Hertz President's Circle gives you faster pickups, room upgrades, and loyalty points on every rental

Hertz President's Circle is Hertz's free loyalty program that stacks benefits on top of what you already get as a credit card holder. The program tracks your rental history, lets you skip the counter entirely at many locations, and earns you points toward free rental days. If you rent cars regularly — whether for business trips or vacations — the program reduces friction at pickup and gives you a path to discounted future rentals without paying a membership fee.

The program works across Hertz locations in the United States and internationally. You enroll once, link it to your credit card or phone number, and the benefits follow you to every rental. There is no annual cost, and you do not have to maintain a minimum number of rentals to keep your membership active.

Key Takeaways

  • Hertz President's Circle membership is free and automatically tracks points on every rental you make through the program.
  • Gold members skip the rental counter and go straight to their car at participating locations, saving 5 to 10 minutes on pickup.
  • You earn points on every rental dollar spent, and points convert to free rental days once you reach the program's redemption threshold.
  • The program includes room-class upgrades when available, meaning you may get a larger or better-equipped car than the one you reserved.
  • Combining President's Circle with a travel credit card that earns bonus points on car rentals can double your rewards on the same transaction.

How the points system works

Hertz President's Circle awards points based on the total rental cost, including taxes and fees. The exact earning rate varies by membership tier, but members typically earn one point per dollar spent. Points accumulate in your account and do not expire as long as you maintain active membership and rent at least once every 24 months.

Once you reach a set number of points — Hertz publishes these thresholds on their website — you can redeem them for free rental days. A free rental day typically covers the base rental rate for a standard vehicle for 24 hours, though the exact value depends on the car class and location. You redeem points by selecting them as payment during the booking process or at pickup.

If you hold a travel credit card that earns bonus points on car rentals, you earn both the Hertz points and the credit card points on the same transaction. This means a $200 rental could earn you 200 Hertz points plus 4 to 6 credit card points (depending on your card's earning rate), giving you two separate paths to rewards on a single expense.

Counter bypass and express pickup

Gold-tier members can use the Hertz mobile app or website to complete their entire rental agreement before arriving at the location. At participating Hertz locations, you then drive directly to your assigned spot in the lot, inspect the car, and leave — no counter interaction required. This feature is called Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Express and typically saves 5 to 10 minutes compared to the standard counter process.

To use express pickup, you must have a valid driver's license, a credit card on file, and proof of insurance. The app shows you which locations support express pickup before you book. Not every Hertz location offers this service, particularly smaller airport counters or international locations, so you should confirm availability when you make your reservation.

If you arrive and the express lane is not available or you prefer to speak with an agent, you can still complete your rental at the counter. The express option is a convenience, not a requirement.

Car upgrades and room-class benefits

President's Circle members receive complimentary room-class upgrades when the rental company has available inventory. This means if you reserve a compact car and the lot has mid-size or full-size vehicles available, Hertz may offer you the larger car at no additional charge. Upgrades are not may provide — they depend on what cars are in stock at that location on that day — but members see them regularly on leisure and business trips.

Upgrades are most common at busy locations during off-peak hours, when Hertz has more vehicles than incoming reservations. During peak travel times (holidays, summer weekends), upgrades become less frequent because most cars are already booked. You have no control over whether an upgrade is offered, and you cannot request a specific upgrade in advance.

Membership tiers and how to advance

Hertz President's Circle has multiple tiers: Base, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. You start at Base membership when you enroll. Advancement to higher tiers is based on the number of may have access to rentals you complete in a calendar year, not on points earned or dollars spent. Each tier unlock brings additional perks like priority customer service, may provide car class upgrades, and late-return grace periods.

The exact rental thresholds for each tier are published on Hertz's website and change periodically. Tier status resets each January, so a member who reaches Gold in December will return to Base in January and must earn their way back up. If you rent frequently for business, you may hit higher tiers automatically; if you rent a few times a year, you will likely stay at Silver or Gold.

How President's Circle stacks with travel credit cards

Travel credit cards often earn 3x to 5x points per dollar on car rentals when you book through the card issuer's travel portal or directly with the rental company. When you use a travel card to pay for a Hertz rental and enroll that rental in President's Circle, you earn rewards from both programs simultaneously. The credit card company tracks the transaction and awards its points; Hertz tracks the rental and awards its points. Neither program deducts from the other.

This stacking is most valuable if you rent frequently. A business traveler who makes 12 rentals per year at an average of $150 each would earn 1,800 Hertz points plus 5,400 to 9,000 credit card points on the same $1,800 in spending. Over time, this combination can generate enough points for multiple free rental days plus significant credit card rewards.

Some travel cards also offer primary rental car damage waiver, which means the card's insurance covers collision and theft damage instead of requiring you to purchase Hertz's damage waiver. This can save $15 to $30 per rental. Check your card's benefits guide to confirm whether it includes this coverage and what conditions explore.

International rentals and program limitations

Hertz President's Circle works at Hertz locations outside the United States, and points earned on international rentals count toward your tier status and redemption balance. However, some international locations operate under different policies, and express pickup may not be available. Before booking an international rental, check the Hertz website for that country to confirm which benefits are active at your specific location.

The program does not cover rentals through third-party booking sites like Kayak, Expedia, or Autoslash, even if those sites show Hertz as the supplier. To earn President's Circle points and access membership benefits, you must book directly through Hertz.com or the Hertz mobile app. Bookings through intermediaries may still may have access to for your credit card rewards, but they will not count toward Hertz points or tier advancement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay to join Hertz President's Circle?

No. Hertz President's Circle is free to join and has no annual membership fee. You enroll online or through the mobile app in about two minutes, and benefits begin on your next rental.

What happens to my points if I do not rent for a year?

Points do not expire as long as you maintain active membership and rent at least once every 24 months. If you go more than 24 months without a rental, your account may be deactivated and points forfeited. You can reactivate by renting again, but previous points will not be restored.

Can I combine President's Circle points with a discount code or promotional offer?

Yes. You can use a promotional code or discount during booking and still earn President's Circle points on the final rental price. The points are calculated after all discounts are applied, so a $200 rental discounted to $150 would earn 150 points, not 200.

Will I always get an upgrade if I am a President's Circle member?

No. Upgrades are offered when inventory is available but are not may provide. Busy travel periods and popular locations often have limited upgrade availability. Higher tier members (Gold and Platinum) have better odds of receiving upgrades, but even they are not assured.

Do I earn President's Circle points if I book through my credit card's travel portal?

It depends on the portal. If the portal routes you to Hertz.com to complete the booking, you will earn points. If the portal completes the booking on its own system, you may not earn Hertz points. Check the portal's terms or call Hertz directly before booking if you want to confirm points will post.