Hertz Gold Plus Rewards got genuinely easier to earn status with in early 2026 — the mid-tier Five Star threshold dropped from 10 rentals to just 3. Like National’s Emerald Club, Hertz doesn’t have its own co-branded credit card either; most members who hold elite status got it as a side benefit of a premium travel card or an airline status match, not through renting directly. This guide covers exactly how the tiers and points work, and the fastest realistic paths to status.
In This Guide
- What Is Hertz Gold Plus Rewards?
- How to Sign Up for Gold Plus Rewards
- How to Earn Points
- Elite Status: The Three Tiers and the 2026 Change
- The Fastest Ways to Elite Status
- Getting the Most From Your Points
- Which Credit Cards Give You Status
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Hertz Gold Plus Rewards?
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards is Hertz’s loyalty program. Every member, even at the free base Gold tier, gets to skip the counter at many locations and add a spouse or domestic partner as an extra driver at no cost. Unlike National, where the “pick any car” perk is available to every member from day one, Hertz reserves its equivalent benefit — called Ultimate Choice — for Five Star and President’s Circle members at participating locations.
How to Sign Up for Gold Plus Rewards
Joining is free and takes about two minutes:
- Go to hertz.com and select “Join Gold Plus Rewards.”
- Enter your name, address, and driver’s license information.
- Your Gold Plus Rewards number is issued immediately.
There’s no cost, and members must be 21 or older to join.
How to Earn Points
- Renting from Hertz — base members earn 1 point per dollar spent on the rental rate (points don’t apply to tolls); Five Star members earn 25% more (1.25 points per dollar) and President’s Circle members earn 50% more (1.5 points per dollar).
- Airline and hotel partnerships — Hertz partners with numerous airlines, including Delta, letting you earn miles on Hertz rentals in addition to whatever status benefits you already hold.
Points expire after 12 months without any earning or redemption activity, and any points sitting unused for more than 5 years are forfeited regardless of other activity.
Hertz just made its mid-tier status meaningfully easier to earn — three rentals a year is a genuinely low bar. If you rent even occasionally, Five Star status might already be within reach without any credit card or status match at all.
Elite Status: The Three Tiers and the 2026 Change
Hertz has three tiers: the free entry-level Gold, plus Five Star and President’s Circle:
| Tier | Requirement | Headline Perk |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Just sign up | 1 point/dollar, free additional driver |
| Five Star | 3 rentals or $1,000/year | 25% points bonus, space-available upgrades, Ultimate Choice access |
| President’s Circle | 15 rentals or $3,000/year | 50% points bonus, guaranteed upgrades, dedicated phone line |
Before early 2026, Five Star required 10 rentals or $2,000 in spend — Hertz cut that requirement significantly, making status attainable for genuinely occasional renters rather than just frequent business travelers. President’s Circle’s threshold hasn’t changed.
The Fastest Ways to Elite Status
Beyond simply renting enough to qualify, there are several faster paths, similar to National’s Emerald Club:
- Premium credit cards. The Amex Platinum Card and Capital One Venture X both include complimentary President’s Circle status; the Amex Gold Card and several Capital One Venture-family cards include Five Star.
- Delta SkyMiles Medallion status. Silver and Gold Medallion members can link their accounts for complimentary Five Star status; Platinum and Diamond Medallion members get President’s Circle.
- Status matches from other rental, hotel, or airline programs. Hertz’s own status match tool can grant up to President’s Circle, though it’s typically limited to members who haven’t used a Hertz status match before (or not within the past five years).
Getting the Most From Your Points
- Standard rewards price significantly lower but are restricted to specific blackout-free dates that vary by location.
- AnyDay (peak) rewards cost roughly double the points but come with no blackout dates at all.
- Points and redemptions apply to the base rental rate only — taxes, fees, and add-ons are excluded and still billed separately.
- Standard rewards are generally the better value whenever your travel dates allow the flexibility to use them.
Which Credit Cards Give You Status
As with National, Hertz doesn’t have its own co-branded credit card. Instead, several cards from other issuers include Hertz status as one of their benefits:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express includes complimentary President’s Circle status upon enrollment.
- The American Express Gold Card includes complimentary Five Star status upon enrollment.
- The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card includes complimentary President’s Circle status; several other Capital One Venture-family cards (Venture, VentureOne, Savor, Quicksilver) include Five Star.
If you already carry one of these cards for its other travel benefits, enrolling for the Hertz status is worth doing at no extra cost — just make sure you enroll through the card issuer’s own portal, since signing up directly through Hertz’s standard enrollment won’t automatically apply the benefit.
- Hertz has three tiers — Gold, Five Star, President’s Circle — and lowered the Five Star threshold from 10 to just 3 rentals (or $1,000 spend) in early 2026.
- Unlike National, Hertz’s “choose your car” perk (Ultimate Choice) is reserved for Five Star and above, not available to base Gold members.
- Hertz has no co-branded credit card of its own — status typically comes from a premium card (Amex Platinum, Amex Gold, Capital One Venture X) or a Delta Medallion link.
- Points expire after 12 months of inactivity, and unused points are forfeited entirely after 5 years regardless.
- Standard reward redemptions are cheaper but date-restricted; AnyDay rewards cost double but have no blackout dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to join Hertz Gold Plus Rewards?
Yes, completely free, though you must be at least 21 years old to join.
What changed with Hertz Five Star status in 2026?
Hertz lowered the qualification requirement from 10 rentals (or $2,000 in spend) down to just 3 rentals (or $1,000 in spend) — a significant reduction that makes Five Star realistic for occasional renters, not just frequent travelers.
Do Hertz points expire?
Yes — after 12 months with no earning or redemption activity. Even active accounts forfeit any points that sit unredeemed for more than 5 years.
Can I get Hertz status from Delta SkyMiles?
Yes. Silver and Gold Delta Medallion members can link their accounts for complimentary Five Star status, and Platinum or Diamond Medallion members get President’s Circle — all without renting from Hertz first.
What’s the difference between standard and AnyDay rewards?
Standard rewards cost fewer points but are restricted to specific non-blackout dates that vary by location. AnyDay rewards cost roughly double the points but can be redeemed with no blackout dates at all.