Is Hertz President's Circle Worth It? Benefits and Limitations Explained
Hertz President's Circle is worth having if you rent from Hertz at participating airport locations several times a year, because its main advantages over Five Star (a guaranteed one-class upgrade, guaranteed availability for common car classes and the widest Ultimate Choice selection) apply at those locations. If you rent rarely, mostly off-airport, or usually need a minivan or large SUV, the gap between President's Circle and Five Star is small. We found no published way to buy President's Circle directly. You get it through rentals, a card or partner benefit, or a status match, so whether it's "worth it" depends on how you'd get it.
What President's Circle includes
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards has three published tiers: Gold, Five Star and President's Circle, the highest. The benefits below come from Hertz's tier descriptions. Several of the Hertz pages we could check were older or regional versions, so confirm details on the current Gold Plus Rewards page before a trip.
| Benefit | Gold | Five Star | President's Circle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points earning on Hertz rentals | 1 point per $1 | 25% bonus | 50% bonus |
| Ultimate Choice vehicle selection | Standard selection | Wider selection | Widest selection |
| Upgrades | Not listed | One-class upgrade when available | Guaranteed one-class upgrade at participating locations, up to full-size |
| Guaranteed vehicle availability | Not listed | Not listed | Car groups A through F at participating locations |
| Dedicated phone line | Not listed | Not listed | Yes |
| Free additional driver | Yes* | Yes* | Yes* |
*Hertz lists a free additional driver for all tiers. Who qualifies as the additional driver, and any age or location limits, may vary, so check the rental terms.
The points bonus applies to Hertz points only. If you credit rentals to an airline or hotel program instead, the bonus doesn't apply to those miles or points.
President's Circle vs Five Star: where the real difference is
Five Star may now be easier to earn: 2026 reports put it at 3 rentals or $1,000 a year, while older Hertz pages listed 10 rentals or $2,000. We couldn't confirm the lower figure on a current US Hertz page. Either way, the question is what the extra step to President's Circle adds.
| Five Star | President's Circle | |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade | Possible, when a car is available | Guaranteed one class at participating locations, capped at full-size |
| Getting the class you booked | Not guaranteed | Guaranteed for car groups A to F at participating locations |
| Ultimate Choice | Wider selection | Widest selection, often in a separate President's Circle area |
| Points bonus | 25% | 50% |
| Phone support | Standard | Dedicated line |
In practice, the two guarantees are the reason to want President's Circle. A Five Star upgrade depends on what's on the lot. A President's Circle upgrade and availability guarantee are commitments at participating locations, within the car groups and limits Hertz sets.
How vehicle selection works
At airport locations with Ultimate Choice, Gold Plus Rewards members pick a car from the zone that matches their reserved car class and tier, instead of being assigned one. Five Star members see a wider selection, and President's Circle members see the widest, typically in a dedicated President's Circle zone or aisle.
What this does and doesn't mean:
- You choose from what's parked in your zone. Selection varies by location, time of day and fleet. A specific make or model is never assured.
- Your zone follows the class you booked. Booking a compact and choosing from the President's Circle area is not the same as getting a luxury car. The guaranteed upgrade is one class, and Hertz caps it at full-size.
- Not every location has Ultimate Choice or a President's Circle area. Hertz describes these benefits as available at "participating" locations, mostly airports. Neighborhood and smaller locations may not offer them. Hertz doesn't publish a single current list we could confirm, so check your pickup location in advance.
Skipping the counter is a Gold Plus Rewards feature available at participating locations for every tier, including base Gold. President's Circle doesn't add a counter bypass at locations that don't offer it.
Booking conditions and exclusions
The guarantees come with conditions. Some appear on Hertz's own pages (mostly older or regional versions); others have only been reported by third parties.
Stated on Hertz pages:
- The guaranteed upgrade is one car class, up to full-size.
- Guaranteed availability covers car groups A through F.
- Both apply at participating President's Circle locations, mostly airports, not everywhere.
Found on older Hertz pages (may be outdated):
- Advance reservation. Older Hertz text mentions a minimum 48-hour advance reservation for the guaranteed upgrade at some locations. Some third-party guides cite 24 hours instead.
- Manager's Special. Older Hertz text says the guaranteed upgrade doesn't apply to Manager's Special rentals.
Reported by third parties (confirm before relying on them):
- Special vehicles. Reports based on older Hertz terms say the guaranteed upgrade excludes specialty vehicles such as minivans, SUVs and Hertz's premium collections.
- Rate types. Some Hertz offers have excluded prepaid rates, tour rates and insurance-replacement rentals, and third-party guides say some discounted corporate, government or tour rates don't earn points. We could not confirm which rate types currently lose President's Circle benefits, points or tier credit, so check your rate's terms when booking.
If you usually book through a third-party travel site, a tour package or an insurance replacement, check whether that booking will receive tier benefits before you count on them.
What it costs to get President's Circle
Hertz doesn't publish a way to buy President's Circle directly, so its cost is whatever route you use:
| Route | What it costs you | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Earn it | 15 rentals or $3,000 in Hertz rentals in a calendar year (reported unchanged in 2026) | Status renews only if you keep renting at that level |
| Hertz status match | Hertz's published information mentions no fee | Requires President's Circle-level status at Avis, Enterprise, National, Sixt or Europcar; available once every five years. See Hertz Status Match. |
| Partner or card benefit | The card's annual fee, or the effort of holding partner status | Includes Delta SkyMiles Reserve, Capital One Venture X, Delta Platinum and Diamond Medallion, and IHG Diamond Elite. Details in Hertz Status Match. |
| Paid assistance | Status Unlocked's one-time $12 fee, separate from any Hertz charge | Help with the official status match process, not a purchase of status. Hertz still makes the decision. |
If you already have President's Circle through a card you'd keep anyway, the question of worth is mostly settled: the tier costs you nothing extra. The harder call is paying a card fee mainly for Hertz status, or earning it through rentals alone.
Who benefits most from President's Circle
Likely to get real value:
- Frequent business or leisure renters who pick up at major airport locations
- Travelers who book midsize or standard cars and would use a guaranteed one-class step up
- Renters who have been caught by "the class you booked isn't available" and value the availability guarantee
- People whose schedules make a dedicated phone line useful when plans change
Likely to see little difference over Five Star:
- Renters who rent a few times a year or less
- Customers who rent mostly at neighborhood or small locations
- Travelers who usually book minivans, large SUVs or specialty vehicles
- Renters who mostly book through tour packages, insurance replacement or third-party sites, if those rates turn out to be excluded
The bottom line
President's Circle is the most useful Hertz tier for frequent airport renters, and the guaranteed upgrade and availability are its clearest advantages over Five Star. Its value drops quickly outside participating locations, for specialty vehicles, and for occasional renters. If you hold eligible status at another car rental company, a status match is usually the cheapest way to try it, since Hertz's published match information mentions no fee. If your rentals don't add up to that level, Five Star may already give you most of what you'd use.
FAQ
Does Hertz President's Circle guarantee a luxury or premium car?
No. The guaranteed upgrade is one car class, capped at full-size, at participating locations. A luxury or premium car is not part of that guarantee.
Can I skip the counter with President's Circle?
Counter-skipping is a Gold Plus Rewards feature at participating locations for all tiers, not something unique to President's Circle. Where a location doesn't offer it, President's Circle doesn't change that.
Do President's Circle benefits work at every Hertz location?
No. The upgrade guarantee, availability guarantee and President's Circle selection area apply at participating locations, mostly airports. Check your pickup location before you travel.
Is the 50% points bonus worth a lot?
It depends on how much you spend with Hertz and how you redeem Hertz points. The bonus applies only to Hertz points, not airline miles or hotel points you might choose to earn instead.
How do I get President's Circle without 15 rentals a year?
Through a Hertz status match from an equivalent car rental tier, or through partner benefits such as certain credit cards and airline or hotel elite status. See Hertz Status Match for eligibility and how to apply.
Want to try President's Circle?
If you hold top-tier status with another car rental company, Status Unlocked can help you request a Hertz status match for a one-time $12 fee. See our Hertz President's Circle status match service for how the process works. Our fee is separate from Hertz, Status Unlocked is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Hertz, and Hertz makes the final decision.
Written by Jim for the Status Unlocked blog. Questions? unlocktravelstatus@gmail.com.