{"id":262464,"date":"2026-09-11T15:00:06","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T15:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/11\/best-rental-car-loyalty-programs-in-2026-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2026-09-11T15:00:06","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T15:00:06","slug":"best-rental-car-loyalty-programs-in-2026-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/11\/best-rental-car-loyalty-programs-in-2026-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"Best rental car loyalty programs in 2026 – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The perks and rewards you can earn on rental cars vary drastically between programs. And not every rental car loyalty program is a traditional rewards program. But joining the right program can help you earn free rental days, get upgrades, skip the counter or unlock elite status through a credit card or another loyalty program.<\/p>\n

So, here’s a look at the best rental car loyalty programs for U.S. consumers.<\/p>\n

Comparison of the best rental car loyalty programs<\/h2>\n

Before we dive into each program, here’s a quick comparison of the best rental car loyalty programs.<\/p>\n

I chose programs to include in this guide based on three factors: would I recommend that other travelers use them, are they available in most major cities and airports throughout the U.S., and do they offer either rewards that you can use toward free rental days or member discounts on rentals. As such, I excluded regional programs, as well as Ace Member Rewards and Fox Rewards, which offer budget rentals but often result in poor rental experiences due to the lack of widely available skip-the-line pickup features.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Program<\/th>\nEarning rate on rentals for members without status<\/th>\nStarting rate for a free rental day<\/th>\nReward expiration policy<\/th>\nComplimentary status through credit cards and travel loyalty programs<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\n\n

No earnings on rentals<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

No rental rewards<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

N\/A<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

No elite status<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n\n

1 point per dollar spent<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

700 points<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5 years after earning, or 12 months without activity<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Select travel loyalty program elite members and credit card holders, including members of Air Canada Aeroplan, American AAdvantage, Atmos Rewards, JetBlue TrueBlue and United MileagePlus<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n\n

No earnings on rentals besides occasional Budget Bucks promotions<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

No rental rewards<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

N\/A<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

No elite status<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n\n

1 point per dollar spent<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

500 points<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24 months without rental activity<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

No elite status<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n\n

1 point per dollar spent<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

400 points<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3 years without a qualifying rental<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

None<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n\n

1 point per dollar spent<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

950 points<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5 years after earning, or 12 months without rental<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Select travel loyalty program elite members and credit card holders, including members of Air Canada Aeroplan, Delta SkyMiles, IHG One Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n\n

1 rental credit per qualified car rental<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5 to 7 rental credits (depending on your status)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Credits don’t expire for active accounts<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Select credit card holders<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n\n

1 rental point and 1 status point per 1 euro spent<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

No minimum due to flexible cash-and-points system<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24 months from the end of the quarter earned<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Select credit card holders<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n
\n

No earnings on rentals<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

No rental rewards<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

N\/A<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

No elite status<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Related: Credit cards that offer elite status for car rentals<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Alamo Insiders<\/h2>\n

The Alamo Insiders program offers members 5% off base rates on pay-later reservations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean.<\/p>\n

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<\/div>
THOMAS BARWICK\/GETTY IMAGES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The program doesn’t offer any elite status, earnings on rental or opportunities to redeem for free rentals. But it does offer a skip-the-counter option during the online accelerated check-in process if you are picking up from an eligible airport location.<\/p>\n

Avis Preferred<\/h2>\n

The Avis Preferred<\/a><\/span> program lets you earn and redeem points, plus members can skip the line and head directly to their car at most rental locations.<\/p>\n

Avis Preferred has three tiers: Avis Preferred, Avis Preferred Plus and Avis President’s Club.<\/p>\n

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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\nAvis Preferred<\/th>\nAvis Preferred Plus<\/th>\nAvis President’s Club<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\n
\n

None<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10 rentals or $4,000 spent<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

20 rentals or $6,000 spent<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n\n

1 point per dollar spent on rentals and 2 points per dollar spent on accessories<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.25 points per dollar spent on rentals and 2.5 points per dollar spent on accessories<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.5 points per dollar spent on rentals and 3 points per dollar spent on accessories<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n\n

None<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

One-car class upgrade each time you reserve a midsize or above<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Two-car class upgrade each time you reserve a midsize or above, and guaranteed availability to book up to a full size when you book at least 24 hours in advance<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

You’ll keep Avis Preferred status through the end of the calendar year following the one in which you earned it. You can also obtain complimentary Avis Preferred status through select loyalty programs and travel rewards cards<\/a><\/span>:<\/p>\n

You can redeem points for rental reward days and accessories; rental reward days start at 700 points, while accessories start at 250 points per accessory per day. Specifically, here’s how Avis divides its rental reward days:<\/p>\n