If you are planning on renting a car from Enterprise you will likely have to make the decision of whether or not to accept rental car insurance and other protections provided by Enterprise.
Depending on the type of vehicle you are renting and on your location these protections may vary but typically you will have the choice to choose from for four or five different protections.
In this article, I will break down what these protections are and why you may choose to decline these protections.
What is Enterprise Rental Car Insurance?
Enterprise Rental Car Insurance contains a number of different protections that you can choose to purchase.
These include:
Damage waiver (DW)
Personal accident insurance (PAI)
Supplemental liability protection (SLP)
Roadside assistance protection (RAP)
Each protection will protect you from liability or loss in a different way so you’ll want to be familiar with the differences in protection before choosing to rent your vehicle.
Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
Damage waiver (DW)
Damage waiver (DW) also referred to as collision damage waiver (CDW) is what many people refer to as “rental car insurance.” It’s actually not insurance so a better term to describe it would be “rental car coverage.”
This coverage will protect you in the event of damage or theft to the vehicle.
The damage waiver will be optional and you can purchase it for an additional fee. This fee can vary dramatically based on your location and the type of vehicle.
You could be paying anywhere from $5 to $50 per day for it so it is vital that you understand how much you will be paying per day. (On average, I would expect to pay somewhere around $20 a day.)
Be on the lookout for restrictions in certain countries because you may find that coverage does not apply to places like Mexico.
The go-to card for this benefit for a lot of people is the Chase Sapphire Preferred which provides primary rental car coverage.
Primary rental car coverage is very important because it means you will not have to file a claim with your auto insurance company.
The annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Preferred is only $95 so in many cases you can completely offset the annual fee just by using the collision damage waiver once or twice.
Tip: If using a card like that, be sure to decline the coverage from the rental car company or you could void your credit card coverage!
One last thing to note, your standard auto insurance policy may not cover you for all of the fees associated with an accident. For example, if you don’t rent through a partner or obtain CDW, USAA may not cover the following:
Loss of use of the vehicle, if damaged.
Decrease in the value of the vehicle due to any damage sustained.
Administrative costs.
The right to repair or salvage the damaged vehicle.
Personal accident insurance
Personal accident insurance (PAI) provides the renter and the renter’s passengers with accidental death, accident medical expenses, and ambulance expense benefits.
So this coverage extends beyond damage or theft vehicle and actually protects you in the event you or any of your passengers are physically injured.
Once again the price for this coverage can range but typically you will be paying somewhere between $5 and $13 per day.
If your insurance provider already offers this protection then you will not need to duplicate it and you should feel free to decline it.
For example, my auto insurance via USAA covers accidents while renting vehicles so it doesn’t make sense for me to accept the protection from Enterprise.
The best way to get assurance about your coverage is to call up your car insurance company and ask about how your policy applies to rental cars.
Even better, ask them to provide you with a document outlining your coverage so that you could have something on-hand.
Supplemental liability protection provides the renter and any of the authorized drivers with up to $300,000 of combined single limit coverage for third-party liability claims.
SLP is primary to any other coverage and will respond to third party accident claims that result from bodily injury, including death, and property damage that arise from the use or operation of vehicle
So to help you distinguish this from the protections above consider the following example.
Let’s say that you drive your rental car into a steel post and really damage the vehicle but you were not injured nor was anybody else. Collision damage waiver coverage will likely protect you and you will not be liable for damage to the vehicle from the steel post.
But let’s say that when you hit that post you injured your back and had to call an ambulance to take you to the hospital. If you signed up for the personal accident insurance you should get coverage for your accidental medical expenses and ambulance expenses.
Now let’s say that you knocked over that pole and it injured someone else and now they are suing you. Well, if you have supplemental liability protection then you will be covered up to $300,000 from the third-party liability claim.
The exact way that this protection is set up is that Enterprise covers you up to the applicable minimum responsibility limit and then excess coverage kicks in from Zurich American Insurance Company.
This coverage will typically cost you between $8 and $17 per day.
Be on the lookout for some of the same restrictions such as this policy not applying in countries like Mexico.
Once again, your rental car coverage may already provide you with his protection, so be sure to check to your terms.
Roadside assistance protection is meant to help you out in situations where you have common roadside incidents such as running out of gas, or getting locked out of your vehicle. Enterprise will allow you to waive financial responsibility for these instances.
Something to note about this benefit with Enterprise is that roadside assistance can be added to a rental ticket at any time.
So if you are in the middle of your rental period you can simply call and add it to your rental ticket but you will have to have the vehicle inspected before getting the coverage added.
Some credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve offer some really great roadside assistance. So once again if you choose the right travel credit card you can turn down these additional protections and save yourself some money.
These are all optional products that you can add in order to provide you with more protection as you hit the road in your rental car.
I personally never add these to my rental car tickets because I already have coverage for these needs from my car insurance policy and/or my travel credit cards.
This has allowed me to save hundreds of dollars in fees so I would recommend looking into the right credit cards so that you don’t have to worry about adding these on to your bill.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
It is always a good idea to sign up for loyalty programs when it comes to expenses like rental cars, hotels, and airfare. There is usually no cost involved with signing up and you get to reap the rewards and get things like free rental cars and other special perks.
In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program. I’ll cover all of the membership benefits (upgrades, free rentals, etc.) you can expect to receive and also hit on other things like fees.
What is the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program?
The Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program is the official loyalty program for the Hertz rental car company. There are three different levels of the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program:
Gold
Five Star
President’s Circle
Below, I will go into detail about each of these three levels and talk about the different types of benefits that you can expect to receive with each level. I’ll also provide you with helpful links so that you can easily get all the information you might need.
Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards levels.
Hertz Gold benefits
How to qualify
There is no minimum rental required to qualify for Gold. Instead, this status level is open up to the public and all you have to do is sign-up. If you would like to sign-up and enroll, you can do that here.
Tip: Have your driver’s license and a credit card handy when signing up (even though the service is free). You will likely not be able to use a debit card to sign up.
Upgrades
There is no stated upgrade policy for Gold members but it never “hertz” to ask!
Bonus on points
There is no bonus on points when you are a Gold member. Instead, you will simply earn 1 Hertz point per dollar that you spend on qualifying rentals.
Skip the counter
As a Hertz Gold member you will be able to skip the counter when checking in for your rental car. This is a fantastic way to save time because as you might already know, sometimes the lines for check-in can be very longand move along at a snail’s pace.
Hertz Ultimate Choice
As a Hertz Gold Plus member, you’ll get access to the Hertz “Ultimate Choice” selection. What is Hertz Ultimate Choice? Well, basically, when you book a midsize class vehicle or larger at select airports, you will have access to additional vehicles based on your status so you can choose which vehicle you’d like to rent.
The higher your status, the wider selection of vehicles you can choose from. Keep in mind you only get this perk if you book mid-size or above, so economy and compact car rentals won’t qualify you for this. If you booked a class above what’s offered in Ultimate Choice (like a luxury vehicle), you can still choose from the Ultimate Choice.
As a Hertz Gold Plus Member you can enjoy a one month free trial with CLEAR. If you are not familiar, CLEAR is a great program that allows you to skip the line whether you have TSA Pre-Check or you are just entering in the standard line. All you have to do is scan your biometrics and just like that –you’re making your way through security.
For frequent travelers this is a great benefit. However, it is not very hard to get a free trial of CLEAR for a couple of months, so getting it for one month is really not that big of a deal. If you want to find out more about the CLEAR experience at the airport and check out our review here.
Note: Hertz may require you to complete one car rental in order to qualify for the trial.
Hertz E-Return
With E-Returns, you sign up for eReceipts and this just expedites the car rental drop-off process. You can do this by updating the Vehicle Preferences page of your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Profile. All you have to do is fill out the Express Return slip on your rental car agreement when you return the vehicle and then leave it along with the keys.
The return slip only asks for basic information like the return date and time, return mileage, gas levels, etc., so it only takes a few seconds to fill out.
Depending on the location you’re at and when during the day you return the vehicle, you might just leave the slip on your dashboard or you might need to deposit the slip into a return box or hand it to an agent. I suggest that you verify how you need to return the slip with a rep before you take off with your rental car. Also, if there is damage to the car make sure that you report it!
No Blackout Rewards
Thankfully all members don’t have to worry about blackout rewards if they choose AnyDay awards. Hertz offers both AnyDay Rewards and Standard Rewards. AnyDay Rewards are not subject to blackout periods and may be used during the busiest travel periods. Meanwhile, Standard Rewards are available during all but the busiest travel periods and are cheaper (require fewer points).
If you want to view the 2019 AnyDay calendar click here.
To view the 2019 International AnyDay calendar click here.
Earn with Other Brands
When you are a Gold Plus Member you can actually earn points with other programs. So for example you are able to earn frequent flyer miles with certain airlines whenever you make a qualifying rental with Hertz. You can click here to find the list of frequent flyer partners or scroll down to the bottom of the article to see them.
Transfer Points to Travel Partners
Unfortunately, you are not allowed to transfer your points to travel partners went you are a Gold member. More on this perk below.
Dedicated Call Center Line
Gold members do not get access to the dedicated call line.
A trial membership of CLEAR is one of the benefits of being a Gold member.
Hertz Five Star benefits
How to qualify
In order to qualify for Hertz Five Star, you’ll need to achieve 12 Rentals or spend $2,400.
Upgrades
You will be entitled to upgrades but only as they become available. These upgrades will be for a one-car-class upgrade and the maximum upgrade is to a full sized class vehicle with a minimum reserved compact vehicle. You can click here for data points on Hertz upgrades.
If you are curious as to what type of vehicles you might be able to rent, check out this thread which talks about all of the different types of vehicles that make up the Hertz fleet. And check out this page for details about all of the different types of vehicles.
Bonus on points
As a Five Star member, you will receive a 25% bonus on your earnings.
Skip the counter
Same as above.
Ultimate Choice
As a Five Star member, your dedicated section of Ultimate Choice vehicles will be larger than the Gold section.
E-Return
Same as above.
No Blackout Rewards
Same as above.
Earn with Other Brands
Same as above.
Transfer Points to Select Travel Partners
The nice thing about hitting Five Star is that you are allowed to transfer your points to travel partners. These partners consist of airlines, hotels, and other forms of transportation. Below are the different Hertz travel partners you can exchange your points with according to Hertz.
Airlines
Air Canada Aeroplan
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Frontier Airlines
JetBlue Airways
Southwest Airlines
Hotels
Marriott Bonvoy members
Priority Club Rewards
Other
Amtrak Guest Rewards point
A minimum balance of 600 Hertz points will be required to exchange Gold Plus Rewards Points for miles/points or credits. All redemptions must be in increments of 600 Points. Your Hertz points will be exchanged with airline miles at the following ratio 600 Points: 500 airline miles, according to the terms and conditions.
Dedicated Call Center Line
Five Star members do not get access to the dedicated call line.
President’s Circle benefits
How to qualify
In order to qualify for Hertz President’s Circle, you’ll need to achieve 20 Rentals or spend $4,000. You can also achieve this status via status match or status challenge from one of the major car rental companies like National, Enterprise, or Avis. For example, people have been able to be matched to President’s Circle by having National Executive Elite or Enterprise Platinum. Click here to find out more.
Hertz Upgrades
You will be guaranteed upgrades as a President’s Circle member. The upgrades are similar for Hertz President’s Circle but more guaranteed. Basically, you can get a confirmed upgrade with at least 48-hour advance reservation, at participating locations in the U.S. and Canada. The maximum upgrade is to a full-size class vehicle with a minimum reserved economy vehicle.
Bonus on points
As a President’s Circle member, you will receive a 50% bonus on your earnings.
Skip the counter
Same as above.
Ultimate Choice
You will have the widest selection of cars to choose from with Ultimate Choice.
E-Return
Same as above.
No Blackout Rewards
Same as above.
Earn with Other Brands
Same as above.
Transfer Points to Select Travel Partners
Same as above.
Dedicated Call Center Line
President’s Circle members do get access to the dedicated call line. This is a great number to call if you are ever faced with issues regarding your rental and don’t want to wait to speak to a rep or think that the location might not have the right understanding about benefits you’re entitled to.
Valet service
One cool perk that you get is the valet service. This is basically a terminal drive-back service that you can get at participating locations up to four times a year as a President’s Circle member.
Hertz Gold Mobile alerts
You can also sign-up for Hertz Gold Mobile alerts to get updates on your car rental and to even check for upgrades. This is a convenient app because it can actually tell you exactly which car you will be driving and where it is parked as soon it is ready (it will even give you the license plate number).
So for those of you truly on the go, this is a great feature. You can also set it up so that you get these notifications delivered to your phone as emails or text messages.
If you want to check for upgrades, you’ll need to check out the Mobile Gold Upgrades. Brace yourself for the name, but it’s known as “Hertz Carfirmation” and it will show you other available cars and upgrades and allows you to select the vehicle that you’d prefer.
Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!
Earnings Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
You will earn one Hertz Gold Plus Rewards point for every qualifying U.S. dollar spent on Hertz rentals worldwide. Hertz notes that a “qualifying rental” includes all car rentals, (excluding truck and van rentals), at participating locations in :
United States
Canada
Puerto Rico
St. Thomas USVI
United Kingdom
France
Germany
Italy
Spain
It’s not clear to me on whether or not you earn points with optional purchases since I see conflicting information. One page states that you can also earn points when you decide to purchase optional items like:
Points will not be rewarded on taxes, tax reimbursement, governmental surcharges, vehicle license fees, airport related fees, Fuel Purchase Option and refueling or other optional services
Hertz experiences
You can also earn Hertz points by booking “experiences.” These can consist of all sorts of different types of activities in different cities and you can browse them here. You should note that you will technically be booking through a third-party company (PlacePass). The prices should be competitive but it would probably still be worth comparing prices to other sources.
Purchasing Hertz points
If you’d like to purchase Hertz points, that’s a possibility, too. They will allow you to purchase up to 10,000 additional Hertz points per calendar year for 20 cents per point as long as you have a minimum balance of 500 Hertz points. Just note that the minimum purchase amount is 50 points.
Redeeming Hertz Gold Rewards (award chart)
Hertz publishes a redemption catalog that shows you how many points would be required for an award booking. The amount of points required depends on the type of vehicle that you are renting, the type of award (standard award or AnyDay award), and whether or not you’re booking a one-way award. Location can also be a factor as well, so the award chart is a little bit complex and you want to review it carefully.
Here are the award charts for daily rentals and also for weekly rentals. Keep in mind that Hertz will now allow you to use both points and cash to make your booking.
Standard US Award Chart
Standard Rewards
One-Way Standard Rewards
Compact through Premium and Hertz Green Collection
Free Rental Day (Per day, up to week days)
750
1,500
Specialty Vehicles (Luxury, MidSize SUV, Minivan and Convertible)
Free Rental Day (Per day, up to week days)
1,500
N/A
Adrenaline Collection Vehicles
Free Rental Day (Up to 4)
2,200
N/A
Prestige Collection Vehicles
Free Rental Day (Up to 4)
2,500
N/A
Dream Collection Vehicles
Tier 1
Free Rental Day (Up to 4)
5,000
N/A
Tier 2
Free Rental Day (Up to 4)
6,000
N/A
The Dream Collection vehicles are expensive but there are some pretty sweet ride that you can jump in if you have the points to do it. these include cars like:
Porsche 911
Porsche Boxster
Nissan GT-R
Porsche Cayman
Mercedes G550
Land/Range Rover
Here is the chart for Hertz weekly rentals.
Standard US Award Chart
Standard Rewards
One-Way Standard Rewards
Compact through Premium and Hertz Green Collection
Weekly Rental (Per week, up to 2)
3,750
7,500
Specialty Vehicles (Luxury, MidSize SUV, Minivan and Convertible)
Weekly Rental (Per week, up to 2)
7,500
N/A
Adrenaline Collection Vehicles
Weekly Rental (Per week, up to 2)
11,000
N/A
Prestige Collection Vehicles
Weekly Rental (Per week, up to 2)
And here is the chart for speciality rentals.
Standard US Award Chart
Standard Rewards
One-Way Standard Rewards
Specialty Vehicles (Luxury, MidSize SUV, Minivan and Convertible)
Free Rental Day (Per day, up to 4 week days)
1,500
N/A
Weekly Rental (Per week, up to 2)
7,500
N/A
How to use your points on a Hertz booking
Follow the steps below to use your points to book a Hertz rental car.
Step 1: Make a reservation on Hertz.com or use the Hertz app to book a reservation.
Step 2: Click the “Use my Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Points”
Step 3: If the booking qualifies for a reward, you will see all your options on the “review and book” page.
Step 4: Pay for the reward
If you would like additional assistance with making Hertz redemptions on the App then be sure to check out this article.
Hertz special experiences
You can also use your points for special experiences. For example, there are member-exclusive events like Wimbledon, the International Champions Cup (ICC), VIP packages, and exclusive Porsche Driving Experiences. These can be purchased with points or “won” in auctions with your points and you can find out more about those here.
Hertz Gold Plus FAQ
How long will you keep your status for?
You will keep your level of status until the end of the following year. So if you achieved Five Star status in October of 2019, you’d have that status until the end of 2020.
Can I transfer points to a partner or spouse?
You may transfer your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points to a spouse or domestic partner who is also a Gold member permanently residing at the same address as the primary renter. But you cannot transfer points for a redemption toward an airline/hotel/Amtrak account in someone else’s name. You can transfer unlimited points to a spouse or domestic partner.
If you would like to initiate a transfer, call the Hertz Rewards Desk phone number at 1-888-999-4900 (7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. CT Monday through Friday).
Do Hertz Gold Plus points expire?
Your points will not expire if you have a Hertz Gold Plus Rewards rental activity in the prior 18 months. Having “activity” just means that you earned a Gold Plus Rewards point or that you redeemed points on a rental.
Can I earn credit for past rentals?
Yes, you are eligible to earn credit for past rentals if your “qualifying rental included the correct promotion code and/or CDP number and the rental occurred in the past six months and qualified for the promotion.” If you want to request retroactive credit, follow these steps:
Log in to your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards account on hertz.com. Click “My Account,” Click “Use My Points” Click “Missing Points Request” and then complete the form.
What is the Hertz Gold Plus points cancellation policy?
If a booking is cancelled within 24 hours of booking, all points will be returned If a booking is cancelled more than 24 hours before the pickup time the following points will be forfeited: 50% for Gold Members 25% for Five Star members All points returned for President’s Circle member If the customer does not cancel the reservation prior to the time of pick-up and the rental vehicle is not picked up on the rental date, all the points used toward the rental amount will be forfeited, regardless of status.
Find out more about the standard Hertz cancellation policy here.
What are the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards fees?
There are no fees for enrolling the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program.
Is there a minimum age to join?
The minimum age to join Hertz Gold Plus Rewards is 21 according to Hertz though others report it was just lowered to 18.
Who are the Hertz frequent flyer partners?
Aegean Airlines (A3) Aeroflot Aeromexico (AM) Air China (CA) Air France (AF) Air Transat Alaska Airlines All Nippon Airways (NH) American Airlines Asia Miles (CX) Asiana Airlines (OZ) Avianca LifeMiles (AV) Caribbean Airlines (BW) China Airlines (CI) China Eastern Airlines (MU) China Southern Airlines – Sky Pearl Club (CZ) Delta Airlines El Al Israel Airlines (LY) Emirates Skywards (EK) EVA Air (BR) Finnair Plus Flying Blue Frontier Airlines Gulf Air (GF) Icelandair Japan Airlines (JL) JetPrivilege Korean Air (KE) Kuwait Airways (KU) Malaysia Airlines (MH) Marco Polo Club (CX) Middle East Airlines (ME) Miles & More Oman Air (OM) Philippine Airlines (PR) Porter Airlines (PD) Qatar Airways (QR) Royal Air Maroc – Safar Flyer Royal Brunei Airlines (BI) Royal Jordanian (RJ) SAS (SK) Saudia (SV) Sichuan Airlines (3U) Singapore Airlines (SQ) Southwest Airlines Spirit Airlines SriLankan Airlines (UL) TAP Portugal (TP) Thai Airways (TG) Turkish Airlines United Airlines Virgin Atlantic Virgin Australia (VA) Virgin Australia NZ (VA) Xiamen Air (MF)
Final word
The Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program is free to join so if you have any potential interest in renting from Hertz there is no “hurtz” in signing up (sorry, couldn’t resist). Some of the lower-tier benefits are a little weak but once you get in the mid-tier and higher-tier, you can take advantage of solid perks like upgrades and a wider car selection to choose from.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
National Emerald Club Review (Executive Benefits & Upgrades) [2020]
Having elite status with a rental car company can be extremely beneficial (if you know how to leverage it). You can take advantage of things like expedited check-in and check-out which can save you time and also get things like upgrades and discounts which will save you money.
In this article, I’m going to discuss Emerald Club which is a loyalty program for National Car Rental. I’ll cover all of the different tiers like Emerald Club, Executive, and Executive Elite, and show you can earn free car rentals and talk about things like upgrades.
What is Emerald Club?
Emerald Club is the loyalty program for National Car Rental and is made up of three different tiers:
Emerald Club
Executive
Executive Elite
You can sign-up for Emerald Club here. Be prepared to enter in your personal details and have your ID and credit card handy. You must be at least 21 years old to enroll as a Member (although you can rent cars even if you are younger).
By the way, if you’re looking to cut down on your rental car expenses, consider getting a card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. It offers an early spend bonus worth $500 in travel after meeting the minimum spend and is great to cancel out all sorts of travel expenses.
Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!
How many rentals does it take to earn status?
You can earn status by the amount of rentals or the amount of days that you rent vehicles.
Here are the requirements for the different tiers:
Emerald Club: Rent 1 to 11 times or 1 to 39 days in a calendar year
Executive: Rent 12 to 24 times or 40 to 84 days in a calendar year.
Executive Elite: Rent 25 plus times or 85 plus days in a calendar year.
How to qualify for status with National Emerald Club.
Do international rentals count?
International rentals do allow you to earn qualifying rentals for status.
The terms state that “[a] ‘qualifying vehicle rental’ is defined as the number of vehicle rentals with, or the number of days a Member rents a vehicle from (a) National rental locations in each calendar year in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, the Asia Pacific region, and/or the Latin American Caribbean.
Enterprise
You can also earn qualifying rentals for status and credits whenever you make a rental with Enterprise. You just need to make sure that you set your Enterprise account to earn points with Emerald Club. This is great because Enterprise will often offer their special weekend rates, which allow you to rent vehicles for as cheap as $13 which can allow you to earn credits much quicker for elite status.
Below are the NON-participating Enterprise location in the U.S. and Canada:
UNITED STATES: California: Arcata/Eureka Airport; Idaho: Fanning Falls Airport, Magic Valley Regional Airport; Kansas: Wichita Airport; Montana: Billings Airport; Bozeman Airport; Helena Regional Airport; Glacier Int’l Airport; Missoula Int’l Airport; South Dakota: Rapid City Regional Airport; Wisconsin: Outgamie County Airport; Austin Straubel Airport; Dane County Airport; General Mitchell Field; Wyoming: Jackson Hole Airport;
CANADA: British Columbia: Comox Valley Airport; Kamloops Airport, Kelowna Int’l Airport; North Peace Regional Airport; Ontario: Thunder Bay Int’l Airport; Saskatchewan: Regina International Airport.
Platinum Card
If you have the Platinum Card from American Express, you can automatically get the Executive status — read more about the Platinum Card rental car benefits here.
Status match
You can also look into doing a status match to earn Emerald Club elite tiers. You’ll need to show proof of matching status by sending them a copy of your monthly statement or a copy of your membership card showing your name, current elite status and your status expiration date.
The match is valid through February 28 of the second calendar year following the member’s status match approval.
How to earn rental credits for Emerald Club
Rental credits are your keys for earning free rentals. You will earn one rental credit for your first seven days and then one credit after that for every car rental period that spans four days.
So, for example, if you have a car rental that is from one to seven days, you will only earn one rental credit. If you have a car rental that lasts between eight and 11 days you will earn two rental credits. The trend continues on with you earning one rental credit for every four day period as shown in the chart below.
How to earn free rental credits.
Note: Consecutive, multiple or overlapping rentals in the same rental location do not qualify as additional consecutive days for purposes of receiving additional rental credits.
Also, for international rentals the terms state that “participating locations in Europe, Australia, the Asia Pacific region and the Latin American Caribbean, Members will receive one rental credit for each Qualifying Vehicle Rental of up to seven (7) consecutive days,” so be aware that some international destinations might not allow you to earn rental credits.
Emerald Club Free Days
Once you have earned rental credits, then you can start using them for free rentals (known as “Free Days”). As described below, each tier will require a different number of rental credits for a Free Day. Also note that the higher the tier, the more options you have for the different types of vehicles that you can rent.
Some other things you want to know about Free Days include the following:
Free Days can only be used on reservation requests at participating rental locations in the:
U.S.
Canada
Australia
the Asia Pacific region
the Latin American Caribbean
(and, in Europe, for National Car rental brand reservations serviced by Enterprise)
Free Days do not qualify for rental credits but will qualify toward membership levels.
Use to cover up to seven days
Free Days are combinable up to seven consecutive days maximum on one rental
Partial payment
Members entitled to a Free Day for a given class of vehicle may use the Free Day as partial payment for a more expensive vehicle class.
Transferability
Rental credits are non-transferable but Free Days are transferable to immediate family members
Members may transfer up to three Free Days per calendar year
Expiration
Rental credits remain valid so long as the Member retains membership in the Program.
Free Days will expire on December 31 of the year following the year in which they were earned or immediately upon cancellation or termination of membership in the Program.
Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
Emerald Club
Emerald Club is the bottom tier status so it has the slowest pace for earning free rentals. With this tier, you’ll earn 1 rental credit for every qualified car rental. One Free Rental Day = 7 credits.
As an Emerald Club member, you’ll be able to choose any car on the Emerald Aisle and only pay the Midsize rate (in US and Canada). The Emerald Aisle is similar to the Executive Area discussed below but it will usually have smaller vehicles that aren’t quite as nice.
As a basic member, you will also be eligible to receive some additional key benefits. For example, you can avoid second driver fees when family members and business associates do the driving. You can also get expedited services when renting in Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Executive
With Executive you’ll earn 1 rental credit for every qualified car rental. One Free Rental Day = 6 credits.
Upgrades
In the US and Canada you’re always guaranteed a free upgrade when you reserve using the Midsize rate.
According to Flyteralk, some upgrades can work a little funny. For example, instead of bumping you to a higher car you are simply charged for the class beneath the class you booked. This suggests that if you were hoping to get bumped from a mid-size to a full-size, you’d want to reserve a full-size and you should be charged for the mid-size.
My advice: I’d call into the specific rental car center I was planning on renting from first to verify how their upgrade policy works in practice for Executive members.
Executive Area
As an Executive member, you can choose any car in the Executive Area and only pay the Midsize rate. Not all National Rental Car locations will have an Executive Area and/or Emerald Aisle (these less-equipped establishments are called “Counter” locations) but for those that do have the aisles you should be able to choose any vehicle within those areas.
If you’re wondering what you can expect to find in these aisles for upgrades, I highly suggest that you check data points if you’re visiting an airport. For example, here’s a recent datapoint for Houston (IAH).
Saturday at 615 pm
A good variety but mostly uninteresting cars on the executive aisle.
Several full ill size trucks. Several dodge journeys 1 maxima a couple challengers 1 fashion hybrid 1 edge 1 equinox a few Santa fes 1 Mitsubishi outlander a couple muranos a few rogues several altimas a few of the large Kia suvs 3x 2 door wranglers
It will take a little bit of time to locate your airport and scroll through some of the data points but those threads can give you some insight into what type of vehicles you can expect to find.
You can also enjoy exclusive pricing when you upgrade to Premier Selection at the rental lot (in the US and Canada).
Executive Elite
Earn 1 rental credit for every qualified car rental. Free Rental Day = 5 credits (any car class with no blackout dates).
You’ll get the same upgrade perks as Executive. You also get some additional perks which include:
A guaranteed car (up to Fullsize) with 24-hour notice when you reserve using the Midsize rate (in US and Canada).
A car waiting at most private airports within 50 miles of us (in US and Canada).
Final word
Overall, I like the National Executive Club because it you can jump start your status with the Amex Platinum Card and start off with access to the Executive Area. It’s also not very difficult to earn free days with the higher tier statuses and they provide you with some pretty decent options for redeeming those free rentals as well as the ability to transfer those to others.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
The Enterprise cancellation policy is pretty straightforward but it’s also not as potentially generous as some other rental car companies. In this article, I’ll break down everything you need to know about the Enterprise cancellation policy including all of the fees and what you need to know about the different rates.
What is the Enterprise cancellation policy?
The cancellation policy for Enterprise depends on the type of rental that you booked (pre-paid vs pay later) and also on your location. As long as you cancel more than 24 hours before your pick up, you will be charged a $50 cancellation fee for pre-paid bookings made in the US.
Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!
Here are all of the cancellation policy details:
“Pay Later” reservations
If you did not pre-pay for your rental car reservation, you will not be responsible for a cancellation fee, regardless of the location that you booked your car rental in. This is even the case if you are a no-show although you should give notice to the rental car location as a matter of courtesy.
Prepaid bookings in North America
If you prepaid for your booking made in North America through the Enterprise website or through the app, you’ll be subject to the following cancellation fees:
Over 24 hours prior to pick up
If you cancel your booking more than 1 day (24 Hours) before your specified pick-up time, you will receive a full refund minus a cancellation fee of USD $50 / CAD $65.
There is no mention of limiting the cancellation fee to the value of the daily rate for your rental.
So if your daily rental rate was $39, your cancellation fee will still be $50 based on the language found above. This is in contrast to other rental car companies that may limit your cancellation fee to the amount of the daily rate.
The other interesting thing about Enterprise is that it does not state anything about canceling within 24 hours of booking for a full refund and no fee. For example, Hertz allows you to cancel for a full refund and no cancellation fee as long as you do so within 24 hours of booking.
Less than one day before pick up
If you cancel your booking less than 1 day (24 Hours) before your specified pick-up time, you will receive a full refund minus a cancellation fee of USD $100 / CAD $135.
If you end up purchasing a prepaid booking, I would highly recommend that you put it on a great travel credit card that has solid travel insurance. That way, if something comes up and you are unable to make the trip, you can get refunded any potential cancellation fees.
Prepaid bookings in Europe
If you pre-paid for your booking made in Europe through the Enterprise website or through the app, you’ll be subject to the following cancellation policies:
Canceling seven days ahead of time
If you cancel your reservation seven days ahead of time, you will not be charged a cancellation fee.
Canceling less than seven days but 24 hours prior to pick-up
If you cancel your booking less than seven days ahead of time but at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled pick up time, you will be refunded the booking amount minus a “small cancellation fee.” You can call 1(855) 266-9289 to find out the exact cancellation fee.
Canceling less than 24 hours prior to pick up
If you fail to cancel your booking less than 24 hours prior to your pick up time, you will not be able to collect a refund.
If you simply failed to show up to pick up your rental car, you will receive a full refund minus a no show fee of USD $100 / CAD $135. So basically, the no-show policy is the same as the failure to cancel within 24 hours fee.
I would always verify what the no-show policy fee is prior to just assuming it is $100 in every location around the world. Fees like this tend to change in different countries over time and you don’t want to be caught off guard.
How do I know which cancellation policy applies to my booking?
As you search for rental cars on the Enterprise website or app, you will clearly see what type of booking you are making. By default, you will probably see “Pay Later” options.
But the easiest way to know if you booked a prepaid or pay later option is if it asks you to input credit card details. If you are able to complete your booking without being forced to input credit card details, then you just booked a pay later option.
By the way, you may want to make your booking with a credit card that has primary rental car insurance so that you can avoid paying extra to the rental car companies for a collision damage waiver (CDW).
Coronavirus update
Enterprise temporarily changed the cancellation policy for prepaid rentals due to coronavirus. Customers will now be able to cancel prepaid bookings for no fee. This temporary policy is still in effect as of the fall of 2020.
This only applies to prepaid rentals booked directly through Enterprise. If you booked through a third-party then you will be subject to the third party’s policy. They might still be lenient due to the impact of coronavirus but you will need to go through them to sort it out.
Enterprise is also changing up how they handle car rentals and the cleaning process. For example, they have implemented curbside rentals and even delivery at select car rental locations. Also, they upgraded and enhanced their cleaning procedures for points of high contact. You can find out more details here.
Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
In order to retrieve your rental, you will need to input information including:
Confirmation number
First name
Last name
You can easily find your confirmation number by searching through your emails. You should have an email from “No-Reply@enterprise.com” and you can also search for the text “YOUR RESERVATION IS CONFIRMED.”
You will see your confirmation at the top of the email.
Finding your confirmation number is easy via email.
Once you have your confirmation number, simply enter it into the link above along with your name.
You then we’ll see a screen with your rental car itinerary details. Find the particular reservation you need to cancel and then click on “VIEW DETAILS, MODIFY OR CANCEL.”
Locate your reservation and click this button to proceed with canceling.
On the next screen, you’ll clearly see the button to cancel your reservation and all you have to do is click that and confirm and your booking will be canceled.
The final step of the cancellation process.
Enterprise cancellation policy FAQ
Can I extend my rental?
Yes, Enterprise will allow you to extend your rental. However you need to contact the location where you picked up the rental car first. Alternatively, you can call customer service at 1-855-266-9565 to extend your reservation.
What if I booked through a third-party?
If you made your Enterprise Rent-A-Car booking through a third-party, such as an online travel agency like Expedia, you will likely need to contact that third-party to process your cancellation.
Final word
Enterprise has a pretty straightforward cancellation policy.
Unlike some other rental car companies that base the cancellation fee in part on the cost of your vehicle, the fees are flat with Enterprise which makes it much easier to understand.
The drawback is that if your rental car price is under $100 and you have to cancel within 24 hours, your cancellation fees with Enterprise will be higher than they would be with a program like Hertz.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
Hertz Cancellation Policy (Pay Now vs Pay Later Fees) [2020]
I am always surprised to meet people who make travel bookings without ever taking a glance at the cancellation policy.
Generally, when it comes to travel you are dealing with two types of cancellation policies: prepaid bookings (“Pay Now”) that force you to pay a fee to cancel and the “Pay Later” bookings that allow you more flexibility.
In this article, I will breakdown the Hertz cancellation policy and explain all of the potential fees you might have to pay and how you can avoid them by cancelling at the right time.
What is the Hertz cancellation policy?
The cancellation policy for Hertz depends on the type of rental that you booked (pay now vs. pay later). As long as you cancel and are not a no show, you will not be responsible for the entire price of a prepaid booking and instead will only have to pay a cancellation fee. The amount of that fee just depends on when you cancel and I will go into detail about those fees below.
Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!
Coronavirus update
Hertz will be waiving cancellation fees for “restricted” travel areas.
If you made a pre-paid Hertz rental booking before March 13, 2020, you can have that reservation credited for a reservation up to 24 months. You will be allowed up to two changes before the scheduled pick up and if the modifications result in changes to the old amount, the difference will be charged or credited to your credit card.
If you have questions about your individual booking, contact Customer Care at 800-654-3131.
Hertz prepaid bookings
Hertz prepaid bookings are attractive because you can take advantage of the prepaid booking discount and save some money on your car rental. For example, I pulled up a sample booking and for the prepaid Pay Now booking I was asked to pay $70.12 and for the Pay Later I was asked to pay $87.65.
So by going with a prepaid booking I would have been able to save about $17 per day. These savings do come at the cost of a less flexible cancellation policy which I will break down in detail below.
Going with the Pay Now option will save you money.
Hertz prepaid (Pay Now) cancellation fees
Cancelling 24 hours within booking
If you cancel your Hertz booking before 24 hours after your booking and your pick-up time has not occurred yet then you can cancel the booking for no penalty.
This is very similar to how airlines allow you to cancel for no fee within a 24 hour window. As long as your pick up time is more than 24 hours out you can always take advantage of this. However, if you wait longer than 24 hours then you will have to pay certain fees depending on when you cancel.
Cancelling 24 hours before pick up time
If you cancel your Hertz booking 24 hours or more before pick up time, you will have to pay a $50 cancellation fee.
So if your trip was still a month away and you canceled later than 24 hours after booking, you would be subject to this $50 cancellation fee.
Canceling after 24 hours will result in a hefty cancellation fee.
If the daily rate for your rental is lower than $50 then that will be your cancellation fee. For example, I found a booking for $45.73 per day and the cancellation fee was that same amount because the daily rate is lower than $50.
Cancellation fees will match the daily rate if the rate is below $50.
Cancelling within 24 hours before the pick up time
If you cancel your Hertz booking within 24 hours before the pick up time then you will have to pay the day rate of the rental
So if you had a rental scheduled for noon the next day and you cancel at 9 PM the night before then you will likely have to pay the day rate of the rental. So if the daily rental rate is $90, you’ll be stuck with a $90 cancellation fee.
Again, if the daily rate is $50 or below, then this cancellation fee will be the same as the fee above.
No-show
If you end up simply not showing up to pick up your rental car, then you will have to pay the entire rental fee. So it is always recommended that you simply call in to cancel to avoid the high fees of a no-show.
Also, if you choose to end your rental short you will likely have to pay for the full amount. So for example if you booked a five day rental and only used it for three days you would still likely have to pay for the last two days if you had a prepaid booking.
Exceptions
In some cases you can get the cancellation fee waived, such as when someone traveling with you is sick and you’re unable to take the trip with the car. In cases like that, simply contact Hertz and inquire about getting the fees waived (you might need to show documentation in some cases).
If you end up making changes to your prepaid bookings then you will be responsible for the difference in price between your old booking and the new booking.
Possible changes that could incur a fee include changes to:
Drop off location
Pick up date and time
Drop off time and date
Vehicle group
Airline and flight number
NeverLost
Child seats
All other additional products
You can make these changes online or simply by calling in. If you are trying to monitor the price of a rental car then I would recommend you to look into this website. You will be able to track the price of your booking and get alerts if there is a price drop.
Tip: Something else to be aware of when it comes to prepaid bookings is that you need to have the credit card information and driver match at the time of rental. If you show up with a renter whose name is not on that credit card then you may not be able to take advantage of the special savings for a prepaid booking.
Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
Hertz Pay Later cancellation fees (pay at the counter)
There are no cancellation fees for Pay Later bookings with Hertz.
This means that you can make a car rental booking and never even show up and you should not be charged anything (they probably won’t even have your credit card information). With that said, they do request for you to cancel at least one day prior to the trip to help free up inventory for other customers.
Some people have reported that a pop-up window has showed up when they try to make a Pay Later looking and that the pop up window shows some cancellation fees (which are sometimes cheaper than the standard Pay Now cancellation fees).
This could be more common in high demand time frames or perhaps when dealing with higher end vehicles. It also could be more common in other destinations such as Europe. For example one person received the following message upon making a Pay Later booking:
NO SHOWS / LOST RENTALS – If you pay at location, fail to cancel your reservation and do not collect the vehicle on the pick up date, we reserve the right to make a No Show / Lost Rental Charge of EUR 65.00, GBP 65.00 (or the equivalent in the destination currency, exclusive of VAT) which recovers our administration costs. This will be taken from the credit card you used to make your booking. Currently applicable only to rentals in Europe and where the reservation for that rental was also made in Europe or in the United States.
So keep an eye out for that just in case.
Hertz customer service phone number
If you have any questions about the cancellation policy, you can always contact Hertz customer service at this phone number: 1(800)654-4173.
Hertz Gold Members
According to a Hertz agent I spoke with, Hertz Gold members don’t get any special benefits regarding cancellation. However, if you have status with Hertz it wouldn’t hurt to ask to get the cancellation fees waived because you never know what they might do.
If you are planning on making a car rental with Hertz then you should look into their loyalty program and sign up for it.
Hertz states, “Hertz Gold Plus Rewards numbers cannot be added to an existing reservation online.” So you will want to add your Hertz Gold number at the time of booking for your convenience (they can probably do it via phone).
With Hertz Gold status, you might be able to take advantage of some perks like special upgrades and better selection of vehicles.
For example, here are some of the benefits offered by the top-tier status:
Confirmed vehicle availability of Standard Equipment Economy through Full-Size 4 door vehicles in the U.S. and Canada with a minimum 48 hour advance reservation.
Confirmed vehicle one-car-class upgrade available at all participating locations in the U.S., Canada and select European locations.
25% bonus on Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Points.
675 Rewards Points after every 15 qualifying rentals.
Cancellation fees for rental cars are not nearly as strict as they are for hotels and airfare. With both of those type of bookings you can be forced to cover the entire cost of the ticket or booking if you choose to cancel a prepaid booking. Luckily with the rental car company Hertz you can avoid the fee entirely or simply pay a small amount when you cancel.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
Avis Preferred (Elite Status) Guide [2020]
Elite status programs for rental car programs don’t get quite as much attention as those programs for hotels and airlines. However, they can still add a lot of value to your travel experiences if you know what benefits you are entitled to.
In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Avis Preferred. I’ll cover things like how to qualify, the bonus earning rates, and the key benefits to be on the lookout for.
What is it Avis Preferred?
Avis Preferred is the official elite status loyalty program of the rental car company Avis.
Avis Preferred levels
Avis Preferred has two official (named) elite levels although technically there are three elite levels. Here are the Avis Preferred levels and qualification requirements:
Preferred
Preferred Plus (I)
Preferred Plus (II)
Rentals
Automatic
12 rentals
25 rentals
Money spent
N/A
$5,000
$7,000
Avis Preferred elite status requirements.
In addition to these levels, there are also two invitation-only levels. These levels do not have published requirements but I’ll cover those further below.
Avis Preferred
Avis Preferred is the basic elite level that is open to the public. All you have to do to obtain this elite level is simply enroll.
You can also get set up with this by getting it via the American Express Platinum Card. In addition to car rental benefits, the Platinum Card has some of the most valuable credit card benefits on the market including lounge access, hotel elite status, and special bonus category earnings.
Tip: Check out the free app WalletFlo so that you can optimize your credit card spend by seeing the best card to use! You can also track credits, annual fees, and get notifications when you’re eligible for the best cards!
Avis Preferred Plus
Avis Preferred Plus is the first true elite level status of Avis. There are essentially two different levels of Avis Preferred Plus.
The bottom level is obtained after 12 rentals or after spending $5,000. Meanwhile the top level is obtained after 25 rentals or spending $7,000.
You can also get Avis Preferred Plus by having the FoundersCard.
To be eligible, you must be 25 years old or over and reside in the US, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, or Canada.
Earning Avis points
The amount of points that you will earn depends on the level of elite status that you have.
Preferred
Preferred Plus
Preferred Plus
Rentals
1 point
1.25 points
1.5 points
Accessories
2 points
2.5 points
3 points
Avis Preferred elite status levels.
Accessory purchases include all of those additional add-ons you can select when making a rental car purchase.
These include purchases like satellite radio, GPS, child safety seats, and roadside assistance.
You don’t earn points for taxes, fees, or surcharges.
Every rental will earn a minimum of 100 points and sometimes you can earn additional bonus points if you rent within the first three months of joining the program.
Expiration
Your points will be valid for 60 months from when they were earned. This means that you have 60 months to redeem your points but they can be canceled for inactivity if you go inactive for a 12 month period.
Inactivity includes things like not earning/redeeming any points, not completing an eligible rental, or canceling an account.
Boosting your points on rental car purchases
I would advise to use a great travel rewards card that earns a high bonus rate on travel expenses and that has solid travel perks like primary rental car insurance when booking a rental car.
You might want to look into cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred which has primary rental car coverage or a card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve which has rental car coverage but also earns 3X on travel.
Avis Preferred Award chart
The Avis award chart has four different levels to it and the redemption rates roughly correspond to the cash prices of the rentals.
Reward Day Level
Points Per Day
Standard Daily Rate
Level 1
700
Up to $50
Level 2
1400
$50.01 – $85
Level 3
2100
$85.01 – $125
Level 4
3500
$125.01 – $225
So if you are a basic member, you can expect it to take you about $700 in spend to get a free rental car day. That’s assuming that you redeem at the cheapest level.
If you utilize the upper range of the standard daily rates to calculate the value of your points, then the estimated point value would be around the following:
Level 1: 7.1
Level 2: 6.0
Level 3: 5.9
Level 4: 6.4
It’s worth pointing out that sometimes you can find Avis worldwide discounts, coupon codes, and special rates or other offers with cheaper standard daily rates.
Redemptions for accessories begin at 250 points each per day.
As a Preferred member, you can often get expedited service which allows you to go straight to your vehicle upon arriving at the rental car location. Look for the special signs designated for Avis Preferred customers when you arrive at the rental car station.
Enrolling also gives you the privilege to earn Avis preferred points for every qualifying dollar that you spend.
You can also save your rental preferences so that the next time you make a reservation, the process will be much quicker and more efficient.
Avis Preferred Plus
As an Avis Preferred Plus member, you will receive all of the benefits above such as skipping the counter but you will also receive some additional perks.
Complimentary upgrades
One of the most important benefits to any loyalty program is the upgrade potential.
As an Avis Preferred Plus member you will be eligible for upgrades whenever they are available. These upgrades will be a one class upgrade (the Avis signature series fleet is not included).
Although the terms limit you to a one class upgrade, it is sometimes possible to receive an upgrade of more than simply one class.
Other times, you may be offered an upgrade to higher classes but may be asked to pay a fee for the upgrade.
Here is a look at some of the different types of classes you can rent along with an example of the type of vehicle that belongs to that class.
Economy: Ford Fiesta
Compact: Ford Focus
Intermediate: Toyota Corolla
Standard: Volkswagen Jetta
Full-size: Ford Fusion
Premium: Chevrolet Impala
Luxury: Chrysler 300
Convertible: Ford Mustang Convertible
Intermediate SUV: Ford Escape
Standard elite SUV: Ford Explorer
Full size SUV: Chevrolet Tahoe
Standard SUV: Ford Edge
Premium SUV: Chevrolet Suburban
Passenger van: Ford Transit 12 Passenger
Midsize pick up: Nissan Frontier
Minivan: Chrysler Pacifica
Standard sport: Ford Mustang Coupe
Avis select series: Chevrolet Corvette Coupe
Full-size hybrid: Toyota Prius (Hybrid)
Standard recreational vehicle: Jeep Wrangler 4-Door
Standard elite coupe: Dodge Charger R/T
Full-size pick up: Ford F150 Crew
If you would like to see some real world data points of upgrades then check out this thread here.
Increased earning rates
As shown above in the chart, you could be receiving an additional 25% to 50% more points for every dollar you spend depending on the level of Preferred Plus that you obtain. If you are earning 1.5 points per dollar spent, you only need to spend about $466 to earn enough points for the lowest redemption level of 700 points.
Avis Preferred Plus phone number
You’ll also have a special Avis Preferred Plus phone number to use for reservations in customer service support. Sometimes the standard lines and waiting times can be pretty long so this can be a great timesaver.
The Avis Preferred Plus phone number is: 1-800-331-1200.
Monthly email offers
Finally, you may also receive monthly email offers with potential discounts and other benefits for your car rentals.
Meet-and-greet service: Whenever you fly into a major US or Canadian airport, and Avis representative will meet you and help escort you to your vehicle.
Personal Return Valet Service: When you return to the airport, an Avis representative will help escort you to your departure terminal.
Guaranteed vehicle availability: Avis will always have a vehicle available for you even if you do not have a reservation.
Complimentary Upgrade: When you reserve an intermediate vehicle (group C) or larger, you’ll automatically receive a complimentary upgrade to the best available car.
Complimentary Car Delivery: You can have a car delivered to you anywhere within 25 miles of a participating Avis location in the US or in Canada.
Avis Chairman’s Club line: You can get dedicated service 24/7 by calling the Avis Chairman’s Club phone number at 1-800-272-5841
Spousal/Significant other benefits: Your partner can pick up the vehicle on your behalf and receive the same benefits.
Avis Preferred FAQ
How can I earn Avis Preferred Plus?
You can earn Avis Preferred Plus by obtaining 12 rentals or after spending $5,000.
How many points do I earn per dollar spent?
As an Avis Preferred member you will earn one point per dollar spent but as an Avis Preferred Plus member you will earn 1.5 points per dollar spent.
How many points are needed for a car rental?
Redemptions for car rentals start at 700 points and they go all the way up to 3,500 points.
What kind of upgrades does Avis Preferred Plus get?
Avis Preferred Plus will receive complimentary one class car upgrades when available.
Do I get cancellation benefits with Avis Preferred Plus?
No, your cancellation policy will always depend on the type of booking you made (pre-paid vs pay later).
Does Avis have a co-branded credit card?
No, Avis does not have a co-branded credit card which is why it is good to use a credit card that earns bonus points on travel when booking (and that has primary rental car insurance).
Final word
The Avis loyalty program is pretty simple. You can get some nice upgrades and also increase your earning potential by obtaining elite status with Avis. And if you are a frequent customer, you might even get invited to one of the top levels of status.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
How to Get an International Driving Permit (AAA/AATA Application) [2020]
Are you preparing for an international trip where you want to hit the road and explore? Taking road trips through foreign countries is one of the best ways to explore and is simply exhilarating at times. However, before anyone ever hands you over keys to your rental car, you might need to have an international driving permit.
In this article, I will explain the process for obtaining an international driving permit and give you some details about my own personal experience with getting an international driving permit. I’ll go over the requirements for getting a driving permit with AAA and AATA, and I’ll also show you a list of countries that honor these international driving permits along with some tips for renting cars in foreign countries.
What is an international driving permit?
An international driving permit is a special permit that allows you to legally drive and rent vehicles in many different countries around the world — it is most often used in conjunction with your US license.
It is also a recognizable form of identification which can help you communicate with foreign authorities. Personally, I like to have my passport on hand at all times. However, some people don’t like to carry their passports around and an international driving permit could be a great alternative form of identification.
Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!
Why do I need an international driving permit?
The reasons for needing an international driving permit could vary.
For example, some countries require you to have a local translation of your license in which case an international driving permit will provide them with that — it translates your identification information into 10 languages (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, German, Arabic, Italian, Swedish and Portuguese).
Other countries require you to have an international driving permit if you want to rent a vehicle. And some countries will only acknowledge an international driving permit and will not allow your US driver’s license to carry any weight.
By getting an international driving permit, you have a solution to avoid all of these issues if and when they arise.
Driving through New Zealand.
Does it provide rental car insurance?
Getting an international driving permit will not provide you with any type of car insurance. For those looking to get coverage for rental car accidents, I highly recommend going with a credit card that offers primary rental car coverage.
If you don’t go the credit card route, then you should look into signing up for rental car coverage whenever you rent a vehicle. Your auto insurance may also have options for coverage when renting vehicles at home and abroad so you should also look into those.
Driving a rental car in Jamaica.
How to get an international driving permit
If you have a US driver’s license, there are two ways for you to get an international driving permit.
You can get them issued by the American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) — these are the only two entities authorized by the U.S. Department of State to issue international driving permits.
In this article, I will focus mostly on the AAA route because that is what I have experience with and I think a lot of people are more familiar with AAA. Also, with AAA you can get your international driving permit much quicker because you can visit an AAA office and walk out with it that same day.
Note that it is currently not possible to process your application online for any of these organizations.
AAA international driving permit application form
To get an AAA international driving permit this is all you will need to do:
Download and fill out an application and bring it (or mail it) to your nearest AAA branch office.
Provide two original passport-type pictures.
Provide a valid U.S. driver’s license.
Pay the $20 USD permit fee
If you are looking for AAA branch offices you can find locations here. If you would like to mail in your application you can mail your application to your nearest AAA branch office or to headquarters at this address:
On the application, you will just need to provide some basic information, such as your name, address, email address, and phone number. You will also need to select the type of permit that you are applying for, which is the international driving permit.
And then you will need to check the box for the type of vehicle that you are registering. This is the same type of vehicle that you have a current US driver’s license for.
Here are some other things to note:
Your U.S. driver’s license must be valid for at least 6 months past the issuance date of the ID.
You will need to attach two passport-type photographs with your signature on the back.
If mailing in your application, you’ll need to send in a photocopy of both sides of your U.S. Driver’s License along with your completed signed application, and check or money order only.
The international driving permit must come into effect within six months of your application.
If you are paying in branch the acceptable forms of payment could be check, cash, or credit card. Not every branch will accept all of those payment methods though so my advice would be to call ahead and verify what forms of payment are excepted at that particular branch. Some branches might even be able to take your passport photo for you so you can inquire about that as well.
Expiration
The permit will be valid for one year and will only be valid in conjunction with a current US driver’s license. So if your driver’s license expires in eight months then your international driving permit will no longer be valid after eight months.
This is why I recommend not getting an international driving permit until you have firm travel plans.
Some rental car companies can be very strict about the expiration requirement so don’t assume that you will be able to get by if your US driver’s license expired. We once had a rental car company try to refuse us our rental car because he stated that our driver’s license was expired. It turns out that he was just reading the date wrong because he was not accustomed to US dates with the month-date-year format.
AAA international driving permit application form.
How long does it take to process?
If you’re going into an AAA office to get your international driving permit, then you can walk out that same day with your permit. This is why I recommend going the AAA route because it is just simply much quicker and convenient.
If you mailed your application, then it could take a few weeks to get your international drivers permit. If you are in a time crunch, then you might want to consider expediting your shipping which is possible but you will have to pay the expediting fees.
American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)
If you would like to process your international driving permit with American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) this is what you will need:
Signed photocopy of the front and back of your valid US driver’s license
Payment which can be check or money order (the fee is $20)
Mail your completed IDP application package to:
American Automobile Touring Alliance
P.O. Box 24980
San Jose, CA 95154
Since you cannot visit an office branch you will need to pay the shipping costs as well. Shipping for a normal domestic application is $11 and $35 for an expedited shipping. If you need your application shipped internationally that will cost you $85. Another thing I like about the AAA application is that you don’t have to pay for shipping to get your license unless you want it expedited.
American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) form.
What countries honor international driving permits?
Here is the list of countries that will likely honor the international driving permit. Note that these are subject to change and these are not necessarily countries that will require a permit.
(To find out which countries require a permit, I recommend you doing up-to-date online research since things are always changing and when in doubt just get the permit).
Afghanistan
Albania Algeria Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia
Botswana
Brazil (Inter-American Driving Permit only)
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina
Faso (was upper Volta)
Cambodia (was Kampuchea)
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde Islands
Cayman Islands
Central African Rep. Chad
Chile
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Rep. of (Brazzaville) Congo
Dem. Rep. of (Kinshasa)
Costa Rica
Cote d´Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Croatia
Cuba
Curacao
Cyprus
Czech Rep. Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Domincan Rep.
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Estonia
Fiji
Finland
France (including French overseas territories)
French Polynesia
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Herzegovina
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea (Rep.)
Kuwait
Kyrgystan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Mali
Malta
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
San Marino
Sao Tome & Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Uruguay (Inter-American Driving Permit only)
Uzbekistan
Vatican City (Holy See)
Venezuela
Vietnam
Western Samoa
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Some countries may require registration fees and be subject to other limitations. Always do research to make sure that you’re getting the most up-to-date information.
Rental car in Norway under the northern lights.
Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!
What if I am already overseas?
If you are already overseas you can still obtain an international driving permit. You can mail your completed application to the following office and address:
Note that it will likely take longer for this type of permit to process. AAA states to allow 4-6 weeks for return mail unless additional postage for express mail service is included with the application. You can read more here.
Scams
Unfortunately, there are a lot of scammers out there who are trying to sell international driving permits. Some of these are outright scams where you will not receive any kind of valid license or permit.
Others out there will charge exorbitant fees for processing your application. That’s why I would stick with just trying to get your permit through AAA or AATA because I think that is the easiest route to go.
9 Tips for renting cars in foreign countries
We really like to go for drives whenever we travel and we have rented cars in a lot of different countries. Along the way we have learned a few things and I’ll share some of those tips here.
Research the level of madness to expect
I would never rent a vehicle in another country without first researching what the “road experience” might entail. Some countries like Jamaica for example are unexpectedly pretty wild on the road.
The last thing you want to do is be in over your head with a rental vehicle so try do so some research and ask around in forums to determine the level madness that you might expect in the streets. If you want to check out what countries have the most dangerous roads due to traffic accidents, check out this map here.
Try to avoid driving in small historic towns
There are a lots of beautiful historic villages in the world and many of them are best explored on foot. Some places that we have explored that would fall in this category are Toledo, Spain or Old Town Lisbon, Portugal.
These type of places can be very stressful to try to drive through with their super narrow and winding roads. Thus, I would try to avoid driving in these type of historic places and just explore them on your feet.
Have multiple GPS systems
When you are driving through a foreign country in a new city I recommend that you have multiple GPS systems. Typically, we get a rental car with GPS in the car but we also rely on phones/apps. One of my favorite apps is called Maps.me and of course Waze.
Sometimes one of the GPS systems goes haywire and we have to rely on the other one to navigate. Having both of them running at the same time often makes it much less stressful to get where we need to go when one fails.
Research parking (before you head out)
Parking can be a major issue when traveling abroad. In fact, a lot of times finding a parking spot can be 10 times more stressful than actually driving in the country. Thus, before you go to any heavily visited spot or even a secluded beach, you should do research on what the parking experience would be like.
If you can’t find any reviews in blogs or forums, then try to take a look at Google Maps and see if you can visualize potential parking spots. The more open you are to walking a little bit of distance, the easier it will usually be to find a reliable parking spot.
Also, don’t assume the parking machines/meters will be in English!
Which side of the road? (Don’t under-estimate)
Obviously, you need to know which side of the road to drive on before you embark on your road trip. I have to be honest, I have tried to drive on the other side of the road but it is very difficult for me especially when it comes to things like busy roundabouts. My brain starts to play tricks on me and it is just a really uncomfortable experience.
Luckily, my husband is a fantastic driver and we lived abroad in the UK for a while and driving on the other side of the road became second nature for him. In fact, it was never really difficult for him at all.
I bring this up only to say that if you have never driven on the other side of the road don’t under-estimate how difficult it might be. You might be like my husband and not have issues or it might be very difficult — just have a back up plan and try to rent an automatic vehicle to make things easier.
Here is a map of which side of the road people drive on.
You need to be aware of whether or not you’re going to hit any tolls. Some countries will allow you to rent a car with a transponder in the car that registers each time you pass through a tollbooth. This allows your credit card to be automatically charged or for a bill to be sent to you.
I recommend always trying to go this route because it is just much easier as some countries have some very tedious processes for toll charges. Try to do your best research to make sure that you’re not getting overcharged, though.
Don’t get caught on camera
Some countries use cameras to catch perpetrators in the act of speeding or violating other traffic laws. Don’t assume that you would not be caught just because you are on a highway with nobody around. Always act as if you might be getting monitored by some sort of camera system and just drive extra cautious.
Checkpoints
Some countries have checkpoints located at or near borders for just throughout their country. Try to remain calm when making your way to these checkpoints and always have your passport and license and international driving permit easily retrievable so that you can breeze through these checkpoints. It also helps if you have a sheet printed out with the name and address of where you are staying and your departure and arrival dates.
Scour your vehicle before you return it
On a recent trip to New Zealand, I left my wallet in a rental car, and it did not occur to me that my wallet was still in the car until it was close for our departure time and so I was not able to run back and retrieve it. I ended up having to wait many many weeks for my wallet to arrive in the mail, so leaving things in your vehicle can take a long time to get back.
Thus, I recommend that you do a complete sweep of the vehicle before you return it. Double and triple check that you have all of your necessary documents like your passport, international driving permit, and wallet. And check things like the middle console and the glove compartment so that you do not leave anything behind.
Final word
I hope that the advice in this article will help you to easily obtain your international driving permit. It really is a pretty straightforward process to get the permit, and it just makes things much easier whenever you are trying to rent vehicles abroad. Also consider the tips that I have offered at the end of this article to make your next rental car experience much smoother.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
Guide to Rental Car Age Requirements (Under 25 & 21) [2020]
Have you ever wondered if it is possible to rent a car under the age of 25? Well, you might be surprised to find out that it is possible to rent vehicles at the age of 21 and even at the age of 18 in some states.
What exactly is the catch?
Well, for starters you will have to pay additional fees for being a “young renter” and you also will have certain restrictions for different vehicles that you’re not able to rent. In this article, I will walk you through everything you need to know as a young renter, which is usually considered to anybody under 25.
The policies are a little bit different for each rental car company but I’ll highlight the policies for Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Silvercar. I will also provide some examples of the fees you can expect to pay for each rental car company.
How old do you need to be to rent a car?
Generally speaking you will need to be 20 or 21 years old to rent a car in the US. If you are between the ages of 20 to 24, you will likely be subject to the additional young renter’s fee.
There are some exceptions for those in New York and Michigan and in those states some rental car companies will rent to 18 year olds but you will have to pay even higher young renter’s fees. There are also exceptions for government employees who can rent at 18 years of age and avoid fees.
Below, I will discuss the age requirements for different rental companies here in the US and show you how much you might expect to pay in fees if you are considered a young driver.
You usually need to be 21 years old to hit the road.
How much are the young renter fees?
The young renter fees vary based on the rental car company that you go through. They also might depend on your specific age range and location. Generally, you can expect to pay anywhere from $20-$50 per day.
If you are driving with someone 25 years or older, you might be able to get around these if you have them become the primary driver with the vehicle, so always keep that in mind. Also, you might be able to avoid these fees if you are an AAA member.
Tip: Use WalletFlo to help show you which credit cards to use to maximize your points for purchases like rental cars. WalletFlo will also help you track and manage annual fees, credits, etc. It’s free and very user-friendly so you should definitely check it out.
Why do younger renters have to pay more?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers who are younger than 25 are significantly more likely to get into accidents than older drivers. After age 25, the per-driver crash rate declines dramatically.
By forcing young renters to pay more, there will be fewer young renters on the road and they will be able to contribute to covering these losses more by paying the extra fees.
Young renters will be subject to the same requirements for documents that other renters have to comply with.
Renters must present a valid, acceptable credit card (debit cards are usually not permitted) and a valid driver’s license both in the renter’s name. Some rental car companies might also require your license to have been in good standing for at least one year.
Note: If you want to secure a rental with cash or a debit card there may be extra stringent age requirements. Read more about those here.
Alamo will rent to young renters between the ages of 21-24 and fees will vary but should be comparable to the rates below for other rental car companies. In one sample booking, I found the young renter fees to be $20 per day.
Michigan
The minimum age is 18 years of age.
A $40.00 per day additional charge applies to 18-20 aged renters.
A $25.00 per day additional charge applies to 21-24 aged renters.
New York
The minimum age is 18 years of age.
A $57.00 per day additional charge applies to 18-20 aged renters.
A $20.00 per day additional charge applies to 21-24 aged renters.
Government personnel
U.S. military personnel and government employers ages 18 or older will not incur a young driver surcharge when renting for authorized government travel.
Restrictions
Certain specialty and larger sized vehicles may not be rented to drivers under the age of 25.
Avis will rent to young renters between the ages of 21-24. For Avis, the young renter fee for ages 21 to 24 is an additional $27-per-day in the U.S. and $35 per day in Canada for drivers 21-24. You can find the fee by looking for the underage surcharge on the breakdown of your price.
Michigan
Michigan, will continue its minimum rental age of 18 with a $41-per-day surcharge for customers between the ages of 18-20 and a $28-per-day surcharge for customers between the ages of 21-24.
New York
InNew York State, the minimum age to rent is 18 with a $52-per-day surcharge for renters age 18-20 and a $35-per-day underage surcharge for renters age 21-24.
Canada
In Quebec, the minimum age to rent car groups A, B, C, D & E is 21 with an under age fee of $20 per day for renters age 21-24. For all other car groups, the minimum age is 25.
In Saskatchewan, the minimum age is 18. No underage fee applies.
Government personnel
Government Personnel (civilian or military) minimum age policy is as follows:
For Personnel (FEMA, U.S. Postal Dept., Navy and Army) not using the Government Leisure Pass, minimum age is * 18 years (No underage surcharge will apply) with Government Travel or Purchase order * 21 years (No underage surcharge will apply) without Travel or Purchase order
When using the Government Leisure Pass the renter is subject to underage fees as specified by the renting location.
Restrictions
Renters between the ages of 21-24 may not rent vehicles in the following car classes:
Budget will rent to young renters between the ages of 21-24. For Budget, the young renter fee for ages 21 to 24 is an additional $27 per day in the U.S. and $35 per day in Canada for drivers 21-24. Once again, you can find the fee in the price breakdown under fees and taxes.
Restrictions
Drivers between the ages of 21-24 will not be permitted to rent luxury cars, mini vans, 12-passenger vans, specialty vehicles, full-size SUVs or premium SUVs.
If a renter wishes to add an additional driver to the rental policy, the second driver must be 25 or older and present their valid driver’s license and credit card or, at some locations, a debit card is acceptable.
If you plan to pre-pay your rental and are under 25 years of age, underage charges will be added at the counter and will need to be paid at car return. Your prepayment amount will be used as a credit toward the final costs of the rental.
Michigan
In Michigan at corporate-operated locations, the minimum rental age is 18 with a valid, acceptable credit card and driver’s license, and an additional $41-per-day underage surcharge for drivers 18-20; $28-per-day for drivers 21-24 years old will be applied.
New York
In New York State at corporate-operated locations, the minimum rental age is 18 with a valid, acceptable credit card and driver’s license, and an additional $52-per-day underage surcharge for drivers 18-20; $35-per-day for drivers 21-24 years old will be applied. Drivers under the age 25 will not be permitted to rent luxury cars, mini vans, 12-passenger vans, specialty vehicles, full-size SUVs or premium SUVs.
Enterprise will rent to young renters between the ages of 21-24. For Enterprise, the young renter fee for ages 21 to 24 the average cost for the fee is approximately $20.00 per day but can be higher or lower based on the rental location.
Government personnel
A United States Government Employee can rent at 18 years of age, but must show the rental location his or her official orders.
Michigan
In Michigan, the minimum age to rent is 18 years of age as mandated by the state
Any driver 18-20 years of age will be charged an additional ‘Young Renter Fee’ of $40.00 per day
Any driver 21-24 years of age will be charged an additional ‘Young Renter Fee’ of $25.00 per day
New York
In New York State, the minimum age to rent is 18 years of age as mandated by the state
Any driver 18-20 years of age will be charged an additional ‘Young Renter Fee’ of $57.00 per day
Any driver 21-24 years of age will be charged an additional ‘Young Renter Fee’ of $20.00 per day
Hertz will rent to young renters between the ages of 20-24. For Hertz, the young renter fee for ages 20 to 24 is approximately $29. Hertz is one of the only major rental car companies that rents to those who are only 20. (Thrifty is another rental car company that will rent to 20-year-olds.) The fee will show up in your price breakdown as the “age differential.”
They do require for you to have a valid driver’s license in good standing for over a year so if you just received your license, there could be some issues there.
Government personnel
Some United States Government Employees or military personnel can rent at 18 years of age, but must show the rental location official orders.
Michigan and New York
In both the states of Michigan and New York, the minimum age to rent is 18 years of age as mandated by the state government.
How can you avoid an Under 25 Car Rental Fee?
A popular way to avoid an Under 25 Car Rental Fee is to join certain membership programs. For example, at Hertz, they have a partnership with AAA. As an AAA member between the age of 20 and 24, the young driver fee is not applied if you meet standard rental qualifications. The AAA membership application can be found here.
Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
Restrictions
Hertz renters under the age of 25 may rent any car except those from the Dream Cars, Prestige, and Adrenaline collections, and certain specialty vehicles.
As mentioned above, Thrifty is another rental car company that will rent to 20-year-olds. The young renter fee for ages 20 to 24 is approximately $25 to $35 depending on the location.
In order to rent, you will need a valid drivers license that has been in good standing for over a year. You also need to have a valid debit card or credit card and the name on the card will need to match your license.
Michigan and New York
In both the states of Michigan and New York, the minimum age to rent is 18 years of age as mandated by the state government.
National car rental will rent to customers between the ages of 20-24. For National, the young renter fee for ages 21 to 24 is approximately $20. You can click on the price breakdown to see the exact fee.
If you wish to know the cost of the ‘Young Renter Fee’ you may begin the reservation process to determine the exact amount of the fee for the location (please remember you will have the option to confirm or cancel the reservation).
Michigan
In Michigan, the minimum age to rent is 18 years of age as mandated by the state
Any driver 18-20 years of age will be charged an additional ‘Young Renter Fee’ of $40.00 per day.
Any driver 21-24 years of age will be charged an additional ‘Young Driver Fee’ of $25.00 per day.
New York
In New York State, the minimum age to rent is 18 years of age as mandated by the state
Any driver 18-20 years of age will be charged an additional ‘Young Renter Fee’ of $57.00 per day.
Any driver 21-24 years of age will be charged an additional ‘Young Driver Fee’ of $20.00 per day.
Government personnel
– A US Government Employee can rent at 18 years of age, but must show the renting office his or her official orders. For more information on government travel, click here
Restrictions
Renters 21 through 24 years of age may be restricted to specific car classes.
Silvercar states that “drivers must be 22 years old (18 years old in New York with a $75 a day surcharge) by the time of their rental. Silvercar will validate the driver’s license of all customers on their first rental. This is a one time step you will not have to complete on subsequent rentals unless your driver’s license has expired or changed (i.e. name change, issuing state, etc.).”
Silvercar offers more luxurious vehicles for their rentals so it is no surprise that they have one of the higher age limits of 22.
Can 17 year olds rent vehicles?
I am not aware of any rental car company that allows for 17 year olds to rent cars.
Are there maximum age limits for rental cars?
Since there are minimum age requirements for rental cars you might be wondering if there are ever maximum age limits. In the US, it seems very uncommon or rare to find rental car companies that will prohibit you from renting a vehicle when you have reached a maximum age.
However, in countries around the world there might be age restrictions for rental vehicles — usually beginning around 70 to 75 years of age.
What about Europe?
In Europe, things are pretty similar. You will find quite a few countries that allow you to rent vehicles at the age of 21 and some even allow you to rent at the age of 18.
Just like in the USA, in some of those countries you will also have to pay a young renter’s fee if you are under the age of 25. You can read more about the age restrictions for rental cars here.
If you are planning on renting a car for an international trip, then you should consider applying for an international driving permit. To learn more a bout how to get an international driving permit, click here.
Final word
If you are under the age of 25, and you can expect to pay an additional young renter’s fee whenever you rent a vehicle. This fee will typically range from $20-$50 depending on your age and the location of the rental.
If you are an AAA member or if you are renting with someone 25 years or older, you might be able to get around the fees. And if you live in a special state like New York or Michigan you can get away with renting a vehicle at the age of 18.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
Enterprise Weekend Special Rental Car Promos: Worth It? [2020]
Are you interested in shaving some dollars off of the price of your rental vehicle? Well, if you’re thinking about booking a rental car with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, one way that you can do this is by booking an Enterprise weekend special promotional rate.
These rates can be very cheap but there are a few things that you need to know about these rates before you decide to book them. In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about these rates.
What are Enterprise weekend specials?
Enterprise weekend specials are special promotional rates that you can get for rental vehicles at very low rates. These can offer great savings but there are special rules and restrictions to be aware of when considering these deals.
By the way, if you’re looking to cut down on your rental car costs, consider getting a card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. It offers an early spend bonus worth $500 in travel after meeting the minimum spend and is great to cancel out all sorts of travel expenses.
Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
Enterprise weekend specials rules
There are a few key factors to consider when thinking about jumping on these rates.
Friday through Monday
You must make your booking for Friday through Monday. This does not mean that you can pick any weekend dates, however. For example, you can’t make a booking Friday to Saturday or Saturday to Sunday. The booking must be made from Friday through Monday.
There are some reports of these offers being available for for some itineraries Friday through Tuesday but I’m not sure how common those actually go out.
I would advise to call into the particular center you’re thinking about renting from if you have a rental that you think might work with this promo and inquire with them — they might even be able to offer you even lower rates.
Time periods
Sometimes the terms and conditions will specify certain time periods that you need to make your booking in order to take advantage of the deals. For example, at the time of this article, the current terms and conditions state that the bookings “must begin on or after August 24, 2018 and end on or before May 21, 2019.”
Economy or Compact car rentals
These offers only go out for Economy or Compact car rentals.
Here are the type of vehicles (via Flyertalk) that had fallen into these classifications in the past:
Economy: Chevrolet Spark, Fiat 500 or Kia Rio
Compact: Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent, Ford Fiesta, or Toyota Yaris
Standard: Chrysler 200, Dodge Avenger, Kia Soul
Full-Sized: Nissan Altima, Volkswagen Passat, Dodge Charger, Chevrolet Malibu, Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, Mazda 6, Ford Fusion
100 miles per day
With these promotions you’ll be limited to 100 miles per day, which isn’t very much for many people over a three day period. If you go over this mileage amount, you’ll be subject to a 20 cent/mile penalty for each mile driven over 300 miles.
The promotion/coupon code used for this offer should already be pre-loaded but if it’s not then try “Weekend Special.” You can see where to enter the promo code in the image below.
You’ll also need to make sure your dates are in line with the promo otherwise they won’t pull up the promotional rates.
Use the promotion code “Weekend Special.”
Once you select your location, you’ll be able to search for the promotional rates. If you find a promo rate, you’ll know because you’ll be able to see where it states: “Promotion Applied.” The total rate for a 3-day rental with the promo code below was for $45.09, which isn’t bad at all.
I did have a lot of trouble finding these rates for major cities when I searched. I randomly chose Baton Rouge as an example after trying several large cities and not finding anything. I’ve also read that these promotional rates may not show up for airport locations so keep that in mind.
How much do you save?
With rates at $12.99, the savings can certainly begin to add up quickly with these promos. (Some prices in the past were as low as $9.99 but I think they might have increased the price universally to $12.99.)
I did a test with Baton Rouge, LA to see what the rates looked like for the same exact dates but without the promo code and the rates were over $100 more. That’s a lot more expensive but keep in mind that those higher rates don’t come with the mileage restrictions.
Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!
Are these promos worth it?
I think that these promos can certainly be worth it for the right person. If you’re not going to be doing much driving and/or joyriding and are headed to a smaller city then these promos might more readily available and practical.
As long as you can stay under 100 miles per day and need to use the car for the entire weekend (plus Monday) then these promo codes could save you over $100 as shown above. However, sometimes the non-promotional offers can be quite cheap and the savings might not be so much. In those cases, you might want to ditch the promo if you think you might eclipse the 300 mile limitation.
For example, if you were driving an extra 100 miles per day over the limit you would be charged $20 per day. Assuming a $12.99 discount, that would be about $33 per day for the rental which could be on par with some other discounts. So if you have a road trip in mind these Enterprise weekend specials offers may not be worth it.
The biggest hurdle of all might be finding a city that offers these special rates, though. I’ve struck out with many major cities and since it appears airport locations don’t offer these rates, it could be extra difficult to find a location offering these special promotional rates.
Also, as far as I know, Enterprise does not publish a list of locations eligible for this promotion so that makes things a little extra difficult.
Terms & Conditions
Here are the official terms and conditions if you are curios.
Offer applies only to the base rate charge (time and mileage) and does not apply to applicable taxes, fees, surcharges, refueling, drop-off, delivery, youthful driver, additional driver, pick up, or one-way charges or any optional product or service (such as optional damage waiver of $50 or less per day), which are the responsibility of the Renter.
So just don’t forget that other fees can apply such as young driver fees which can range from $20+ per day.
Offer valid at participating neighborhood locations in U.S. and Puerto Rico only for rentals reserved in advance. Rental must begin on or after 8/16/2019 and end on or before 5/20/2020. Offer applies to Economy through Full Size car rentals beginning on Friday and ending the following Monday, and includes 100 miles per day per day; $0.20 for each additional mile. For more information, including an estimate of your total rental cost, visit our Internet website at www.enterprise.com.
Technically these weekend offers are special limited time offers and expire each year but they do tend to return every year.
Additional mandatory charges may be imposed, including, but not limited to a customer facility charge, airport concession fee, tourism commission assessment, vehicle license recovery fee, facility recovery fees, or other government-imposed taxes or fees. Enterprise reserves the right to terminate the offer or change the terms at any time. Offer is not valid at airport locations. This offer cannot be combined with any other discount and cannot be applied to a previous or existing reservation or rental. Offer is subject to vehicle availability at the time of booking. Renter and additional driver(s) must meet standard age, driver and credit requirements. Please check your auto insurance policy and/or credit card agreement for rental vehicle coverage. Other restrictions, including holiday and blackout dates, may apply. Pick-up and drop-off service is subject to geographic and other restrictions. Non-transferrable. Void where prohibited.
Final word
Overall, it’s nice to know about these special promotional rates but there are a lot of restrictions for these rates that really limit the use of the promos. Also, since the cities are pretty limited it can be difficult to put this promo to use. But if everything lines up for your car rental, you could save over $100 on a rental which is very good.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
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