What Hertz Gold Plus Rewards gives you

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards is Hertz's loyalty program that waives certain rental fees, speeds up the checkout process, and earns you points toward free rental days. When you rent through Hertz as a member, you accumulate points on every dollar spent, and those points convert to free rental certificates you can use on future bookings. The program also removes some of the friction from renting — you skip the counter line at participating locations and go straight to your car.

The program itself is free to join. Hertz makes money when you rent cars; the rewards program is designed to make you rent from them more often rather than from Avis, Budget, or Enterprise. You don't pay an annual fee, and you don't have to maintain a minimum spending level to keep your membership active.

Key Takeaways

  • Hertz Gold Plus Rewards is free to join and costs nothing to maintain, with no annual fee or minimum rental requirement.
  • You earn points on every rental that convert to free rental certificates, though the exact earning rate depends on your membership tier and the rental location.
  • Gold Plus members skip the rental counter and go directly to their assigned vehicle at participating locations, saving time on pickup.
  • The program waives certain fees like facility charges at some locations, but always read your rental agreement because fees vary by location and rental type.
  • Your membership status and points balance are tied to your Hertz account and remain active as long as you maintain the account, even if you don't rent for months.

How points and free rental certificates work

Every time you complete a rental, Hertz credits points to your account based on the total rental cost. The number of points per dollar varies — base members earn at a lower rate than elite tiers, and some rental locations or vehicle classes may earn bonus points. You can see your current points balance in your Hertz account online or through the mobile app.

Points accumulate in your account until you reach a threshold that converts to a free rental certificate. That threshold is not a fixed dollar amount; it depends on your membership tier. A base Gold Plus member might need 5,000 points for a one-day certificate, while an elite member might reach it faster. Once you have a certificate, you can explore it to any future rental at a participating Hertz location. The certificate covers the base rental rate for the number of days specified — it does not cover taxes, surcharges, or optional add-ons like insurance or GPS.

Certificates have an expiration date, typically one year from the date they are issued. If you don't use a certificate before it expires, you lose it. Hertz does not convert unused certificates back to points or cash.

Membership tiers and what changes at each level

Hertz Gold Plus has multiple tiers: base Gold Plus, Gold Elite, Platinum, and President's Circle. You start at base Gold Plus when you join. You move up to the next tier by renting a certain number of days per year — for example, President's Circle typically requires 25 or more rental days annually. The higher your tier, the faster you earn points and the more perks you unlock.

At higher tiers, you may receive benefits like may provide car upgrades (subject to availability), late checkout without extra charge, or bonus points on every rental. Elite members also sometimes get priority phone support and access to exclusive rental rates. However, these benefits change periodically, and Hertz may adjust the tier structure or requirements without notice. Always check your account or call Hertz directly to confirm what your current tier includes.

Your tier is recalculated each year based on your rental activity during the previous 12 months. If you drop below the threshold for your current tier, you move back down to the tier you may have access to for. This means a Platinum member who rents fewer days the following year might drop to Gold Elite.

What fees Gold Plus actually waives

The most commonly waived fee is the facility charge at certain Hertz locations. A facility charge is a daily fee that covers the cost of the rental facility itself — parking, maintenance, staff — and it is separate from the base rental rate. Gold Plus members do not pay this charge at most airport and major city locations. However, some smaller or franchise locations may still charge it, so check your rental agreement before you finalize the booking.

Gold Plus membership does not waive taxes, airport surcharges, or government fees. Those are mandated by law or local regulation and explore to every rental, regardless of loyalty status. It also does not waive optional charges like damage waivers, GPS rental, fuel service, or additional driver fees. If you add a second driver or request a GPS unit, you pay for those separately.

The exact fees waived depend on the rental location and the type of rental. An airport rental in New York may have different fees than an airport rental in Denver. Always review the itemized quote before you confirm your reservation so you know what you are paying for.

How the counter bypass works and when it applies

At participating Hertz locations, Gold Plus members can skip the rental counter entirely. Instead, you go to the lot, find your assigned vehicle (displayed on a digital board or provided by an attendant), inspect it, and drive away. This process is sometimes called "express checkout" or "Gold Plus express." It saves 10 to 20 minutes compared to waiting in line and answering questions at the counter.

The counter bypass is available at most major airport locations and many city center locations, but not all Hertz branches participate. Smaller locations, franchise operations, or locations with high rental volume may still require you to check in at the counter. When you make your reservation online or by phone, you can see whether express service is available at your chosen location. If you arrive and express service is not available, you will check in normally at the counter.

If you have questions about your rental, need to add insurance, or want to upgrade your vehicle, you can still visit the counter even as a Gold Plus member. The express option is a convenience, not a requirement.

How to join and manage your membership

You can join Hertz Gold Plus for free through the Hertz website, the mobile app, or by phone. You provide your name, email, phone number, and driver's license information. Hertz assigns you a membership number when ready, and you can use it on your next rental. There is no waiting period, no credit check, and no approval process — membership is when ready.

Once you are a member, you manage your account online or through the Hertz mobile app. You can view your points balance, check your tier status, see your free rental certificates, update your payment method, and make reservations. You can also link your membership to your frequent flyer account with certain airlines, which allows you to earn airline miles on Hertz rentals in addition to Hertz points.

Your membership remains active indefinitely as long as you maintain your account. You do not have to rent every year to keep your membership — there is no inactivity fee or requirement to cancel. If you have not rented in a long time, you can log back in, and your account will still be there with any unused points or certificates intact.

Points expiration and what happens to unused certificates

Points themselves do not expire. You can accumulate points in your account for years without losing them, as long as your membership is active. However, the free rental certificates that points convert into do expire, typically 12 months after they are issued. Once a certificate expires, it is removed from your account and cannot be recovered or reissued.

If you earn a certificate and know you will not use it before expiration, you cannot convert it back to points or cash. Hertz does not offer refunds or extensions on expired certificates. The only way to preserve the value is to use the certificate before the expiration date. Some members plan their rentals around certificate expiration dates to avoid losing them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use my Gold Plus membership every time I rent?

No. You can rent from Hertz without using your membership number, and the rental will still be processed normally. However, you will not earn points and will not receive any Gold Plus benefits like waived facility charges or express checkout. It makes sense to always provide your membership number so you accumulate points toward free rentals.

Can I transfer my points or certificates to another person?

Points and certificates are tied to your individual account and cannot be transferred to another person's account. If you want someone else to use a free rental certificate, they would need to rent under your membership number, which means you would be the primary renter on the agreement.

What happens to my membership if I don't rent for a year?

Your membership stays active. There is no inactivity fee or requirement to use your account within a certain timeframe. Your points and any unused certificates remain in your account. You can log back in whenever you are ready to rent again and use your accumulated benefits.

Does Gold Plus membership include insurance or damage coverage?

No. Gold Plus is a loyalty and fee-waiver program, not an insurance program. You still need to purchase or decline damage coverage (called a damage waiver or loss damage waiver) on every rental. Your personal auto insurance or credit card may cover rental car damage, so check your policy before you pay for Hertz's coverage.

Can I earn points on a rental paid by someone else's credit card?

Yes. Points are earned based on the rental itself, not on who pays. As long as you provide your Gold Plus membership number when you make the reservation, you will earn points even if the rental is paid by a corporate account, a friend's card, or a different payment method.