Hertz Gold Plus Rewards: How the loyalty program adds value for frequent renters

Responsible: ad hoc news Lifestyle & Consumer Desk. Reviewed prior to publication on June 12, 2026 at 2:11 PM ET. Details in the imprint.

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards is the flagship loyalty program of Hertz Global Holdings Inc., designed to reward frequent renters with points, perks, and faster service at thousands of locations worldwide. Members earn points on qualifying rentals that can be redeemed for free rental days, with no blackout dates at participating locations. Enrollment is free online, and the program is available to U.S. customers as well as many international renters. For drivers who regularly book Hertz Mietwagen for business or leisure trips, the program can be a straightforward way to cut future rental costs and streamline the pick-up experience.

What Hertz Gold Plus Rewards offers to U.S. renters

Gold Plus Rewards is built around a simple structure: customers earn points for completed rentals, then redeem those points for free days or other eligible rewards. According to Hertz, members earn 1 point per U.S. dollar spent on most base rental charges at participating locations, with higher earning rates for elite tiers. The company highlights that award days start at 950 points for a free weekend day in the United States, depending on car class and location. Because points can be redeemed with no blackout dates on standard rewards, the program is positioned as a predictable value add for frequent users rather than an occasional promotion.

At the entry level, standard Gold Plus Rewards membership focuses on speed and convenience. Once enrolled, members can add their driver's license and payment details to their profile, allowing them to skip the counter at many U.S. airports and go straight to their vehicle, where applicable. Hertz promotes features like eReturn, which lets members return the car without visiting the counter, and digital receipts, which are particularly useful for business travelers who need quick expense documentation. For renters who value time saved at busy locations, these operational perks can matter as much as the points balance.

The program also includes tiered elite status levels that provide incremental benefits for high-frequency renters. Hertz currently lists Five Star and President's Circle as higher tiers above the base Gold Plus level, each with its own qualification thresholds based on rentals or dollars spent per year. Five Star typically requires 10 rentals or $2,000 in annual qualifying spend, while President's Circle is generally set at 15 rentals or $3,000 in spend, though precise thresholds may vary by market and promotional period. As status increases, renters gain access to better upgrade priority, additional bonus points on each rental, and a greater choice of vehicles in dedicated elite sections at participating locations.

Hertz emphasizes that its Gold Plus Rewards points do not expire as long as there is qualifying rental activity on the account within the preceding 18 months. That rolling activity requirement means occasional renters may want to plan at least one qualifying booking in each 18-month window to keep balances active. The company also notes that certain rates, third-party bookings, and complimentary rentals might not earn points, so customers aiming to build a substantial balance should check the terms and conditions published on the official program page. Because policies can evolve over time, renters who collect points over several years may want to review the latest rules before committing points to specific trips.

For U.S. customers, enrollment is handled through the Hertz website, where users can complete a short form and receive a Gold Plus Rewards number that links to future reservations. Travelers can also connect the program with selected airline and hotel partners in some cases, although Hertz clarifies that earning partner miles instead of points may change how rewards accrue on a given rental. Business travelers using corporate booking tools can usually add their Gold Plus Rewards number to reservations, but eligibility for points may depend on the negotiated corporate rate and any exclusions in the contract. Reading the fine print on employer or agency agreements can prevent surprises when a rental does not generate points.

Within the broader Hertz portfolio, Gold Plus Rewards serves as a key retention mechanism, encouraging repeat bookings on Hertz Mietwagen rather than competing rental brands. The company positions the program alongside initiatives such as app-based bookings and connected car services to create a more integrated, digital rental experience. For frequent renters comparing loyalty ecosystems, it can make sense to weigh Hertz's earning rates, upgrade access, and redemption charts against programs from competitors like Enterprise and Avis, which offer their own tiers and perks for regular customers. Shares of Hertz Global Holdings Inc. (US42809H1077, ticker HTZ) traded at $5.04 on Nasdaq on May 29, 2026.

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