The best credit cards for rental car elite status

Several travel credit cards offer complimentary rental car elite status, giving cardholders access to perks that can make picking up a rental car faster and potentially more rewarding.Depending on the card and rental car program, benefits can include skipping the rental counter, choosing from a wider selection of vehicles, receiving complimentary upgrades and earning bonus points.And because some of these status levels would otherwise require numerous rentals or thousands of dollars in annual spending, this can be a valuable — and sometimes overlooked — credit card perk.Here's which credit cards offer rental car elite status, what benefits you'll receive and how to enroll.Credit cards that offer rental car elite statusHere's a quick look at which credit cards offer rental car elite status and the status level you'll receive with each program.*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms applyRelated: Hitting the road on your vacation? Everything you need to know about rental car elite statusBest cards for Avis elite statusFive of the cards in this guide provide complimentary Avis elite status, though the status level varies by card.The Amex Platinum, Amex Business Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve® offer Avis Preferred Plus status.Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletterJoin over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s expertsBy signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.Meanwhile, the Citi / AAdvantage Executive and United Club provide the higher President's Club status.Avis Preferred PlusAvis Preferred Plus typically requires completing 10 rentals or spending $4,000 in a calendar year.With Preferred Plus status, you'll receive benefits including:The ability to skip the counter and go straight to your car at most locationsA complimentary one-class upgrade when reserving a midsize car or above, when availableA code to receive a discount on rental ratesBonus Avis Preferred points with every rentalROMAN TIRASPOLSKY/GETTY IMAGESAmex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cardmembers will need to enroll in the Avis Preferred program to receive their status. If you already have an Avis Wizard number, you can request an upgrade to your existing account.Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can activate their Avis benefits through their Chase account. Log in and navigate to your card benefits to see the available rental car offers and enrollment instructions.Avis President's ClubThe Citi / AAdvantage Executive and United Club Card offer complimentary Avis President's Club status, which typically requires 20 rentals or $6,000 spent to join.President's Club members receive benefits including:Complimentary upgrades of two car classes when availableGuaranteed car availability when you book at least 24 hours in advanceExpedited rental service50% more points for every dollar you spend if you opt into Avis Preferred pointsA dedicated phone line for reservations and customer supportCANDYRETREIVER/GETTY IMAGESCiti / AAdvantage Executive primary cardmembers are eligible to enroll in complimentary President's Club status through Aug. 31, 2028. You can enroll by visiting the Rewards page in your online account.United Club cardmembers can enroll using this link. United Premier Platinum members and higher are also eligible for complimentary President's Club status.Related: Full review of the United Club CardBest cards for Hertz elite statusThe Amex Platinum, Amex Business Platinum and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offer complimentary Hertz Gold+ President's Circle status.President's Circle is Hertz's top published elite tier and typically requires completing 15 rentals or spending at least $3,000 in a calendar year.President's Circle members receive benefits including:Guaranteed vehicle availabilityGuaranteed one-car-class upgrades with every rental, when available50% bonus points on Hertz rentalsAccess to the widest selection of vehiclesCINDY ORD/GETTY IMAGES)Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cardmembers must enroll in Hertz Gold+ Rewards to receive President's Circle status.Venture X cardholders must enroll through the benefits tab of their Capital One account on the Capital One website or mobile app.* Eligible cardholders can also enroll authorized users through this process.*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms applyRelated: Full review of the Capital One Venture X Credit CardBest cards for National elite statusThe Amex Platinum, Amex Business Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve provide complimentary National Emerald Club Executive status.Executive status normally requires 12 paid rentals or 40 paid rental days. As an Executive member, you'll receive benefits including:A guaranteed free upgrade when you reserve a full-size through luxury vehicle in the U.S. and CanadaThe ability to pay the reserved midsize rate when you choose any car (full-size and above) in the Executive Area in the U.S. and CanadaThe ability to bypass the counter and head straight to the Emerald Aisle for your pick of cars, when availableReward choices and one free rental day with six rental creditsNo second-driver fees for family members and business associatesExclusive rental discountsSCOTT MAYEROWITZ/THE POINTS GUYAmex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cardmembers can receive Executive status after signing up for National's free Emerald Club loyalty program.Sapphire Reserve cardholders can activate their complimentary Executive membership through their Chase account. Log in and navigate to your card benefits to see the available enrollment options.Related: Full review of the Chase Sapphire ReserveWhich rental car status to useNational Emerald Club stands out as a favorite car rental program because of the ability to choose your own car from the Emerald Aisle Executive selection.This is ideal when renting a car for families because the Emerald Aisle is where they tend to park the minivans. This status is easy to get if you have an Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve.PHOTO BY TUPUNGATO/SHUTTERSTOCKAnother useful option is Hertz when renting with the Amex Platinum. In addition to complimentary Hertz President's Circle status, cardmembers can receive a four-hour grace period on rental returns in the U.S. when they book using Amex's designated Corporate Discount Program (CDP) code and pay with their Platinum card.This can help you avoid an additional day's time and mileage charges when returning your car a few hours after the original pickup time.Note that you must have a qualifying card to enroll in these elite status programs. Once you do, you often can use any card to pay for the rental car. Choose the right card to maximize points and miles earned and obtain primary rental car insurance — and be sure to review our guide to saving money on rental cars.Related: Full review of the Amex PlatinumStatus matchingAnother way to earn value from these programs is to let them match your status. For example, Hertz offers a status match that should grant Hertz Five Star status to those with National Executive status.Similarly, National's status match program provides Executive status to those with Avis President's Club status. If you hold elite status with one program and are thinking of switching, it can't hurt to ask for a status match even if it isn't explicitly offered.Bottom lineRental car elite status may not be the first benefit you think of when considering a travel credit card, but it can make your next rental more convenient. Depending on your card and the rental company, you could skip the counter, choose from a wider selection of vehicles, receive an upgrade or earn additional rewards.If your credit card offers complimentary rental car elite status, make sure you enroll before your next trip, since these benefits generally aren't activated automatically.And even with elite status, compare rates across rental companies to make sure you're getting the best option for your trip.Apply here: Amex PlatinumApply here: Business PlatinumApply here: Chase Sapphire ReserveApply here: Citi / AAdvantage ExecutiveApply here: United Club Card Learn more: Capital One Venture XFor rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here.