Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
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GUIDE
Car rental loyalty earning rates compared
Car rental loyalty earning rates are the points or credits a rental company's loyalty programme awards for a booking, and the published bases are not alike: Avis Preferred pays points for every qualifying dollar spent, while National Emerald Club pays one rental credit for every qualified car rental. [9] [8]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Avis Preferred earns on spending, awarding points for every qualifying dollar spent on a rental; National Emerald Club earns on frequency, awarding 1 rental credit for every qualified car rental. [9] [8]
- Avis Preferred members earn a minimum of 100 points every rental, and new members get 100 bonus points for renting within the first three months of joining. [9]
- The Avis per-dollar rate climbs with membership level, from 1 point at Avis Preferred to 1.25 at Avis Preferred Plus and 1.5 at Avis President's Club, with accessories earning double the rental rate at each level. [9]
- A National free rental day is priced at 7 credits, up to a Midsize car. [8]
How does Avis Preferred calculate points?
Avis Preferred is the loyalty programme of Avis Rent A Car and it earns on spend rather than on the number of rentals: points accumulate for every qualifying dollar spent. [9] The rate per dollar depends on the member's level, and an accessory earns at a higher rate than the rental itself at every level. [9]
| Membership level | Points per $1 on the rental | Points per $1 on an accessory | How the level is reached |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avis Preferred | 1 | 2 | Free enrolment |
| Avis Preferred Plus | 1.25 | 2.5 | After 10 rentals or $4,000 spent |
| Avis President's Club | 1.5 | 3 | After 20 rentals or $6,000 spent |
Those per-dollar rates and level thresholds are as published by Avis. [9] On top of the per-dollar rate, a Preferred member earns a minimum of 100 points every rental, and a member who rents within the first three months of joining receives 100 bonus points. [9]
How does National Emerald Club calculate credits?
National Emerald Club counts rentals rather than dollars: the programme awards 1 rental credit for every qualified car rental, and a free rental day requires 7 credits, up to a Midsize car. [8] Because the published earning unit is a whole rental, a member's progress toward a free day is measured in rentals rather than in the amount paid. [8] Emerald Club membership also brings Emerald Aisle access, where a member can choose any car Midsize or above and pay the Midsize rate in the United States and Canada. [8]
What does a reward day cost in each programme?
Avis prices rental days in four levels set by the standard base rate of the rental, the car class and the location, and accessories are priced separately at 250 points each per day. [9] The standard base rate does not include any Avis Worldwide Discount, special rates or other offers, and all dollar values are shown in US Dollars. [9]
| Programme | Reward | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Avis Preferred | Rental day, Level 1 (standard base rate up to $50) | 700 points |
| Avis Preferred | Rental day, Level 2 ($50.01 to $85) | 1,400 points |
| Avis Preferred | Rental day, Level 3 ($85.01 to $125) | 2,100 points |
| Avis Preferred | Rental day, Level 4 ($125.01 to $225) | 3,500 points |
| Avis Preferred | Accessory, per day | 250 points |
| National Emerald Club | Free rental day, up to a Midsize car | 7 rental credits |
Reward days at Avis start at 700 points and carry no blackout dates, while National fixes a free rental day at 7 credits. [9] [8] Read alongside the earning tables above, the two programmes price rewards in different units, so a single points-per-dollar figure does not describe both. [9] [8] For more on award pricing by programme, see car rental loyalty redemption values compared.
Do credit cards earn on the same rental?
A rental can add a second currency through the card used to pay for it. The Capital One Venture X card earns 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. [6] The 10-mile rate is tied to bookings made through Capital One Travel. [6]
The same card carries a status upgrade to Hertz Gold+ Rewards, which eligible cardholders activate through a unique Benefits Tab link on the Capital One website or app; Hertz Gold terms and rental qualifications and requirements apply, and the offer is subject to change. [6] Miles moved out of the card programme are governed by the receiving loyalty programme's terms once a transfer is final. [6] See Hertz Gold Plus Rewards for the programme itself.
Exceptions and limits
- Minimums and joining bonuses sit at one level. The 100-point-per-rental minimum and the 100 joining bonus points are described for Avis Preferred members, and the bonus depends on renting within the first three months of joining. [9]
- Reward levels ignore discounted rates. Avis sets redemption levels on the standard base rate, which excludes any Avis Worldwide Discount, special rates or other offers. [9]
- Tier thresholds come in two forms. Avis publishes both a rental count and a spend figure for each higher level: 10 rentals or $4,000 for Avis Preferred Plus, and 20 rentals or $6,000 for Avis President's Club. [9]
- Markets differ. National lists locations across the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, Africa and Australia, while the Emerald Aisle offer of choosing any Midsize or above at the Midsize rate applies in the United States and Canada. [8]
- Card conditions attach. The Hertz Gold+ status upgrade through Capital One requires activation through the Benefits Tab link, and Hertz Gold Terms and Rental Qualifications and Requirements apply. [6]
Frequently asked questions
How many points do you earn on a single Avis rental?
An Avis Preferred member earns a minimum of 100 points every rental, plus 1 point for every qualifying dollar spent; Avis Preferred Plus members earn 1.25 and Avis President's Club members 1.5 points per dollar on the rental. [9]
How many National rentals does a free day take?
National prices a free rental day at 7 credits, up to a Midsize car, and awards 1 rental credit for every qualified car rental. [8]
Does a higher Avis level change what an accessory earns?
Yes. An accessory earns 2 points per dollar at Avis Preferred, 2.5 at Avis Preferred Plus and 3 at Avis President's Club. [9]
Can one rental earn programme points and card miles?
The Avis programme awards points for qualifying dollars spent, and the Capital One Venture X card separately earns 10 miles per dollar on rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. [9] [6]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. Hertz Gold+ Rewards earning rates and Enterprise Plus earning rates are not covered here; see the car rental loyalty programmes overview for those operators.
- Capital One Venture X card rewards and benefits, checked 18 October 2026
- National Car Rental Emerald Club loyalty programme, checked 18 October 2026
- Avis Preferred programme earning levels and reward prices, checked 18 October 2026