Hertz Gold Plus Rewards guide

If you frequently rent cars in destinations where Hertz has a robust presence, the Gold Plus Rewards program is a solid contender for your loyalty. This free program allows you to collect points for every rental, skip the pickup line at select locations, score a free trial membership of CLEAR airport expedited security screening and qualify for additional discounts on each transaction.

And as of May 2020, Hertz now offers the Hertz Free-to-Go Pass, which allows premium members who purchase the upgraded plan to automatically save more than $100 in incidental fees on each rental.

What is Hertz Gold Plus Rewards?

The Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program rewards loyal customers for their continued business. Members earn points for each booking and are also eligible for a number of benefits at each tier of elite status.

How do Hertz points work?

You will earn points on every dollar you spend with Hertz, which can be applied toward future rentals booked online, via the app or through the phone with a customer service agent. You will need a minimum of 750 loyalty points for one free rental car day.

Hertz status tiers and benefits

The Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program offers three tiers of benefits for members. Below, you’ll find the various perks you’ll enjoy at each tier of membership.

Here are some of the benefits that are worthy of mention:

Skip the pickup line and get the car of your choice

Whether you are traveling for work or for pleasure, it is probably safe to say that the rental car pickup line is not the best use of your time. Thus, you will be pleased to know that at certain rental locations, Hertz Gold members and above can skip the check-in process altogether and go straight to picking any car they want to drive from the Gold section of the Ultimate Choice lot.

This lot houses a variety of vehicles available for Hertz members to choose from at their own discretion, separated into lots based on status tier. Ultimate Choice car options become more varied as you reach higher levels of elite status.

Free additional driver if spouse or domestic partner

You typically have to pay an additional fee to add your traveling companion to your rental car reservation. But as a Hertz Gold member, you automatically get to add your spouse or domestic partner at no additional cost.

Free CLEAR trial

Under pre-COVID circumstances, CLEAR expedited airport security screening is a timesaver and a godsend. This paid membership costs $179 per year, but allows travelers to blitz through designated security screening lines that cut straight to the front of the line using biometric identification.

See related: The ultimate guide to airport security options

Depending on your status with Hertz, you can enjoy this perk for free between one and four months.

One-car-class upgrades

If you’ve ever paid for a small car but wished for a bit more space and comfort, this benefit will make you happy. Whenever available at participating locations, Five Star members and higher will automatically receive a complimentary upgrade to the next car class up. Just be sure to provide your membership number while booking or give it to the agent before you pick up your car.

Fast track your way to better benefits with a status match

One amazing way to enjoy higher status with Hertz immediately is through a status match from another program. This is perfect for high-volume travelers who enjoy elite status from another car rental program or even from an airline and don’t want to lose out on premium benefits while building up loyalty with Hertz.

See related: Status match challenges from hotel and airline programs

Members of the following loyalty programs can enjoy additional benefits through Hertz, as well as complimentary status matching in many cases:

• Delta Air Lines Medallion
• United Airlines MileagePlus
• Marriott Bonvoy
• IHG Rewards Club

Additionally, cardholders of either the United Club℠ Infinite Card or the now-discontinued United Airlines Presidential Plus credit card can enjoy automatic President’s Circle status with Hertz with a five-second sign-up.

Hertz Free-to-Go Pass

You could consider the Hertz Free-to-Go Pass a premium upgrade on the existing Gold Plus Rewards loyalty program. Current Hertz Gold Plus Rewards members receive more than $100 worth of perks on each rental when they sign up for the $99 per year subscription, with benefits including:

• 10% guaranteed discount
• Free home delivery
• Free additional driver over age 25
• Free cancellations
• Convenient refueling
• Free young renter under age 25

None of these perks come with existing tiers of status, even at the President’s Circle level, so Free-to-Go is a great add-on for several types of travelers.

Best cards to use with Hertz

Hertz has a partnership with Mastercard, but many of the best credit cards to use for Hertz car rentals will actually fall under the Visa and American Express families.

Several premium credit cards offer free primary rental car insurance as part of the card benefits, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve. The Reserve card also earns bonus points on travel purchases, which includes rental car reservations. Another good option is the The Platinum Card® from American Express, though its rental car insurance is secondary.

If you have a United Club Infinite card, you can qualify automatically for President’s Circle elite status. Even better, you do not have to pay for each reservation with the United card in order to qualify or maintain status.

How does the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards stack against other rental car loyalty programs?

The Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program is fantastic for travelers who prioritize convenience over the cheapest price point. As our more detailed comparison guide describes, Hertz is best at streamlining the car rental process, especially in comparison to its competitors.

For rental locations where the Hertz Fast Lane is available, Gold Plus Rewards members can utilize CLEAR biometric screening pods instead of the rental car pickup counter and use facial recognition to exit the gate in 30 seconds or less. Members also get to skip the counter at drop-off as well, using e-return services to save valuable time.

However, all of these perks add up to slightly higher costs per booking than you would pay with cost-conscious rental car competitors.

Is Hertz Gold Plus Rewards worth it?

For the right traveler, Hertz absolutely offers a competitive loyalty program. If you value convenience and ease with a number of easy ways to boost your elite status, we highly recommend that you take a look at Gold Plus Rewards.