I’ve written several posts about a recent trip through Nevada, California and Arizona that I recently took with my son, taking advantage of the cheap one way car rental deals that Hertz is offering to drive into Arizona (deals still available as of this writing)
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I used Hertz Gold Plus Rewards with my rental car booking. I’ve written before about how you can get elite status with several different car rental companies (including Hertz Gold Plus Rewards) for free, either by just signing up, or through having a Elite Mastercard
Using Hertz Gold Plus Rewards on a car booking
For the infrequent car renter, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, like many of the other “elite” statuses with rental car companies, basically boils down to being able to skip the line and just get your car. I’ve had good success with Avis First (at DCA and others), though my Dollar Express status didn’t seem to get me very much (see my awful experience at Dollar Rent a Car DCA)
The only thing to keep in mind when using Hertz Gold Plus Rewards or any other status is that at many of the smaller airports or branches, there is no express line so it ends up not really mattering.
I emailed the Hertz Location at McCarrann Airport in Las Vegas to see what the process was for using my Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, and got this reply
Yes, we have gold service at our location. For this rental, see as how it is your first rental using the gold service proceed directly to the gold booth to activate your account. See you soon!
Arriving at Hertz Las Vegas Airport
After a 4 hour flight from Indianapolis, we got to the Hertz Las Vegas Airport location and skipped the counter, following the signs that directed Hertz Gold Plus Rewards members to proceed directly to the garage. We got to the garage and after a brief wait in line, I presented my rental agreement and license, and the agent asked me for the credit card that I used to make the reservation. Because I have 30+ credit cards I had no idea which card I used, and when she gave me the last 4 digits of the credit card number, I actually recognized the card (it was a Hilton HHonors Visa) but since I had long since met the spending requirement on the card, I didn’t have the card with me
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She then told me that it’s a requirement of the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program that the very FIRST time you book a car with Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, you must physically bring the same credit card that you used to make the booking online. It was something about initially setting up the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards profile.
Since I didn’t have the card that I used, she matched my rate as a “walkup”, and let me know that the NEXT time I book with Hertz Gold Plus Rewards (should there be a next tiem) that I would need to bring the same credit card that I used to make the booking to set up my Hertz Gold Plus Rewards profile. She also told me that my $7.99 / day rate was an AMAZING rate (not the first time I’ve heard that!)
Something to keep in mind next time you book a rental with Hertz Plus Gold Rewards
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
I think the credit card rule might apply to all rental car firms. I most frequently use Hertz and do not honestly remember them checking my credit card (but they probably did at some point). Last year I used Avis for the first time in years and I had to go see an agent. Since I booked with Wizard I was slightly irked but pleasant to the agent. She repaid my kindness and patience with a Mustang Convertible (for under $150 a week.). Sweet.
I didn’t have a problem when I did my first rental with Avis First – they just wanted to see my driver’s license and ANY credit card (unless it just happened to be the one I rented the car with)
I’ve been a gold member since they started that program maybe over twenty years.
I just received an emial this morning from them : As of 11/13/2015, you have qualifying 17 rentals toward President Circle® status. All it takes is a total of 20+ annual rentals or $4,000+ in spend to reach President′s Circle® and a whole new level of rich rewards! When I called them last month they told me I needed 25 rentals.
But my question is how in the heck did you get a $7.95 rental ( I have neaver heard that before and been able to use my gold service with Hertz)PLEASE PLEASE PLease tell me!!!!
I use Autoslash to get cheap car rentals – see my review here. But for this particular one, it was a Hertz one way car rental special that they were offering to drive cars one-way into Arizona.