Hertz President Circle is a free loyalty program that gives frequent renters discounts, faster checkout, and perks like free upgrades and late fees waived
Hertz President Circle is Hertz's rewards program for regular car renters. Members earn points on every rental, get discounted rates on future bookings, and skip some of the standard rental steps. There is no membership fee, and you can join at any Hertz location or online. The program has three tiers — Blue, Silver, and Gold — and your tier determines how many points you earn per dollar spent and what perks you unlock.
The core benefit is points accumulation. Every dollar you spend on a rental earns points, and those points convert to free rental days or discounts. Higher tiers earn more points per dollar and unlock benefits like free vehicle upgrades, waived late fees, and priority customer service. If you rent cars regularly for business or leisure, the program can meaningfully reduce your rental costs over time.
Key Takeaways
- Hertz President Circle membership is free and you earn points on every rental that convert to discounts or free rental days.
- The program has three tiers — Blue, Silver, and Gold — and you move up by spending more money on rentals each year.
- Higher tiers unlock benefits like free vehicle upgrades, waived late fees, and priority phone support that lower your total rental cost.
- You can join online or at any Hertz location and start earning points when ready on your next rental.
- Points do not expire as long as you rent at least once every 24 months, but your tier status resets each year.
How the Three Tiers Work and What You Earn at Each Level
Hertz President Circle has three membership levels, and you move between them based on how much you spend on rentals in a calendar year. The Blue tier is the entry level — you start here when you join. Silver requires spending a certain amount annually, and Gold requires spending more. The exact dollar thresholds vary by year and are set by Hertz, so check your account or call Hertz directly for current numbers.
At the Blue tier, you earn one point per dollar spent. At Silver, you earn 1.25 points per dollar. At Gold, you earn 1.5 points per dollar. This means a $500 rental earns you 500 points at Blue, 625 at Silver, and 750 at Gold. Points accumulate in your account and you can redeem them for free rental days, discounts on future bookings, or upgrades. One point typically equals one cent in value, though the exact redemption rate depends on how you use them.
Your tier resets on January 1 each year. If you spent enough to reach Silver in 2024, you start 2025 back at Blue and must spend again to move up. However, your accumulated points do not reset — they stay in your account and carry forward. The only way to lose points is if you do not rent a car for 24 consecutive months.
Perks That Come With Higher Tier Status
Silver and Gold members receive benefits beyond higher point earnings. Both tiers waive the standard late return fee if you return the car late, which normally costs money depending on how late you are. Both tiers also offer free vehicle upgrades when available — you can request a larger or nicer car at no extra charge when you pick up your rental.
Gold members get additional perks. You receive priority phone support, meaning your call goes to a dedicated line rather than the standard queue. You also get a waived one-time loss damage waiver fee, which is the insurance option Hertz offers to cover damage to the rental car. Gold members can also access special rates and promotions that are not advertised to lower tiers.
Silver and Gold members both receive a member discount code that can be used when booking online or over the phone. This code stacks with other promotions, so you can sometimes combine it with a sale or corporate rate to lower your total cost further.
How to Join and Start Earning Points
You can join Hertz President Circle at any Hertz rental location or online through the Hertz website. Joining online takes a few minutes — you provide your name, email, phone number, and driver's license information. You do not need a credit card to join, and there is no membership fee. Once your account is created, you receive a membership number when ready.
If you join in person at a Hertz location, the rental agent can set up your account while you are renting. You will receive your membership number before you drive off the lot, and your rental will count toward your points balance. Either way, you start earning points on your very next rental.
To earn points, you must book under your membership number. When you make a reservation online, enter your membership number in the loyalty program field. When you rent in person, give the agent your membership number or the email address associated with your account. If you forget to provide it at the time of rental, you can contact Hertz customer service within a certain window and ask them to add the rental to your account retroactively, though this is not may provide.
Redeeming Points and Understanding Their Value
Points can be redeemed in several ways. The most straightforward is converting them to a free rental day or a discount on your next rental. You can also use points to pay for upgrades, insurance, or fuel. You redeem points through your online account or by calling Hertz customer service. There is no minimum number of points required to redeem — you can use even a small balance toward a discount.
The value of a point depends on how you use it. If you redeem 500 points for a $5 discount on a future rental, each point is worth one cent. If you redeem 1,000 points for a free day on a $100 rental, each point is worth 10 cents. The best value typically comes from redeeming points for free rental days rather than small discounts, because the per-point value is higher.
Points do not expire as long as you rent at least once every 24 months. If you go two years without a rental, your account becomes inactive and your points are forfeited. If your account becomes inactive, you can reactivate it by renting again, but you will not recover the lost points.
How President Circle Compares to Other Rental Car Loyalty Programs
Most major rental car companies — Enterprise, Avis, Budget — offer similar free loyalty programs. All of them let you earn points on rentals, offer tiered membership with higher benefits at upper levels, and let you redeem points for discounts or free days. The main differences are in how fast you earn points, what perks each tier unlocks, and how straightforward it is to move between tiers.
Hertz President Circle's point earning rate is competitive but not exceptional. The free upgrades and waived late fees at higher tiers are standard across the industry. Where Hertz stands out is in the loss damage waiver waiver for Gold members — this is a perk that saves money on insurance, which not all programs offer. If you rent frequently and want to avoid paying for damage coverage, this can be valuable.
The real advantage of any loyalty program is consistency. If you rent from the same company regularly, you build points faster and unlock perks sooner. Switching between rental companies means starting over at the entry level each time. If you rent cars several times a year, sticking with one company's program will save you more money than chasing the best rate on each individual rental.
What Happens to Your Membership and Points When You Stop Renting
Your membership account stays open indefinitely, but your tier status resets every January 1. If you do not rent in a given year, you drop back to Blue tier, even if you were Gold the previous year. Your accumulated points remain in your account as long as you rent at least once every 24 months.
If you go 24 months without a rental, your account becomes inactive. Hertz will send you a notice before this happens, usually via email. Once your account is inactive, your points are deleted and cannot be recovered. You can reactivate your account by renting again, but you start fresh with zero points and Blue tier status.
If you have a large point balance and know you will not be renting for a while, consider using your points before your account goes inactive. You can redeem them for a discount on a future rental even if you do not plan to use it when ready — some programs let you explore the discount to a rental booked months in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay to join Hertz President Circle?
No. Hertz President Circle is a free loyalty program with no membership fee. You can join online or at any Hertz rental location at no cost.
Can I use my points if I rent from a Hertz franchise location instead of a corporate location?
Most Hertz franchise locations honor President Circle membership and points, but policies can vary. Before renting from a franchise, confirm with that location that they accept your membership and will credit your points to your account.
What happens to my points if I reach Gold tier and then drop back to Silver the next year?
Your accumulated points stay in your account. Your tier status resets to Blue on January 1, but the points you earned at Gold do not disappear. You keep them and can redeem them anytime, and you can earn more points at whatever tier you are in during the new year.
How long does it take to earn enough points for a free rental day?
It depends on the rental cost and your tier. If you rent a $100 car at Blue tier, you earn 100 points. A free day on a $100 rental typically costs around 10,000 points, so you would need 100 rentals of that size. Most frequent renters accumulate enough for a free day within a year or two of regular rentals.
Can I transfer my points to someone else or use them on a rental booked by another person?
Points are tied to your membership account and cannot be transferred. However, you can redeem points as a discount code and share that code with someone else to use on their rental, though this is not the standard intended use of the program.