Hertz President’s Circle is an elite status offered by Hertz that offers a number of benefits for your travels with rental cars.
This article will walk you through the different benefits you can expect to receive from President’s Circle and I’ll also talk about how to do a status match to President’s Circle.
Table of Contents
What is the Hertz President’s Circle?
The Hertz President’s Circle is the top-tier elite status offered by the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program that offers special perks like confirmed one-car-class upgrade, designated parking stalls, and a 50% bonus on Gold Plus Rewards points on all qualified car rentals.
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How do you achieve Hertz President’s Circle?
In order to be granted Hertz President’s Circle, you need to meet one of the following within a specified 12-month period:
- Complete 15 or more rentals
- Spend $3,000 or more on rentals
These are the lowered requirements due to Covid.
The normal requirements are:
- Complete 20 or more rentals
- Spend $4,000 or more on rentals
Status challenges
It’s possible to earn Hertz President’s Circle with a status challenge.
In fact, at one point in the past, Hertz was allowing people to sign up and instantly earn Hertz President’s Circle.
But more likely, you’ll be trying to achieve President’s Circle with a match from one of the major car rental companies like National, Enterprise, or Avis.
In the past, people have been able to be matched to President’s Circle by having National Executive Elite or Enterprise Platinum. This is really nice for people who have the Amex Platinum and receive Executive status with National (along with other benefits).
In order to apply for a status match you’ll need to do the following:
Simply enroll in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program then provide proof of your identity and proof of status with other car rental companies via email to [email protected].
Proof of Identity
- First and last name as it appears on your Hertz account
- Address as it appears on your Hertz account
- Phone number
- Email address
Proof of Status with other car rental companies (Please provide one)
- Monthly statement indicating membership status
- Copy of a credentials letter (membership kit)
- Copy of a welcome letter
Airline status
You may also qualify for Hertz President’s Circle if you hold platinum or diamond elite status with Delta.
What are the benefits of Hertz President’s Circle?
- Expedited Pick-up
- Confirmed vehicle one-car-class upgrade
- Hertz Ultimate Choice
- 50% bonus on Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Points
- Valet terminal drive-back service that you can get at participating locations up to four times a year as a President’s Circle member.
Expedited Pick-up
As a President’s Circle member you’ll get expedited pick-up at over 1,000 locations worldwide. Plus, at over 50 airports you won’t have to stop at the counter.
Confirmed vehicle availability with a minimum 48 hour advance reservation
This benefit should allow you to have a confirmed vehicle ready for you so long as you make your reservation at least 48 hours in advance. There are some reports of this benefit not always being honored so you might not always be guaranteed a vehicle.
2022 Update: this benefit no longer shows up on the website.
Confirmed vehicle one-car-class upgrade
With Hertz President’s Circle, you stand a good shot at being upgraded when making your reservation at all participating locations in the U.S., Canada and select European locations.
Just note that the maximum upgrade is to a full-size class vehicle when you’ve reserved a compact vehicle. If you’re not familiar with the different classes of vehicle you can check out this Flyertalk thread right here.
You’ll be able to see the cars which fall into which classes.
For your reference, I’ve copied over an unofficial Flyertalk list of vehicles between compact and full size — these are the vehicles that you might be get upgraded to when you book a compact car.
Compact 2 or 4 Door (B, CCAR)
Nissan Versa B, YB CCAR (36 mpg; includes sedans and Note hatchbacks)
Chevrolet Sonic YB CCAR
Fiat 500L YB CCAR (Spotted at SLC and SFO)
Ford Fiesta B, YB CCAR (38 mpg)
Ford Focus B, YB CCAR (Includes sedan and hatchback models; 38 mpg)
Honda Fit YB CCAR
Hyundai Accent B CCAR (Formerly ECAR)
Kia Rio B CCAR
Mazda2 B CCAR
Mini Cooper YB CCAR
Nissan Juke YB CCAR
Toyota Yaris B, YB CCAR (4-door and 5-door models)
Volkswagen Golf YB CCAR (Includes 2.5L gas and TDI diesel models)
Intermediate 2 or 4 Door (C, ICAR)
Chevrolet Cruze 5-Door Hatchback, C ICAR
Kia Soul C ICAR
Kia Forte C ICAR
Hyundai Elantra C ICAR
Mazda3 C ICAR
Honda Civic C, YC ICAR (2-door models tagged C; 4-door models tagged YC)
Nissan Sentra C, YC ICAR
Toyota Corolla C, YC ICAR (33 mpg)
Mazda5 YC ICAR
Subaru Impreza YC ICAR (Includes sedan and hatchback models)
Volkswagen Jetta YC ICAR (Includes gasoline and TDI diesel models)
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen YC ICAR
Standard 2 Door (D4, SCAR)
Chevrolet Camaro Coupe D SCAR (I-4 Turbo)
Dodge Challenger D SCAR (V6 SXT)
Ford Mustang D SCAR (V6 Premium trim; hard-top)
Standard 4 Door Sedan (D, SCAR)
Volkswagen Jetta D SCAR(24 mpg; formerly ICAR, includes gasoline and TDI diesel models)
Chevrolet Cruze SCAR (2017 model year and newer; older years are C ICAR)
Full Size 4 Door (F, FCAR/FDAR/FXAR)
Chevrolet Malibu F, YF FCAR, FDAR (LS through LTZ trims available; 29 mpg)
Chrysler 200 F, YF FCAR, FDAR(30 mpg)
Ford Fusion F, F6,YF FCAR
Buick Verano YF FCAR
Dodge Charger F,F6, YF FCAR
Honda Accord YF FCAR
Hyundai Sonata F (Base Trim), YF FCAR
Kia Optima F FCAR
Mazda6 F FCAR
Nissan Altima F, F6 FCAR
Subaru Legacy Limited F, F6 FCAR
Toyota Camry F, F6 FCAR
Volkswagen Passat F, F6 FCAR
Hertz Ultimate Choice
Ultimate Choice is a benefit open to any member of the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program.
It’s a special lot at select locations where you can select cars from based on your status (President’s Circle, Five Star, or Gold).
To be eligible for this you need to book anything other than an Economy (A), Compact (B), or Manager’s Special (EXAR) vehicle.
50% bonus on Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Points
You will automatically receive a 50% bonus on your earnings which means you will be earning 1.5 points per dollar spent on Hertz rentals.
A standard reward starts at 950 points for one day, so that means that you would have to spend $633 to qualify for the cheapest free rental.
Valet terminal drive-back service
This is an interesting perk because there are conflicting data points on who gets to use it and whether or not the rental car agents are even aware of this perk at times.
Some report that you can use this up to four times per year but that there are requirements for getting the service. For example, you may be offered it after your 15th, 20th and 40th rentals. This also might be restricted to certain airports.
So I would just be on the lookout after I make my 15th car rental to see if I receive any emails from Hertz about this benefit. It also would not hurt to inquire with the agents when you are picking up your rental car to see if you are eligible.
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Other Hertz status tiers
Hertz President’s Circle is the top-tier elite status and right below that is Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star.
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star
Meet one of the following within the specified 12-month period: Complete 10 rentals
or spend $2,000 on rentals.
Benefits include:
- One-car-class upgrades (subject to availability)
- 10% bonus on Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Points (earn 1.25 points for every $1)
- Plus, all Gold member benefits
Hertz Gold
There is no criteria for this status and anybody can enroll for free at hertz.com
Benefits include:
- Designated Gold Plus Rewards parking stalls.
- Free additional driver (only spouse or domestic partner)
- Earn Gold Plus Rewards points on all qualified car rentals
Hertz cancellation policy
If you need a refresher on how the cancellation policy works for both Pay Now and Pay Later bookings, you can read more about that here.
Final word
Hertz President’s Circle can provide you with some worthwhile benefits like upgrades and confirmed reservations when you need them. I don’t think this is an elite status I would go out of my way to obtain, but I would definitely consider jumping on a status match when the time was right.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.
Hertz Presidents Circle line has gone down hill…the customer service is below par….this is the third time i’ve dealt with unprofessional people that don’t offer the white glove approach…i asked to speak with a manager and have been on hold for an hour and a half so far.
seriously contemplating leaving HETRZ and moving my status elsewhere..
I couldn’t agree with you more. It means nothing to be Presidents Circle in Nashville anymore.
My President ‘s Circle status meant nothing to the staff at the Hertz, located at the Bozeman Yellowstone Airport.
Customer service was unprofessional.
Vehicle was dirty inside and out. No Gold Standard sanitized vehicle there. Avoid at all cost.
My experience is the same as reflected above. Certain former privileges have been discarded, and a few of the Hertz tricks are bordering on fraud. If, for example, you have a flat, and your friendly AAA comes out to change it, you will be charged for a brand new replacement tire (even if the tire that blew had 36k miles on it) PLUS you will also be charged for a service call by Hertz!
Wow, that’s pretty crappy.
I have also noticed now that Hertz will not let you use the points for rentals. I have tried twice and I find out, it is not offered due to date and or location. I have never had issues in the past. I think the service is going downhill. I am going to voice my opinion to my company that maybe it is time to change from Hertz to another rental car company.
What does it mean president circle mean at hertz? How does it really work, if I reserve a compact can I pick up a Range Rover from president circle line?? Or how to I get the up great?? Please me know, thanks a lot
The 48 hour car guarantee is obviously no longer honored which was a plus.
Seldom receive the 1 car upgrade .
The Presidents Circle customer service line was totally unhelpful Thursday evening. Due to medical emergency needed to extend my rental 2 days.
App refused to allow extension told me to call 800#.
Presidents Circle Rep kept repeating that I could take it to any local Hertz to return it because ‘she’ couldn’t do a rental extension due to the rental location stating they needed the car returned, no extension. Totally oblivious to my situation. Repeated the ‘script’ over and over. Not only had a medical emergency, 2 hour drive in a snow storm the evening I was calling , to return the car to the rental location. She tells me I could call the location direct, meaning she had not even attempted to speak with them even after putting me on hold.
I called direct to the location I rented from who told me they aren’t allowed to process an extension. (Why they don’t know?) . Also stated they had no idea why I was told I had to return and no extension because no one from Presidents Circle / Gold had contacted them .
Local could not have been more helpful. Gave me option to keep the car for 2 days, he would put a note in the file that I had called and I’d just be charged a 2 day late fee. No police coming after me.
The local did what one expects from the President Circle / Gold Customer Service customer rep.