status

The Amex Platinum, Amex Business Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve provide complimentary National Emerald Club Executive status.

Executive status normally requires 12 paid rentals or 40 paid rental days. As an Executive member, you’ll receive benefits including:

• A guaranteed free upgrade when you reserve a full-size through luxury vehicle in the U.S. and Canada
• The ability to pay the reserved midsize rate when you choose any car (full-size and above) in the Executive Area in the U.S. and Canada
• The ability to bypass the counter and head straight to the Emerald Aisle for your pick of cars, when available
• Reward choices and one free rental day with six rental credits
• No second-driver fees for family members and business associates
• Exclusive rental discounts

Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cardmembers can receive Executive status after signing up for National’s free Emerald Club loyalty program.

Sapphire Reserve cardholders can activate their complimentary Executive membership through their Chase account. Log in and navigate to your card benefits to see the available enrollment options.

Related: Full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve

Which rental car status to use

National Emerald Club stands out as a favorite car rental program because of the ability to choose your own car from the Emerald Aisle Executive selection.

This is ideal when renting a car for families because the Emerald Aisle is where they tend to park the minivans. This status is easy to get if you have an Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Another useful option is Hertz when renting with the Amex Platinum. In addition to complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status, cardmembers can receive a four-hour grace period on rental returns in the U.S. when they book using Amex’s designated Corporate Discount Program (CDP) code and pay with their Platinum card.

This can help you avoid an additional day’s time and mileage charges when returning your car a few hours after the original pickup time.

Note that you must have a qualifying card to enroll in these elite status programs. Once you do, you often can use any card to pay for the rental car. Choose the right card to maximize points and miles earned and obtain primary rental car insurance — and be sure to review our guide to saving money on rental cars.

Related: Full review of the Amex Platinum

Status matching

Another way to earn value from these programs is to let them match your status. For example, Hertz offers a status match that should grant Hertz Five Star status to those with National Executive status.

Similarly, National’s status match program provides Executive status to those with Avis President’s Club status. If you hold elite status with one program and are thinking of switching, it can’t hurt to ask for a status match even if it isn’t explicitly offered.

Bottom line

Rental car elite status may not be the first benefit you think of when considering a travel credit card, but it can make your next rental more convenient. Depending on your card and the rental company, you could skip the counter, choose from a wider selection of vehicles, receive an upgrade or earn additional rewards.

If your credit card offers complimentary rental car elite status, make sure you enroll before your next trip, since these benefits generally aren’t activated automatically.

And even with elite status, compare rates across rental companies to make sure you’re getting the best option for your trip.

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Apply here: Amex Platinum
Apply here: Business Platinum
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Apply here: Citi / AAdvantage Executive
Apply here: United Club Card
Learn more: Capital One Venture X

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For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here.