Credit cards with elite car rental status

  Car Rental Strategies, Credit Card Reference

One of the benefits of Mastercard World Elite, Amex Platinum and Visa Infinite credit cards is elite status with one or more car rental companies.

Being an elite member of a car rental loyalty program is nice, but not exceedingly valuable. You get a decent chance of a one-class rental car upgrade, and somewhat faster reward earning rate on your rentals. As a result, we don’t recommend getting a credit card, just to get elite rental car status. However, there is a reasonable chance that you already have, or will wind up getting, at least one of the cards that has this benefit. And you might as well take advantage of any elite car rental status that you are entitled to.

Just having the credit card is not enough. You’ll need to go online, or call the rental car company, after you get your credit card, to set up your status.

Jump to

• World Elite Mastercards
• Visa Infinite cards
• American Express Platinum cards
• Other paths to automatic Hertz status

World Elite Mastercards

Every World Elite Mastercard provides discounts with several car rental programs, and elite status with Sixt. These cards no longer provide elite status with Avis and National. World Elite Master Card Rental Car Benefits Webpage.

	Sixt "Platinum" status. Entitles you to a 15% discount and free upgrade.
	No elite status, but one-class upgrade with availability, and a 35% percent discount.
	No elite status, but a 25% discount.
	No elite status, but a 25% percent discount

Several of the cards you might be interested in are World Elite Mastercards. So, there is a good chance that you’ll eventually wind up getting at least one of these cards.

• Citi Prestige Card and Citi Premier Card.
• American Airlines Platinum Card and American Airlines Executive Card.
• Arrival Card.
• Hawaiian Airlines Credit Card.
• Virgin Atlantic Credit Card.
• Air France KLM Credit Card.
• Sak's Fifth Avenue Card
• Ameriprise World Elite Card
• Capital One Buy Power Card
• Priority Destinations World Elite

In addition, there are a few other Citibank credit cards that don’t come standard as World Elite cards, but you can call in, and convert them to the better World Elite version, for no extra charge:

• Citi Double Cash Card.
• Citi Preferred Card.

Visa Infinite cards

Visa Infinite cardholders get a set of car rental benefits.

	Emerald "Executive" status Choose from Emerald Aisle, getting full-size and above cars, for the mid-size rate Guaranteed upgrade to full-size or better, from mid-size car Free rental day after every 6 rentals, rather than 7
	You don't get elite status, but you do get a 30% discount, using AWD S107100.
	You don't get elite status, but you do get a 30% discount, using code vinfinite.

The only Visa Infinite cards are the Sapphire Reserve Card, CNB Crystal Infinite Card, UBS Infinite Card, and the no longer available for new signups Ritz Carlton Credit Card.

American Express Platinum cards

Amex Platinum Card Guide

Every version of the American Express Platinum card comes with

	Emerald "Executive" status Choose from Emerald Aisle, getting full-size and above cars, for the mid-size rate Guaranteed upgrade to full-size or better, from mid-size car Free rental day after every 6 rentals, rather than 7 (To add status to your account, you can call in or go to the National sign up page.)
	No elite status, but you'll earn a free weekend car rental (good for two days), if you complete two qualifying car rentals during the first half or second half of the year. To qualify, your paid rentals need to be at least two days long, booked with AWD A756900, and paid for with your Platinum card. You can earn one certificate every six months. You'll also get a copy of the Wall Street Journal in your car at a bunch of major US Airports.
	No elite status, but, you can use a special rate code (211762) to get a discounted rate, that comes with a four hour no-charge grace period for returning your car (which can sometimes shave an entire day’s rental charges off your bill).

Other paths to automatic Hertz status

United Club Credit Card	The premium United Club Credit Card gives you automatic Hertz President's club access (not just their lower Five Star status).
United and Delta elite members	Delta Medallion and United Premier elite members automatically get elite status in the Hertz Gold Plus program. That benefit is also available for people with the high-annual-fee United Club card.
Marriott / SPG Platinum elites	Marriott and SPG Platinum elites can receive Hertz Five Star status directly. Previously, they needed to link their Marriott and United accounts to get United Silver status, and then use their United status to get elite status from Hertz.

Car Rentals 101: Save Money and Time With Your Rental

Car Rental Loyalty Programs

Credit Cards That Provide “Primary” Rental Car Coverage

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