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Hertz President’s Circle is one of the few worthwhile rental car elite statuses worth pursuing.

Polestar

Various Amex Platinum cards now offer free Hertz President’s Circle Status just for being a cardholder.
You’ll get perks like guaranteed rental car upgrades, bonus points, and the ability to skip the line.
Hertz President’s Circle normally requires 15 rentals or $3,000 in Hertz spending annually.
Read Insider’s guide to the best travel rewards credit cards.

The Platinum Card® from American Express
is complex. You won’t find a card with more nooks and crannies that are filled with rebates, elite status matches, statement credits, complimentary memberships, etc.

As of November 4, 2022, the card has added another such benefit: Hertz President’s Circle Status**. This is Hertz’s top-tier elite status, and comes with some really valuable benefits. For example, you won’t ever have to wait in line at the airport; you can go straight to your car on arrival, and you can simply drop off your keys when you depart. You’re also guaranteed an upgrade of at least one car class.

Hertz President’s Circle normally requires 15 rentals or $3,000 in spending each year. But Amex Platinum cardholders can achieve it with a few mouse clicks. Here’s what you need to know.

Insider’s Featured Rewards Credit Cards

Earn unlimited 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Earn 1x points on other purchases.

Limited time offer of 30,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months from account opening (offer expires 01/10/2023)

Earn 3x ThankYou® points at restaurants and supermarkets. Earn 3x ThankYou® points at gas stations, air travel, and hotels. Earn 1x ThankYou® points on all other purchases.

80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening

Earn 5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on select streaming services. Earn 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Earn 2x points on other travel. Earn 1x point per dollar on everything else.

60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Amex Platinum cards now offer Hertz President’s Circle Status

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Intro offer

80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership

Rewards

Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 per calendar year. Earn 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Intro offer

80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership

Rewards

On American Express’s website

Rewards

Annual Fee

$695

See Rates and Fees

Intro offer

80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

See Pay Over Time APR

Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

N/A

Editor’s Rating

4.75/5

Our editor’s ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.

Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)

Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber

Bonus categories leave something to be desired

One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups are excluded.
American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. There are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Enrollment required. Learn more.
Breeze through security with CLEAR® lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. Learn more.
$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

Read our review

You qualify for Hertz President’s Circle Status if you’ve got one of the following cards:

And get this — even authorized users on the Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card qualify for President’s Circle elite status.

Amex Platinum cards already offered varying levels of elite status with rental agencies like National and Avis. This new top-tier status addition with Hertz is a nice surprise. Hertz President’s Circle comes with the following benefits:

Skip the counter and go straight to your car
Drop off keys without standing in a line
Guaranteed upgrade to the next class of rental car
50% bonus points on spending
The widest selection of rental cars
One free additional driver
The ability to use points for more than just free day rentals and online rewards

A few of these benefits are difference-makers. For example, when renting an intermediate car or above, you’ll get to choose fancy President’s Circle cars such as Mercedes, Infiniti, Mustangs, luxury SUVs, and so on. Also, never queuing up for your car can save literally hours, depending on the airport you’re renting from.

To activate this elite status, click this link. It’ll take you to a page that will ask for your name, email address, and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards number.

It’s easy to activate Hertz President’s Circle elite status online.

Hertz

Alternately, you can email [email protected], and a representative will make the upgrade for you.

Bottom line

Hertz President’s Circle is one of the better top-notch rental car elite status available — and now, it’s one of the easiest to earn. If you hold either The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (or are an authorized user on either of those cards), or a corporate American Express Platinum card, all you have to do is enroll to receive complimentary President’s Circle status. Previously, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was the only card to offer this benefit.

You’d normally have to complete 15 rentals or spend $3,000 on Hertz rentals in a calendar year to receive President’s Circle, so this is a hyper-effective shortcut — and one that those with casual rental car habits will appreciate, as they’d otherwise never taste the benefits of top-tier status.

Joseph Hostetler, CEPF

Credit cards reporter