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Car rental elite status is one of the most underrated perks in the points-and-miles world. While it doesn’t get the same attention as airline upgrades or hotel breakfast benefits, the right status can save you time, frustration, and real money.
National Car Rental’s Executive Status is considered one of the more valuable mid-tier rental car statuses, thanks to benefits like skipping the counter, priority service, and access to the Executive Area — where you can choose from a wider range of vehicles for the same price.
The good news? You don’t need to rent dozens of cars each year to earn it. Certain American Express cardholders can receive complimentary National Executive Status just for holding the right card. This perk is most commonly associated with Hilton co-branded American Express cards, but it’s also available to cardmembers of the American Express Platinum Card® and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
Here’s which cards qualify, how to activate your status, and what this perk is really worth.
Page Contents
Which American Express Cards Offer Free National Executive Status
You receive complimentary National Executive Status with any of the following Hilton American Express co-branded credit cards.
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
You can also receive complimentary National Executive Status if you hold any of the following American Express cards:
How To Activate Your National Executive Status
Activating your complimentary status is easy and straightforward. All you need to do is head over to the appropriate offer page. You can then choose to enroll or update your details if you are already a National member, and you are set, and your status should be on the way.
You can activate your status from the links below:
Other Options For Car Rental Elite Status
While this is a generous perk and a great way to receive car rental elite status, it is by no means exclusive to American Express. In fact, there are many other ways to receive complimentary car rental elite status. You can read our comprehensive guide on how to get complimentary rental car elite status for free, to learn more about leveraging your status or credit cards for status.
Our Take
National Executive Status is one of those perks that quietly improves every rental experience once you have it. Being able to skip the counter and choose any car from the Executive Area — often including SUVs, luxury sedans, or larger vehicles — can feel like a meaningful upgrade without paying a premium rate.
What makes this perk especially compelling is how easy it is to unlock. If you already hold an eligible American Express card, activating National Executive Status takes just a few minutes and costs nothing extra. Even if you only rent cars a handful of times per year, the time savings and flexibility can quickly outweigh the effort it takes to enroll.
While American Express isn’t the only way to earn rental car elite status, this partnership is a great example of how credit card benefits can extend well beyond flights and hotels. If National is part of your usual rental rotation — or even if it isn’t yet — this is a perk well worth activating.
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