One of the largest rental car companies in the world, with locations in the US, Europe and elsewhere.

I've learned a lot about the program over the years and have found ways to maximize it.

I will show you how to earn and redeem points, as well as give an overview of how to earn and use gold plus rewards.

How to earn Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points

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Renting cars is the only way to accumulate points. You will earn points for every dollar spent on rentals. The bonus points will be based on the status of the person.

  • Five Star: 25% bonus equaling 1.25 points per dollar.
  • President’s Circle: 50% bonus equaling 1.5 points per dollar.

After 18 months, the points are no longer valid.

How to redeem Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points

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When it comes to redemption, things get difficult. Standard and Any Day are redemption levels. The standard awards are limited to certain dates. AnyDay rewards are more expensive than the number of points.

I think it's a good idea to redeem points for standard rewards. AnyDay rentals are not a good value unless you pay a lot.

The chart shows how you can maximize redemptions.

Maximizing Hertz Standard redemptions

The reward chart was introduced in August. The price for a round-trip rental within the U.S. starts at 950 points per day for the standard rentals.

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You can rent cars for more points. There are higher-end vehicles in the Specialty tier. Performance vehicles like the Corvettes and high-end mustangs are available in Adrenaline, while ultra-high-end luxury vehicles like the Cadillac Escalades, Jaguar and Land Rover are available in Prestige.

Specialty round-trip rentals in the U.S. start at 1,900 points. The award chart can be found on the website.

One-week rentals with points are discounted by the company. In the U.S., weekly round-trip standard rentals start at 4,750 points, which is around 670 points per day, and a significant discount over booking seven one-day rentals.

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One-way rentals are more expensive than round-trip rentals. Standard rental in the US will cost 1,900 points.

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How to book Standard awards with Hertz

Standard awards can be booked at a certain time. There is no easy answer. The standard award dates are different at each location.

The list of Standard award dates can be found on the website. You can only book with AnyDay rewards if you want to see the peak dates. The Standard rate does not include any date periods not listed here.

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It is a good idea to check multiple Hertz locations in a city to see which have off-peak dates. During holidays, some locations only have peak dates. It's possible to find a location that works for you.

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Maximizing your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points by renting high-end cars

The points can be worth more than two cents per point in some instances. Premium rentals can be booked when you use your points for standard awards. If you are already using your points, you should rent a cool ride since you can use these awards for anything from a compact car to a high-end premium rental.

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The total cost of a one-day Large Premium Sedan at Chicago O'Hare International Airport is $150.29 after tax. You can get a 1.64 cents per point on your rental if you use 950 points. Booking a large sedan costs $119.57 after tax, but this is more valuable.

Rent a high-end car with your points. You will have more fun and get more value from the points you have earned.

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards elite status

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Five Star and President's Circle are elite status tiers that are offered byhertz. You can earn status based on how much you spend and how often.

We will discuss qualification requirements and the benefits offered by the status tiers. It is important to note that the rental requirements are higher than what is listed below.

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Hertz Five Star elite status

Five Star status is the lower end of the two tiers and is currently earned after you have spent at least $2,000 on rental cars in a year. The benefits of being a five star member are limited for most renters. There are some notable benefits.

  • Space available upgrades: You’re eligible for a one-class car upgrade if the Hertz location you’re renting from has cars in stock.
  • Bonus points: You’ll earn 25% more points on all rentals, equal to 1.25 points per dollar spent.
  • Wider Ultimate Choice availability: When renting from a Hertz location with an Ultimate Choice lot, Hertz Five Star members have access to a wider range of cars.

While a one-class upgrade is nice, it isn't guaranteed, and these benefits aren't very useful. A 25% point bonus is the most valuable benefit.

Hertz President’s Circle elite status

The President's Circle status starts to get more interesting. This is the top tier of status and includes perks. There is a look here.

  • Guaranteed upgrades: You’re eligible for a guaranteed one-class car upgrade. In practice, the upgrade depends on whether the Hertz location you’re renting from has an upgraded car in stock.
  • Bonus points: You’ll earn 50% more points on all rentals for 1.5 points per dollar spent.
  • Widest Ultimate Choice availability: If renting from a Hertz location with an Ultimate Choice lot, you’ll have access to a wider range of cars than a standard or Five Star member.
  • Dedicated Hertz Rewards phone line: You can access a dedicated Hertz phone number for President’s Circle members.

You will earn President's Circle status after spending at least $3000 on rental cars in a year. The benefits are more valuable than Five Star, but I wouldn't go out of my way to rent with them just to get status.

Everything you need to know about CarRentals.

A look at Hertz’s various partnerships

Delta airplanes at the gate in Boston

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Status matches from Capital One and Delta are popular withhertz. If you have The Platinum Card from American Express, you can take advantage of other perks, such as savings on the rental car company.

Free Hertz status with Capital One

You may be able to get a Capital One card. Capital One Venture X rewards credit card holders are eligible for President's Circle status.

This perk is available to authorized users and account managers who are at least 21 years old. On Capital One's partner page, you can learn more about the company.

Stacking car perks with two companies.

Free Hertz status for Delta Medallion elites

You can get a free status match if you have Delta elite status. Platinum and Diamond members can be members of the President's Circle.

There is a status match on Delta's website. SkyMiles can be earned by crediting rentals to Delta instead ofhertz

There's a guide to car rental elite status matches.

Hertz benefits for Amex Platinum cardholders

(Photo by Isabelle Raphael / The Points Guy)

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The Platinum Card from American Express gives some benefits. The Amex Platinum corporate discount code can be used to take advantage of a number of perks.

  • Special savings: discounts off standard rates, as well as off of Prestige Collection vehicles.
  • One car-class upgrade whenever possible: Participating locations will upgrade your rental by one car class based on availability.
  • Four-hour grace period: You can return your car up to four hours late without penalty.

The American Express Platinum card doesn't have elite status. There's still a way to go. You can match the status of the Emerald Club Executive with the National status on the Platinum Card.

You can get a free grace period on your next CarRentals CarRentals.

Take advantage of Hertz perks with a AAA membership

I keep a yearly membership for the included perks. Members have access to a corporate code that gives up to 20% off rentals, waives the fee for young renters, and offers a discount on fuel, among other perks.

Here's how to enroll in the young driver program.

Save money on rental car insurance with credit cards

Minor Car Accident

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The primary damage waivers are offered by most rental car companies. There are waivers that protect you against theft and damage to the vehicle.

Waivers of primary damage costs. If you rent cars frequently, you will pay between 14 and 20 per day, which is out of pocket.

Waivers are always recommended when renting a car. If you end up in a wreck, it can save you a lot of money, as you can claim the damage waiver coverage before your personal insurance.

If you pay for your rental with a card with car rental coverage, you can get one of the damage waivers.

There are credit cards that give elite status for car rentals.

Bottom line

If you rent frequently, elite status can be useful, and points can be valuable during off-peak times. You should always rent from the company that gives you the best price.