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 would never 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 their elite car rental status benefit.
Just having the credit card is not enough. You’ll need to go online, or call the rental car company to request your elite status.
Every World Elite Mastercard provides discounts with several car rental programs, and elite status with Avis and Sixt. Weirdly, the Avis benefits aren't included on the World Elite Master Card Rental Car Benefits Webpage.
Program
Visa Infinite
World Elite Master Card
Amex Platinum
Sixt "Platinum" status. Entitles you to a 15% discount and free upgrade.
Avis Preferred Plus status. One-class upgrade with availability, and a 35% percent discount. The elite status benefit is not listed on the World Elite benefits page, but is still available through this Avis webpage.
No elite status, but a 25% percent discount. The Citibank website still lists Executive status as a card benefit, but the enrollment link just redirects back to Citibank.
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.
In addition, the {{Card|Doublecash|only} doesn’t come standard as a World Elite card, but you can call in and convert it to the better World Elite version, for no extra charge.
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.
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 Titanium and Ambassador elites
Titanium members receive Five Star status, Ambassador members receive President's Circle status, by registering online. 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.
