The Complete Guide to National Car Rental and Emerald Club

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National Car Rental's Emerald Club offers useful elite-status perks and an easy path to earning Free Days. Members earn rental credits on eligible rentals, while higher tiers unlock benefits such as access to larger vehicles and guaranteed-vehicle privileges.

This guide covers how Emerald Club works, what each status tier includes, and how to earn and redeem Free Days.

National Car Rental and Emerald Club at a Glance

National advertises more than 1,500 locations worldwide, giving Emerald Club members access to a broad rental network.

Emerald Club is free to join and has three published tiers:

Emerald Club tier	Qualification	Credits per Free Day	Free Day vehicle limit
Emerald Club	Enroll for free	7	Up to midsize
Executive	12 paid rentals or 40 paid rental days in a calendar year	6	Up to full-size
Executive Elite	25 paid rentals or 85 paid rental days in a calendar year	5	Any car class except trucks and exotic vehicles

National upgrades members as they qualify during the calendar year. Rentals can qualify either by transaction count or paid rental days; you do not need to meet both measures.

How Emerald Club Makes Rentals Faster

One of Emerald Club's biggest conveniences is the ability to skip the rental counter at participating locations and head straight to your vehicle.

How that works depends on the location and the service attached to your reservation, so you'll want to check the details before arrival.

Emerald Aisle

The Emerald Aisle is the program's best-known benefit. At participating U.S. or Canadian locations, you can reserve a midsize car, bypass the counter, and choose an available vehicle from the Aisle. You pay the reserved midsize rate even if you select a larger vehicle.

The final selection depends on what other renters have taken and what the location has placed in the Aisle. Membership does not guarantee a particular make, model, feature, or larger vehicle. If you need a minivan, SUV, convertible, or another specific class, you'll need to reserve that class instead of relying on Aisle inventory.

Executive Area

Members with Executive or Executive Elite status can choose from a separate selection of full-size and larger vehicles at participating U.S. and Canadian locations while paying the reserved midsize rate.

Inventory varies, but this can be especially valuable for travelers who would otherwise pay more for a larger vehicle.

Other Emerald Club pickup options

Emerald Reserve Service lets members reserve the vehicle class they need, bypass the counter, and select from that class's designated row at participating locations. You pay the rate for the class you reserved rather than receiving an Aisle-style upgrade.

At participating Emerald Aisle locations in the U.S. and Canada, Emerald Checkout lets members scan the vehicle's QR code or barcode in the National app, review rental and payment details, and generate a barcode to show with their driver's license at the exit booth.

Locations without Aisle access may instead offer dedicated Emerald Club counter service.

Emerald Club Status Benefits

Higher status improves both the pickup experience and the rewards program.

Emerald Club

Base members get Emerald Aisle access at participating locations and earn a Free Day after seven rental credits. A Free Day covers up to a midsize vehicle.

Members can also choose between Emerald Club rental credits and participating airline or hotel rewards, earn credits and status through qualifying Enterprise rentals, and receive other benefits such as qualifying additional-driver fee waivers.

Executive

Executive requires 12 paid rentals or 40 paid rental days in a calendar year. It includes the base-tier benefits plus:

Executive Area access: Choose an available full-size or larger vehicle from the Executive Area and pay the reserved midsize rate at participating U.S. and Canadian locations.
Faster Free Days: Six rental credits automatically convert into a Free Day valid for up to a full-size vehicle.
Guaranteed upgrades: National promises an upgrade when an Executive member reserves a full-size through luxury vehicle in the U.S. or Canada. Specialty vehicles are excluded, and the benefit remains subject to the program and rental terms.
Premier Selection pricing: Members may receive special pricing when paying to upgrade to a high-end vehicle from National's Premier Selection at participating U.S. and Canadian locations.

Car tail light with red trees and a road in the background.

Executive Elite

Executive Elite requires 25 paid rentals or 85 paid rental days in a calendar year. It includes the lower-tier benefits plus:

Fastest Free Days: Five rental credits automatically convert into a Free Day.
Broader Free Day redemptions: Executive Elite members can redeem a Free Day for any available car class except trucks and exotic vehicles. National explicitly advertises no blackout dates for this benefit, though vehicle availability and other rental restrictions still apply.
Guaranteed vehicle: National guarantees a vehicle up to full-size with at least 24 hours' notice at participating locations in the U.S. and Canada. This promises transportation, not a specific make or model.

National also promotes private-airport delivery in the U.S. and Canada, subject to geographic restrictions. Its current consumer benefits page labels that service as not exclusive to Emerald Club members, so it should not be treated as a defining Executive Elite perk.

How To Earn Emerald Club Rental Credits

Members must select rental credits as their earning preference and attach their Emerald Club number to an eligible rental. National issues credits after the rental is completed.

The earning formula favors frequent, short rentals:

A rental lasting one to seven consecutive days earns one credit.
An eight- to 11-day rental earns two credits.
A 12- to 15-day rental earns three credits.
Each additional four consecutive days earns another credit.

For example, seven separate one-day rentals can earn seven credits, while one seven-day rental earns only one credit. A traveler who rents weekly for work will therefore reach a Free Day much faster than someone who takes an occasional long road trip.

Not every rental qualifies. Examples include certain corporate rates, rentals where you choose airline or hotel rewards instead, replacement rentals, and some employee-discount rentals.

Earning credits and status with Enterprise

Qualifying Enterprise rentals can count toward Emerald Club elite status and Free Days when the member's Emerald Club number is attached to the reservation or rental. Participation varies by location, and some airport branches are excluded.

Emerald Club elite benefits apply when renting from National, not Enterprise. In other words, an Enterprise rental may move you closer to Executive status, but Executive status will not give you access to the Executive Area or guaranteed upgrade on that Enterprise rental.

Rental Credits vs. Airline or Hotel Rewards

Emerald Club members choose between rental credits and partner rewards.

If you choose partner rewards, you won't earn an Emerald Club rental credit, and National may charge a Frequent Traveler Recovery Fee that varies by partner and location.

For most frequent National renters, rental credits are the better default. Compare the value of a Free Day with the airline miles or hotel points you would earn, factoring in any additional fees.

How To Redeem Emerald Club Free Days

Once a member reaches the applicable threshold, National automatically converts the credits into a Free Day. Members can redeem through the National website or app by selecting the option to use reward days during the reservation process.

Free Days cover the base time-and-mileage rate only, so taxes, fees, fuel, tolls, optional products, one-way charges, and other applicable costs can still apply. National permits up to seven Free Days on one eligible rental, and rewards can be redeemed at participating National locations in the U.S., Canada, and select international destinations.

Redeeming Free Days at Enterprise

U.S.- and Canada-based members can redeem earned Free Days at participating Enterprise neighborhood locations in those countries. The reservation must be made by phone at least 24 hours in advance. Airport locations are excluded, and transferred Free Days do not qualify for this option.

The same tier-based vehicle limits apply: up to midsize for Emerald Club members, up to full-size for Executive members, and any eligible car class except trucks and exotic vehicles for Executive Elite and VIP members.

Transferring Free Days

National allows a member to transfer up to three Free Days per calendar year to an immediate family member who shares the same address. Rental credits themselves cannot be transferred.

To request a transfer, contact Emerald Club Member Services. Once transferred, the Free Day cannot be returned to the original member's account.

Do Emerald Club credits and Free Days expire?

Rental credits do not expire as long as your Emerald Club membership remains active. Once you earn enough credits for a Free Day, however, that reward is generally valid through December 31 of the following year.

That means credits can effectively sit in your account indefinitely, but the clock starts once they automatically convert into a Free Day.

How To Get Emerald Club Elite Status Faster

Travelers do not necessarily need 12 National rentals to reach Executive status. National offers a public status match, and several credit cards include Executive status as a benefit.

National status match

National's status-match program accepts valid elite status from participating car rental, airline, and hotel loyalty programs. Matched status remains valid through February 28 of the second calendar year following approval. To retain the tier after that, members must meet National's standard qualification requirements.

Credit cards with Emerald Club Executive status

Several American Express cards offer complimentary National Emerald Club Executive status after enrollment, including:

American Express Platinum Card^®
The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express
The American Express Corporate Platinum Card^®
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

Eligible Visa Infinite cardholders can also receive complimentary Executive membership and save up to 25% on qualifying National rentals at participating locations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.

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Best Ways To Use Emerald Club Free Days

Free Days have no fixed cash value. Their value depends on the eligible vehicle's base rate for the date and location.

Your status determines the maximum vehicle class a Free Day covers: up to midsize for Emerald Club members, up to full-size for Executive members, and any eligible passenger car class except trucks and exotic vehicles for Executive Elite and VIP members.

Don't confuse Aisle access with the Free Day vehicle limit. An Executive member's Free Day covers up to full-size, while Executive Area access may provide a larger vehicle from the available selection when the member reserves the required class at an eligible location.

Important Emerald Club Limitations

Emerald Club can be extremely useful, but it does not remove the need to compare rates and read the location's terms.

National may cost more: Counter bypass and vehicle choice have real value, but another company can still offer a lower total price.
Aisle services are location-specific: The best-known Emerald Club benefits are concentrated at participating U.S. and Canadian locations.
Vehicle choice is not a vehicle guarantee: The Aisle lets you choose from the vehicles present when you arrive. Reserve a specific class if the trip requires it.
Free Days do not erase the bill: Taxes, fees, optional products, fuel, tolls, and one-way charges remain payable.
Partner rewards replace rental credits: Selecting airline or hotel rewards means giving up the Emerald Club credit for that rental, although the rental may still count toward status.
Enterprise participation has limits: Qualifying Enterprise rentals can earn Emerald Club credits and status, but Emerald Club elite benefits do not carry over to the Enterprise rental experience.
Memberships are individual: The Emerald Club member must be present for the rental. Family members cannot use someone else's account, although eligible Free Days can be transferred.
Status is not insurance: Emerald Club benefits do not provide collision, theft, or liability coverage.

Our Take

Emerald Club is one of the stronger rental-car programs for travelers who value a faster pickup process, vehicle choice, and straightforward rewards. Even the free base tier can bypass the counter at participating Emerald Aisle locations and earn credits toward Free Days.

Executive status is likely the sweet spot for many travelers because it opens the Executive Area and reduces the Free Day threshold from seven credits to six — and several credit cards provide that tier after enrollment.

The program is less compelling for travelers who consistently find cheaper rates elsewhere, book through mystery deals or prepaid third-party channels, or rarely rent at locations with Emerald Club services. Long rentals also earn credits slowly compared with a series of short rentals.

Enroll before your first eligible rental, choose rental credits unless a partner reward offers clearly better value, and compare paid and Free Day totals before redeeming.

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