What Is a Hertz Member? How the Hertz Loyalty Program Works
If you've rented from Hertz more than once, you've probably seen prompts to join their membership program. But what does "Hertz Member" actually mean, what do you get, and how does it compare across membership tiers? Here's how the program works and what shapes the value you get out of it.
The Basics: What Hertz Membership Is
Hertz runs a loyalty program called Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. When people refer to being a "Hertz Member," they typically mean they've enrolled in this program. Membership is free to join and gives renters access to perks that standard, non-enrolled customers don't receive.
At its core, the program works like most loyalty systems: you earn points when you rent, and those points can be redeemed for free rental days. But the program also layers in status tiers that unlock additional benefits as you rent more frequently.
Membership Tiers: Gold, Five Star, and President's Circle
Hertz structures its loyalty program around three main tiers above basic enrollment:
| Tier | Typical Qualification | Key Perks |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Enrollment only | Skip the counter, faster pickup, points earning |
| Five Star | ~5 rentals or 5 days in a calendar year | Bonus points, car upgrades, wider vehicle selection |
| President's Circle | ~20 rentals or 20 days in a calendar year | Priority service, top-tier upgrades, Hertz Ultimate Choice |
Qualification thresholds and exact perks can change, so it's worth checking the current terms directly through Hertz. Hertz occasionally adjusts tier requirements and benefit structures.
Hertz Ultimate Choice — available to President's Circle members — allows you to walk directly to a select area of the lot and choose any vehicle in that section, rather than being assigned a specific car.
What "Skip the Counter" Actually Means 🚗
One of the most-cited benefits of Gold membership is counter bypass. Instead of waiting in line to check in with an agent, enrolled members can go directly to a board (or app notification) that shows their assigned car and lot location, then head straight to the vehicle.
In practice, the experience varies. At busy airports during peak travel times, even members sometimes encounter delays. At smaller locations or off-airport branches, the traditional counter process may still apply regardless of membership status. The benefit is most consistent at high-volume airport locations where Hertz has built out the infrastructure for it.
How Points Work
Members earn points per dollar spent on qualifying rentals. The earn rate has varied over time and can differ based on:
- Rental type — some promotional or discounted rates earn at a lower rate or don't qualify at all
- Corporate or partner bookings — rentals booked through third-party platforms or corporate accounts may have different earning rules
- Promotions — Hertz regularly runs bonus point offers that can significantly accelerate earning
Points are redeemed for free rental days, with the number of points required varying by car category and rental location. Blackout dates and restrictions can apply, particularly during peak travel periods.
Points do expire. Hertz's standard terms have required account activity within a set window to keep points active — the specifics are subject to change, so verifying current expiration rules matters if you have a balance sitting unused.
Partner Benefits and Credit Card Links 🎫
Hertz has longstanding partnerships with airlines, hotels, and credit card programs. Members can often link their Hertz account to earn airline miles or hotel points instead of (or in addition to) Hertz points on certain rentals. Some premium credit cards also include complimentary Hertz Gold status as a cardholder benefit, which means some people reach Gold tier without ever renting.
The value of those linked partnerships depends entirely on which programs you're already active in and how you travel.
What Shapes the Value of Membership for Different Renters
Not every renter gets the same experience from Hertz membership. Several factors influence how useful the program actually is:
- How often you rent — Infrequent renters may never accumulate enough points for a meaningful redemption before they expire
- Where you rent — Airport locations generally support more membership features than local or neighborhood branches
- What you're renting for — Business travelers who rent frequently and pay standard rates typically benefit the most from tier qualification and point accumulation
- How you book — Third-party bookings, travel package rates, and certain discount codes can reduce or eliminate point earning
- Whether you already have status through a credit card — If you have Gold status through a card, the incremental benefit of renting your way to Five Star may be limited
Hertz Membership vs. Other Rental Programs
Hertz's structure is broadly similar to programs at Enterprise, Avis, National, and Budget, though the details differ. National's Emerald Club, for example, is well-regarded for its own version of lot-choice pickup. The "best" program is less about which brand has the flashiest perks and more about which one aligns with your typical rental locations and booking patterns.
The Variable No One Can Solve for You
Hertz membership is straightforward to join and costs nothing out of pocket. Whether it meaningfully improves your rental experience — or whether your points ever turn into a free rental day before they expire — depends on how frequently you rent, where, and how you book. Those are the variables that determine whether the program works in your favor or mostly sits idle in your account.
