The Best Rental Car Loyalty Programs
What a rental car loyalty program actually does
Rental car loyalty programs reward repeat renters with points, elite status, and other member benefits. The programs vary in how members join, how much they pay to join, and how long their points last, so comparing them means looking at those terms rather than a single ranking.
How you join and what it costs
Not every program is open to everyone or free to join.
- One widely used program requires applicants to sign up for a free account before they can join its loyalty tiers.
- Another program charges enrolled members a membership fee of 9.95 US dollars per month to keep the account active.
How points are earned
A central question for frequent renters is how the earning rate changes as they move up.
In one program, members earn 10 points per dollar on rentals, while Silver, Gold, and Platinum elite members earn 25 percent more points on the same rentals.
How long points last
Points do not stay in an account indefinitely everywhere. One program states that points expire 24 months after the last qualifying transaction.
Elite status tracks
Elite status in these programs typically sits on top of ordinary membership and changes the earning rate, as the 25 percent bonus above shows.
FAQ
Do rental car loyalty programs cost money to join?
Some do not, and some do. One program requires applicants to sign up for a free account before joining its loyalty tiers, while another charges enrolled members a membership fee of 9.95 US dollars per month to keep the account active.
Do rental car loyalty points expire?
In one program, points expire 24 months after the last qualifying transaction.
Do elite members earn points faster?
In one program, Silver, Gold, and Platinum elite members earn 25 percent more points on rentals, on top of the base rate of 10 points per dollar.
Comparing programs fairly
The evidence here covers a limited set of programs and terms. When comparing programs, the practical differences come down to whether joining costs anything, whether there is a monthly fee to stay active, the base earning rate, the elite bonus, and the expiry window. Those are the terms that decide what a program is worth to a given renter.