How to Maximize the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program

Regular customers of the Hertz car rental agency should take advantage of its loyalty rewards program, Hertz Gold Plus. It's free to join, you'll earn Hertz points on all your rentals, and you can later redeem them for reward bookings.

Although the Hertz Gold Plus program isn't as extensive as competitor programs, it's easy to understand and delivers steady value for loyal members.

This article discusses the ins and outs of this loyalty program, explains the elite status tiers, offers tips for getting the most out of every Hertz point you earn, and more.

What is the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program?

Hertz operates the free Gold Plus Rewards program – usually styled as Hertz Gold+. Members earn points when booking rental cars and can redeem them for reward rentals.

This is one of the more basic rewards programs, since there aren't additional redemption options or opportunities to earn. It does offer steady value to loyal Hertz drivers, though.

Overview

Currency: Points

Rewards: Rentals

Pros:

• Free to join and easy to set up
• Can transfer points to another member 1x a year
• Tiered membership program allows you to earn points faster
• Special member rate when booking rentals
• Free additional driver
• Skip the line when renting
• Partners with Delta, Marriott Bonvoy, and CAA

Cons:

• Limited opportunities to earn and redeem points
• Doesn't earn points on taxes or fees
• Points expire after 12 months of inactivity

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards membership tiers

Regular Hertz Gold Plus members earn points for every rental, and these count toward elite status in the program. You begin at the Gold level when you join, but move to 5 Star status once you earn enough points (or spend enough with Hertz), followed by Hertz President's Circle.

Here's what each level gets you:

What are Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points worth?

To calculate how much each Hertz Gold Plus point is worth, we use this handy formula that tells us the value in cents per point:

Value of reward in CAD / cost of reward in points × 100 = value in cents per point (CPP)

Hertz rental cars: 6.7 CPP

Determining the value of your reward points is complicated because several factors are involved. These include the vehicle class you book, the location, the booking length, and whether you're booking a standard or peak date.

That said, we crunched some numbers and found the average standard reward rentals give you 7.9 CPP. This value drops if you book during peak times – you'll only get 5.4 CPP in that case.

When we averaged all of our search results, we got an overall average of 6.7 CPP.

How to earn Hertz Gold Plus Rewards

Unlike some rental car rewards programs, Hertz only allows you to earn points on a rental car's base rate, not on accessories, services, or upgrades. Members don't earn points on taxes or fees, either.

The exact rate at which you earn points depends on your current membership level.

Best credit cards for earning Hertz Gold Plus Rewards

Hertz doesn't offer branded credit cards, but that doesn't mean you can't benefit from using a different credit card. Here are a few we like that include perks such as rental car insurance, fuel discounts, or partnership benefits:

How to redeem Hertz Gold Plus Rewards

The only redemption option for your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards is for vehicle rentals.

Redeem for car rentals

The most important detail to keep in mind when using your points is that you must book your reward rental in advance. You can't simply show up at a Hertz counter and use your points.

To redeem, log in to hertz.ca to make a reservation, and click the box that says, "Use my Hertz Gold+ points." If you can use rewards for your trip, you'll see your options listed on the "Review and Book" page.

Your rewards rate depends on whether you're booking during standard or peak times. Hertz publishes an annual peak day calendar that varies by exact location, and while it doesn't mean you're subject to blackout dates, it does mean you'll use more points when booking.

This table gives examples of many points you'll need for popular types of bookings:

Is the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program worth it?

As a free rewards program, it certainly won't hurt to join Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. If you don't want to juggle programs that offer little value, though, you might want to compare rental car reward programs in more detail.

For instance, when you compare the Hertz Gold Plus program with the Avis Preferred rewards program, you'll see the Hertz points aren't as valuable.

Plus, the Avis program lets you apply points to add-ons and services, something Hertz doesn't allow.

Overall, if you always use Hertz because it has the best availability in your area, there's no drawback to joining its rewards program. Just pay attention to your redemption dates so you get the most value from every point.

FAQ

What are the benefits of Hertz Gold Plus rewards?

In addition to earning points for your Hertz car rentals that you can redeem for reward rentals, you can skip the line when picking up your vehicle, get access to exclusive member rates, and earn vehicle upgrades as you gain status within the program.

How much are 1,000 Hertz points worth?

Although your exact point value will vary, assuming an average CPP of 6.7 for reward rentals, your 1,000 points are worth $67. However, you can get more value by booking strategically – choose standard rental dates over peak ones for the best deal.

Does Hertz Gold Plus expire?

Yes, if your account becomes inactive, Hertz reserves the right to let your points expire. To keep it in good standing, book a rental at least once every 12 months. Note that U.S. members don't have the same limitation – their points don't expire for 5 years.

What are the Avion Rewards and Hertz benefits?

Select RBC Avion credit cards include a 20% discount and Hertz Gold Rewards 5 Star status when renting from Hertz. For instance, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite gives a discount off the base rate and gives you 3x the Avion Rewards through Hertz. Note that location availability varies.