The complete guide to car rental elite status matches
Editor's Note
Like airline and hotel elite status, car rental elite status can make your travels more enjoyable. Most car rental elite status programs offer valuable benefits like increased point earnings, free upgrades and other money-saving perks.
That said, your car rental elite status only works with a single rental car company. So, unfortunately, you'll be without your perks if you opt to rent with a different company.
However, there's a workaround. Many rental car companies offer status matches to elite members of other programs. So, if you have elite status with at least one car rental loyalty program, you may be able to match your status to other programs. For example, you could match your Hertz President's Circle status to Enterprise Platinum.
Matching your status can be a great way to test the waters with a new-to-you rental car company. So, today I'll show you all of the ongoing car rental status match offers available. Let's dive in!
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Enterprise: Match up to Platinum status
Enterprise recently rolled out a status match for Avis and Hertz members, matching status levels all the way up to top-tier Enterprise Plus Platinum. Higher status tiers will be eligible for higher status with Enterprise and status will be valid through Feb. 28 of the second calendar year following the status match. So if you match on Oct. 15, 2021, your status is good through Feb. 28, 2023.
To match your car rental status to Enterprise, sign up for an Enterprise Plus account. Head to the status match website, enter your information and take a photo of your Avis or Hertz statement. Upload it to the status match website and you're done.
Enterprise status isn't as lucrative as Hertz President's Circle or National Executive, but it still has a handful of benefits you can use to improve your Enterprise rental experience. Platinum members get 20% bonus points and four upgrades per program year.
Related: Which car rental company is right for you?
Hertz: Match up to President's Circle status
Hertz President's Circle is one of the more lucrative car rental statuses. These top-tier elites earn 50% bonus points and are guaranteed one-class upgrades at participating locations. President's Circle members also have access to the President's Circle lot at Hertz Ultimate Choice locations worldwide.
Currently, Avis, Enterprise and National members can status match to Hertz, with higher-tier elites being eligible for President's Circle status. To do this, you'll need to create a Hertz account and head to the status match website. Enter your information, provide proof of your existing status and press the "Match My Status" button. You should see your matched status shortly.
Related: Is the Hertz Free-To-Go Pass worth $99 per year?
National: Match your airline, hotel or car rental status
Finally, we have National. It's the car rental company of choice for many TPGers, in large part due to its solid Emerald Club program. Top-tier Executive Elite members can enjoy benefits like a free rental day after five qualifying rentals and upgrades in the U.S., Canada and Europe when you reserve using the midsize rate.
The interesting thing about National's status match is that you can match status from airline programs, hotel programs and car rental loyalty programs. National lists American AAdvantage, United MileagePlus and Hilton Honors as eligible programs but notes that "more than 40" programs are eligible for status matching.
Matching your status is easy — just create a National account and fill out the status match form. Your status match is valid until Feb. 28 of the second calendar year following your approval. You have the option to extend your elite status by meeting the standard elite status requirements.
Related: Credit cards that offer elite status for car rentals
Unconfirmed: Sixt matches in the US
Sixt is a relatively new rental car company in the U.S., but it's rapidly expanding its footprint. Sixt has three elite status tiers, with each offering bonus points, upgrades and other valuable benefits.
According to the Sixt website, you can match your existing car rental, hotel or airline elite status by emailing proof of status. The website doesn't specify which programs are eligible, but we'd assume Sixt will match from all major travel loyalty programs.
Sixt doesn't mention how long a status match is valid, but you should hear more on the specifics after your match is processed.
Related: How to never pay full price for a rental car
Saving on rental car insurance
Having elite status can make your rental car experience better, but you'll still need to pay for insurance. Make sure to pay for your rental with a credit card that offers rental coverage. Two of the best examples of cards that offer primary rental coverage are the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers up to $75,000 in coverage, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred provides coverage up to the car's cash value. This can save you some serious money, especially if you usually pay to buy a damage waiver from your rental car company of choice.
Plus, both of these cards earn bonus points on travel purchases, so you'll earn more points the next time you rent a car.
Related: Should I purchase rental car insurance for a rental car booking?
Bottom line
That's a wrap for all of the current car rental status matching opportunities. Consider utilizing one of these matches the next time you rent with a new rental car company. Doing so is the easiest way to bring your existing elite status benefits with you when you rent elsewhere.
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees