What Is a Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Member?
If you've rented from Hertz more than once, you've probably seen the option to join Hertz Gold Plus Rewards — the company's loyalty program for frequent renters. Understanding what membership actually means, what it costs, and how the tiers work helps you decide whether it fits how you rent cars.
What Is the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program?
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards is Hertz's free loyalty program that lets renters earn points on qualifying rentals and redeem those points for free rental days. It also bundles in a set of convenience perks designed to reduce friction at the counter — or skip it entirely.
Enrollment is free. There's no annual fee to hold a basic Gold membership, which makes it low-risk to join if you rent from Hertz even a few times a year.
How Points Work
Members earn points based on qualifying rental spend. Generally, the program awards a set number of points per dollar spent on time-and-mileage charges — the base rental cost. Fees, taxes, insurance products, and fuel charges are typically excluded from point calculations.
Points accumulate in your account and can be redeemed for free rental days. The number of points required varies by car category — economy cars cost fewer points than premium or specialty vehicles. Points do expire if your account is inactive for a defined period, so infrequent renters should check current expiration terms directly with Hertz.
The Three Membership Tiers
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards operates on a tiered structure. The benefits and speed of earning differ by level:
| Tier | How You Qualify | Base Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Free enrollment | Standard earn rate, skip-the-counter at select locations |
| Five Star | 10+ rentals or 2,000+ points in a calendar year | Bonus points earning, priority service |
| President's Circle | 20+ rentals or 4,000+ points in a calendar year | Highest earn rate, vehicle upgrades, dedicated service lanes |
The qualifying thresholds can shift, and Hertz has adjusted them over the years. Current requirements are always confirmed through your Hertz account or the program's terms page.
The Skip-the-Counter Benefit
One of the most practical perks — even at the base Gold tier — is the ability to bypass the rental counter at participating locations. At qualifying airports, Gold members can go directly to the Gold section of the lot, find a car assigned to their name on a board, and drive out without waiting in line.
This doesn't work everywhere. Smaller regional locations, off-airport sites, and some international locations may still require counter check-in regardless of tier. The skip-the-counter experience also depends on whether inventory is available in your reserved class.
Upgrades and Vehicle Selection 🚗
Higher-tier members — particularly President's Circle — often receive complimentary upgrades when available. At Gold level, upgrades aren't guaranteed but can happen based on inventory. At some locations, Gold members in the lot-select model can choose from any available car in their class or above, which informally creates an upgrade opportunity.
What you actually get depends heavily on the location, time of day, fleet availability, and how many other loyalty members are renting at the same time. Peak travel periods reduce upgrade likelihood across the board.
Points Redemption: How Free Days Are Calculated
When redeeming points for a free rental day, the redemption value varies by:
- Car category — compact cars require fewer points than SUVs or luxury vehicles
- Rental location — some markets carry different redemption rates
- Day type — weekday vs. weekend rentals can differ in point cost
Taxes and fees still apply on most redeemed rentals, which is a common point of surprise. A "free day" typically means the time-and-mileage charge is covered — not the full invoice.
What the Program Doesn't Cover
Gold Plus Rewards membership doesn't automatically include:
- Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or insurance — these are purchased separately each rental
- Free additional drivers — this varies by location and tier; President's Circle members sometimes receive a free additional driver benefit
- Guaranteed upgrades — even at the highest tier, upgrades depend on availability
- Points on every charge — surcharges, airport fees, and government taxes don't typically earn points
How Tier Status Resets 📅
Gold Plus Rewards status is generally tracked on a calendar-year basis. Qualifying rentals or points earned between January 1 and December 31 determine whether you maintain or advance your tier for the following year. If you don't hit the thresholds, you typically drop back to base Gold — you don't lose your account or accumulated points, just the elevated status.
Variables That Affect How Much Value You Get
The practical value of Gold Plus Rewards membership shifts significantly based on:
- How often you rent from Hertz specifically — the program only rewards Hertz rentals, not competitors
- What you spend per rental — business travelers on higher rate codes earn points faster than leisure renters on discount rates
- Which locations you use — skip-the-counter and upgrade availability vary widely by airport and city
- Whether your employer or credit card already provides status — some corporate accounts and travel credit cards include elevated Hertz status as a cardholder benefit, bypassing the need to earn it through rentals
- How you book — third-party bookings through travel sites may not earn points or count toward tier qualification
For someone who rents once a year on a personal trip, the program's main value is the skip-the-counter convenience. For a frequent business traveler renting weekly, the compounding points and tier benefits can add up to meaningful free days annually.
The right tier to target — and whether the program delivers real value — comes down to your own rental frequency, the Hertz locations you use, and how you book.
