Avis Preferred is the simplest redemption system of the three rental programs in this guide series — there’s just one reward level, it starts at 700 points, and there are no blackout dates at all, ever. Like National and Hertz, Avis doesn’t have its own co-branded credit card, and its status ties in closely with United Airlines and American Airlines specifically. This guide covers exactly how the tiers and points work, and the fastest realistic paths to status.
In This Guide
- What Is Avis Preferred?
- How to Sign Up for Avis Preferred
- How to Earn Points
- Elite Status: The Three Tiers
- The Fastest Ways to Elite Status
- Getting the Most From Your Points
- Which Credit Cards Give You Status
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Avis Preferred?
Avis Preferred is Avis’s loyalty program, with more than 5,000 locations across roughly 165 countries. Every member, even at the free entry tier, gets to skip the counter at most locations and go straight to their car. There’s also an unpublished, invitation-only Chairman’s Club tier above President’s Club, though it isn’t something you can apply or qualify for directly.
How to Sign Up for Avis Preferred
Joining is free and takes about two minutes:
- Go to avis.com and select “Join Avis Preferred.”
- Enter your name, address, and driver’s license information.
- Your Avis Preferred number is issued immediately.
There’s no cost, and you’ll need to be a resident of the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands to enroll directly, with a minimum age of 25.
How to Earn Points
- Renting from Avis — base members earn 1 point per dollar on the rental rate (2 points per dollar on accessories), with a guaranteed minimum of 100 points per rental regardless of length.
- Airline partners instead of points — Avis has more than 50 airline partners and several hotel partners, letting you earn miles or points instead of Avis Preferred points on a given rental — but generally not both at once.
Points remain valid for 60 months (5 years) from when they’re earned, after which unused points are forfeited.
Avis is the one program in this series with a genuinely simple redemption story: one reward level, no blackout dates, ever. If a car is available, you can book it with points — full stop, no dual-tier pricing to think through first.
Elite Status: The Three Tiers
Avis has three published tiers: Avis Preferred, Avis Preferred Plus, and Avis President’s Club:
| Tier | Requirement | Headline Perk |
|---|---|---|
| Avis Preferred | Just sign up | 1 point/dollar, skip-the-counter service |
| Avis Preferred Plus | 10 rentals or $4,000/year | 1.25 points/dollar, 1-class upgrade, dedicated line |
| Avis President’s Club | 20 rentals or $6,000/year | 1.5 points/dollar, 2-class upgrade, guaranteed car |
President’s Club’s guaranteed-car benefit applies to intermediate class or above, confirmed at least 24 hours in advance — a genuinely useful guarantee if you’ve ever shown up to an empty rental lot despite a confirmed reservation.
The Fastest Ways to Elite Status
Avis has an unusually strong connection to United and American Airlines specifically, beyond the general credit card routes common to National and Hertz:
- United MileagePlus status. Premier Silver or Gold members get Avis Preferred Plus; Premier Platinum, 1K, or Global Services members get President’s Club — all through a simple account link, no rentals required.
- American Airlines Loyalty Points. 60,000 Loyalty Points in a year gets you Preferred Plus; 100,000 gets you President’s Club — worth knowing if you’re already chasing AAdvantage status through spending, since the same Loyalty Points count here too.
- Premium credit cards. The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum (personal and business) grant complimentary Preferred Plus status — notably, Avis caps out at Preferred Plus for these cards, not President’s Club the way Hertz does for some of the same cards.
- United-specific credit cards. The United Club Card and United Presidential Plus Card (and their business versions) grant automatic President’s Club status directly.
Getting the Most From Your Points
- A free rental day starts at 700 points — no separate “peak” or “AnyDay” tier to think through, unlike Hertz’s dual system.
- No blackout dates, ever. If a car is available for cash, it’s available for points.
- Points also cover accessories like satellite radio or car seats, though generally better value is saved for the rental itself rather than add-ons.
- You generally can’t earn both points and airline miles on the same rental — pick whichever is worth more to you before booking, not after.
Which Credit Cards Give You Status
Like National and Hertz, Avis doesn’t have its own co-branded credit card. Several cards from other issuers include Avis status as a benefit:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express and its business counterpart include complimentary Preferred Plus status upon enrollment.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® and its business counterpart include the same Preferred Plus benefit.
- The United Club℠ Card and United Presidential Plus℠ Card (and their business versions) are the more direct route to the top President’s Club tier specifically.
We’ll be publishing full individual reviews of relevant cards as part of our ongoing Credit Cards coverage.
- Avis has three published tiers — Preferred, Preferred Plus, President’s Club — plus an unpublished, invitation-only Chairman’s Club above them.
- Redemptions are simpler than Hertz’s: one reward level starting at 700 points, with no blackout dates at all.
- United MileagePlus and American AAdvantage status both link directly to Avis status, no rentals required — a stronger airline tie-in than National or Hertz offer.
- Avis has no co-branded credit card of its own; premium cards like the Amex Platinum cap out at Preferred Plus, not President’s Club.
- Points expire after 60 months (5 years) of no activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to join Avis Preferred?
Yes, completely free, though you’ll need to meet a minimum age of 25 and reside in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands to enroll directly.
Do Avis Preferred points expire?
Yes, after 60 months (5 years) from when they’re earned.
Can I get Avis status from an airline program?
Yes. United MileagePlus Premier status links directly to matching Avis tiers, and American AAdvantage members can also qualify for Avis Preferred Plus or President’s Club based on Loyalty Points earned — both without any Avis rentals required.
Are there blackout dates on Avis award rentals?
No — Avis has no blackout dates at any tier. If a car is available for cash, it’s available for points.
What is Avis Chairman’s Club?
It’s an unpublished, invitation-only tier above President’s Club. There’s no public way to apply or qualify for it directly.