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Hertz is one of the world's largest rental car companies, with locations throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, and more. One of the perks of renting through Hertz is that you can earn points and enjoy benefits courtesy of its frequent driver program, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. Even better, you can earn mid-tier Hertz Five Star status for free — no rentals required.
Here's what you need to know about Hertz Five Star status and how to get it for free.
What Is Hertz Five Star Status?
After signing up for the free-to-join Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program, you can earn two tiers of elite status: Five Star and President's Circle. Five Star offers benefits that are a step up from entry-level Gold but less rewarding than President's Circle.
In short, Five Star status comes with bonus points per dollar spent on rentals, as-available upgrades, a wider selection of vehicles, and more.
How to qualify for Hertz Five Star status
If you don't want to leverage a credit card perk, a membership program, or a reciprocal hotel or airline elite status benefit, you can earn Five Star status by renting through Hertz directly. You'll unlock Five Star status after completing three rentals or spending $1,000 with Hertz in a calendar year.
Hertz made it easier to earn Five Star status in early 2026. Before the update, you needed to complete 10 rentals or spend $2,000 annually. Now, even infrequent renters could earn status the old-fashioned way.
Thankfully, there are also several ways to earn Five Star status without meeting these requirements.
Related: How to Get Rental Car Elite Status for Free
Hertz Five Star status benefits
Once you've been awarded Gold Plus Rewards Five Star status, you'll enjoy a handful of perks. However, the most valuable is easily the bonus points. You can use your points to fund free day rentals to help offset the cost of a future rental. Benefits include:
- As-available upgrades: Get a one-class upgrade if your Hertz rental location has cars in stock.
- 25% bonus points: Earn 1.25 points per $1 spent on rentals.
- Wider availability: Enjoy a wider selection of premium cars when renting through a location with an Ultimate Choice lot.
The only guaranteed benefit is the bonus points. All the others can be chalked up as a “maybe.” And as to what your points are worth, standard daily rentals start at 950 Hertz points. With Five Star status, you can unlock a free day after spending $760 on rentals.
Related: When Do Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Points Expire?
How to Get Hertz Five Star Status For Free
While the perks of Hertz Five Star status aren't overwhelmingly impressive, they're still an upgrade to the general Gold tier. If you rent with Hertz with any frequency, it's worth earning Five Star status — even more so if you can get it for free.
You might already be eligible for Hertz Five Star status without realizing it. Here's how.
Select Delta credit cards
A duo of Delta co-branded American Express cards offer complimentary Hertz Five Star status after enrollment. You'll retain Five Star status as long as you keep the card in your wallet and pay its annual fee. To receive the benefit, you'll need to link your Hertz account to your Delta account.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
(Terms apply)
- You may be eligible for as high as 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount - all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Receive a Companion Certificate on a Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Resy Credit: Get up to $10 in statement credits each month after you pay with your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: earn up to $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights and save up to $70 per person on a round-trip Delta flight.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee every 4 years, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $350 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 3X miles per dollar at hotels
- 2X miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
Alternatively, you can claim complimentary top-tier President's Circle status with these premium Delta cards:
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
(Terms apply)
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount - all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you'll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip flight each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
Select Capital One credit cards
Select Capital One credit card holders are eligible for Hertz elite benefits. Although it was initially intended as a temporary perk, it became a permanent benefit in 2024.
If you hold one of the following credit cards, you can upgrade to Hertz Five Star status:
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Venture Business
- Capital One VentureOne Business
- Earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles on all other purchase
- Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✔® (up to $120)
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
- 5X miles per dollar on purchases through Capital One Entertainment
- 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
You can also claim President's Circle status if you hold a premium Capital One card:
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment
- 5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
That's a pretty extensive list, and it includes some of our favorite travel credit cards. If you value earning Capital One miles, odds are you already have one of these cards in your wallet.
Reciprocal benefits with another loyalty program
Hertz partners with several hotels and airlines, and a select few offer complimentary Five Star status as a reciprocal benefit. Thus, if you hold elite status in one of these programs, you can enroll in Hertz Five Star status for free:
- Delta SkyMiles: Silver and Gold Medallion SkyMiles members can register for complimentary Five Star Status. Platinum and Diamond Medallion members are entitled to free President's Circle status. Click here to enroll.
- IHG One Rewards: If you have IHG Gold or Platinum Elite status, you can enroll to receive Hertz Five Star status. Top-tier Diamond Elite status holders can enroll for President's Circle status.
Status match and fast track
Several programs offer free status match opportunities to Hertz Gold Plus Rewards:
- Marriott Bonvoy: As a Marriott Bonvoy Elite, you can earn Hertz elite status. If you have Bonvoy elite status, you'll need to submit a request to find out how your elite tier translates to the Gold Plus program, as this information isn't publicly available.
- Avis: Preferred Plus members with under 25 rentals can match to Five Star, while those with President's Club can match to President's Circle.
- Enterprise Plus: Match Silver and Gold to Five Star, Platinum to President's Circle.
- Europcar: Match Privilege Executive status to Five Star, Privilege Elite to President's Circle.
- National: Match Executive status to Five Star, Executive Elite to President's Circle.
- Sixt: Match Gold and Platinum status to Five Star, Diamond to President's Circle.
To initiate a status match from a rental car loyalty program to Hertz, submit your proof of status here.
FoundersCard
FoundersCard is a membership service, not a credit card. In addition to several other perks and benefits, you'll get complimentary Hertz Five Star status and up to 20% off all daily, weekend, weekly, and monthly rates after you pay your annual member dues.
Final Thoughts
Hertz Five Star is the rental car agency's mid-tier elite status, and it's available for free through several methods. Whether you rent a car once a month for work or once a year on your annual vacation, there are several reasons to enroll in Five Star status. Simply put, you'll earn more points than you otherwise would as a general member, and you might get lucky enough to score an upgrade.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
