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Do you have elite status with Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National, or Sixt? If so, you may be eligible to get an Avis status match to one of three elite levels in the Avis Preferred program. In this article, we'll go over the details of the status match program — including some important limitations.
Avis Car Rentals
Avis is one of the three big car rental companies in the U.S., along with Enterprise and Hertz. Just as Enterprise owns National and Alamo, and Hertz owns Dollar and Thrifty, Avis owns Budget, Payless, and Zipcar. In other parts of the world, competitors of Avis include Europcar, Sixt, and other local companies. Each brand has its pros and cons.
Avis is the third-largest car rental company in the U.S., with Enterprise at the top followed by Hertz. Personally, I'm a fan of Europcar when I'm traveling abroad. This is because I tend to get the best deals and service from them. But, Avis is also known for its promotions and discounts.
Avis Preferred Status Match Program
Depending on which elite status you already hold, you can get Avis Preferred, Preferred Plus, or President's Circle. Here's the table on how each status transfers to Avis:
In order to claim your free Avis Preferred status, you can go to the Avis status match website and follow these three easy steps:
- Select which elite status you're transferring from.
- Upload proof of your membership with that status.
- Fill in your name, email address, country of residence, and Avis Preferred 6-digit customer number.
These three steps available on the Avis website are only for members in the following countries:
- Austria
- Belgium
- The Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- The Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- The United Kingdom
If you live elsewhere, you can try to status match via email. Just send proof of your elite status with Hertz, Enterprise, or National to profile.update@avisbudget.com. However, the status match page specifically states that it is not applicable to residents in the USA and Canada.
Once matched, your new Avis status match will be valid for 12 months. Also, Avis Preferred Plus members will need to rent at least five times and spend over €1,000 (about $1,087) within those 12 months to keep their status. President's Circle members will need to rent at least 10 times and spend at least €2,000 (roughly $2,173).
Benefits of Avis Preferred Elite Status
Car rental company loyalty programs are a great way to earn some free car rentals. Hertz has three tiers to its rewards program. Members start off with Avis Preferred and, if not status matching, can gain a higher status with a qualifying number of rentals and amount spent:
- Spend €1,000 on five or more rentals in a year to move up to Avis Preferred Plus.
- Spend €2,000 on 10 or more rentals a year to move up to attain Avis Preferred President's Circle.
Avis Preferred
- Priority service.
- One money-off voucher after first completed rental.
- One upgrade voucher after your second completed rental.
- One weekend voucher after your third completed rental.
Avis Preferred Plus
- Priority service.
- Priority for availability.
- Single upgrade when available.
- One weekend voucher after your third completed rental.
- Free additional driver.
Avis Preferred President's Circle
- Priority service.
- Priority for availability.
- Single upgrade when available.
- One weekend voucher after your third completed rental.
- Free additional driver.
- Double upgrade on weekends when available.
If you aren't already an Avis Preferred member, you can join here for free. Go to the Avis website for the full terms and conditions of the program. Remember that your Avis Preferred points and account will expire if you have no activity for 12 months.
Other Ways to Get Avis Preferred Status
If you're based in the U.S. or Canada, Avis now explicitly excludes you from this Avis status match. However, you have plenty of other ways to get Avis elite status:
- The The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and The Platinum Card® from American Express both offer Avis Preferred Plus elite status as part of their many travel benefits. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
- Visa Infinite cardholders can enroll to get Avis Preferred Plus elite status.
- Cardholders of the following United credit cards can get Avis President's Club status: United Club℠ Infinite Card, United℠ Presidential Plus℠ Card, United Club℠ Business Card, United℠ Presidential Plus℠ Business Card
- United Premier elite members can also enroll to get Avis elite status. Silver and Premier Gold members get Avis Preferred Club status, while Premier Platinum status and higher will receive Avis President's Club status.
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
I was able to get the Avis President’s club status via status-match from Hertz. It did take 72 hrs for an official email to arrive. Thank you for the information!
Glad this article helped! Do you mind sharing which country you’re based in?
Avis does not want to give President’s club status via status-match. This is their reply to me on Nov 28, 2022:
“Thank you for your response and question regarding your recent status match. Our Presidents Club and Chairman’s Club are invitation only programs that are managed by our Sales Teams and not a program that we can offer. However, I will upgrade you to our Avis Preferred Plus Premium status which gives you all of the benefits of Preferred Plus with additional opportunities to get additional bonus points, and more points earned per rental.”
False advertising?
That’s strange – especially as their website still clearly indicates that you can match to President’s Club. Perhaps you can respond with a screenshot of the website?
Very well written and some great info here.
But why only for those outside the USA and why only the listed countries?
Status in car programs are really weak for me, I only get them to have my choice of vehicles without having to line up.
I’ve seen business travel change to using Uber instead of using car rentals.
If you did so, then please forgive me if I missed it, but it would be useful to include in your article a chart indicating the credit cards which confer status at Avis and other car rental companies, and the status levels each such card confers.
Froide – you can see this resource https://awardwallet.com/blog/how-to-get-rental-car-elite-status-for-free/
You can’t go wrong with status match… Something for nothing
I love status matches for rentals and hotels before a big trip, definitely worth submitting requests for the benefits!
Car rental prices seem through the roof at the moment, so I guess if there’s guaranteed upgrades to be had at least a status match will save a little bit of cash if you need a bigger upgrade
Car rental programs should do more status match promotions.