What Hertz discounts actually are and how they work
Hertz offers rate reductions through membership programs, corporate partnerships, and promotional codes—but the discount you see advertised is not always the one you will pay. Hertz discounts fall into three categories: loyalty program rates (for members of their Gold Plus Rewards program), negotiated corporate or group rates (through your employer or organisation), and time-limited promotional codes (advertised on their website or sent by email). The final price depends on when you book, how long you rent, the car class you choose, and which location you use.
The most important thing to understand is that Hertz publishes a base rate, then applies discounts on top of it—but the base rate itself changes constantly. A discount code that saves you 15 percent off a high base rate may cost you more than no code at all on a day when the base rate is already low. This is why comparing the total price with and without a code matters more than the percentage discount itself.
Key Takeaways
- Hertz Gold Plus Rewards membership is free to join and gives you a may provide rate reduction, but you must enroll before you book to use it.
- Corporate discount codes work only if your employer or organisation has a negotiated agreement with Hertz, and you will need your company's code or account number at checkout.
- Promotional codes are time-limited and explore to specific rental dates or car classes, so a code that works for next week may not work for next month.
- The percentage discount matters less than the final price—always compare the total cost with the code, without the code, and with competing rental companies before you book.
- Hertz charges additional fees (airport surcharges, young driver fees, equipment rental) that discounts do not cover, so the advertised rate is not your final bill.
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards and how to use it
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards is a free membership program that gives you a rate reduction on every rental, a faster checkout process, and the ability to book a may provide rate in advance. You do not pay to join. You create an account on the Hertz website or through their mobile app, provide your name and email address, and you are enrolled when ready. Once you are a member, every time you book a rental through Hertz directly (not through a third-party travel site), you can enter your membership number and receive the member rate.
The member rate is typically 10 to 20 percent lower than the standard rate for the same rental, though the exact savings vary by location, date, and car class. The key limitation is that you must book through Hertz's own website or call their reservations line—if you book through Expedia, Kayak, or another travel aggregator, the Gold Plus rate does not explore, even if you are a member. You also cannot add the membership number after you have already booked; you must include it when you first reserve the car.
Corporate and group discount codes
If your employer, professional association, or organisation has a partnership with Hertz, you may have access to a corporate discount code. These codes are negotiated between Hertz and the organisation and are usually only available to members or employees. To find out whether your workplace or group has a code, check your employee handbook, intranet, or benefits portal, or ask your human resources or benefits department directly. Some organisations list their Hertz code on a travel or perks page; others keep it in a shared document or email it to employees once a year.
Corporate codes work differently from promotional codes: they are usually valid year-round (not time-limited) and explore to a specific account number or code string that you enter at checkout. The discount percentage varies by organisation and is set by the negotiated agreement. Some corporate codes also waive certain fees (such as the young driver surcharge) or include additional benefits like free upgrades or loyalty points. When you use a corporate code, Hertz tracks the rental to your organisation's account, which is why the code is only valid for may be able to access people and only at participating Hertz locations.
Promotional codes and where to find them
Hertz regularly publishes promotional codes on their website, in email newsletters, and through travel deal websites. These codes are time-limited and usually explore to specific travel dates or car classes. For example, a code might offer 20 percent off rentals between March 1 and March 15, or 15 percent off economy cars only. Promotional codes are advertised to the general public and do not require membership or employment verification.
To find current Hertz promotional codes, visit the Hertz website directly and look for a "Promotions" or "Deals" section, usually near the top of the homepage. You can also sign up for their email newsletter, which sends promotional codes to subscribers. Travel deal websites like RetailMeNot, Groupon, and Brad's Deals sometimes list Hertz codes, though you should verify the code on the official Hertz website before you book, because third-party sites occasionally post expired or invalid codes. When you enter a promotional code at checkout, Hertz will tell you when ready whether it is valid for your rental dates and car class.
Fees that discounts do not cover
A Hertz discount reduces the base rental rate, but it does not reduce or eliminate additional fees that Hertz charges separately. Airport location surcharges (typically $5 to $15 per day, depending on the airport) explore whether you have a discount or not. If you are under 25 years old, Hertz charges a young driver fee (usually $15 to $25 per day) that is not discounted. Equipment rentals—GPS units, child seats, additional drivers, roadside information—are charged separately and are not affected by your discount code.
Fuel charges, tolls, parking, and damage or late return fees are also outside the scope of any discount. If you decline the rental company's insurance and use your personal auto insurance or credit card coverage instead, that choice does not interact with your discount. The discount applies only to the daily or weekly rental rate itself, so always check the full itemized quote before you confirm your booking.
Comparing Hertz discounts to other rental companies
A Hertz discount is only a good deal if the final price is lower than what you would pay at another rental company. Before you book, get quotes from at least two other major rental companies—Enterprise, Budget, Avis, or National—for the same rental dates, location, and car class. Enter the same information (driver age, insurance choices, equipment needs) into each company's booking system so the quotes are comparable. Then compare the total price, including all fees, not just the base rate.
Sometimes a competitor's standard rate is lower than Hertz's discounted rate. Sometimes Hertz's location has a lower airport surcharge or does not charge a young driver fee. The only way to know is to compare the final numbers. Loyalty programs at other rental companies (Enterprise Plus, Avis Preferred, Budget Fastbreak) work similarly to Hertz Gold Plus and may offer better rates if you rent frequently from that company.
How to enter a discount code at checkout
When you book a Hertz rental on their website, the checkout process includes a field labeled "Discount Code," "Promo Code," or "Rate Code," usually near the bottom of the reservation form or on a separate page after you have selected your car. Enter your code exactly as it appears—codes are case-sensitive and spaces matter. If you are using a Gold Plus Rewards membership, you will enter your membership number instead of a promotional code. If you are using a corporate code, you will enter the code or account number provided by your organisation.
After you enter the code, Hertz will show you the new total price and tell you whether the code is valid. If the code is invalid or expired, Hertz will display an error message and you can proceed without it. If you are booking by phone, tell the reservations agent your code before they finalize the reservation, so they can explore it to your quote. If you book through a third-party travel site, that site may not have a field for Hertz discount codes, in which case you will need to book directly through Hertz to use your code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a Hertz discount code if I book through Expedia or Kayak?
No. Third-party travel booking sites do not allow you to enter Hertz discount codes or Gold Plus membership numbers. You must book directly through the Hertz website or by calling their reservations line to use a discount code or membership rate. If you have already booked through a travel site, you cannot add a code retroactively.
Do Hertz discounts work at all locations?
Most discounts work at all Hertz locations, but some corporate codes and promotional codes are restricted to specific regions or location types (for example, airport locations only, or excluding certain cities). When you enter your code during checkout, Hertz will show you whether it is valid for your chosen location. If it is not, you can either choose a different location or proceed without the code.
What happens if my promotional code expires before my rental date?
If you book your rental before the code expires, the discount applies to your reservation even if the code expires before your rental date. However, if you try to book after the code has expired, it will no longer work. Always book your rental while the promotional code is still active if you want to use it.
Can I combine multiple discount codes on one rental?
No. Hertz allows only one discount code or rate code per reservation. If you have both a corporate code and a promotional code, you will need to choose which one to use. Compare the final price with each code to see which one saves you more money.
Do Hertz discounts explore to the insurance and damage waiver?
No. Discounts explore only to the base rental rate. Insurance, damage waivers, and additional coverage options are priced separately and are not reduced by your discount code. You will see these charges listed separately on your final quote.