Enrolling in National Car Rental's Emerald Club loyalty program can help you save money and enjoy extra perks when you rent a car from the company.
Emerald Club is free to join, so becoming a member is a no-brainer — especially if you find yourself booking with National and wanting to enjoy extra savings, upgrades and more.
How does National Emerald Club work
Like other rental car loyalty programs, Emerald Club offers extra perks, such as upgrades and free rental days. The program is designed to give frequent renters special privileges to make their rental car experience go more smoothly overall.
If you care about savings, efficiency and convenience when renting cars, joining Emerald Club is a good first stop.
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National Emerald Club elite status
The National Car Rental Emerald Club loyalty program consists of three elite status tiers. The lowest level is attained when you enroll in the program, and you have to rack up bookings to reach the higher levels. Here are the benefits members can expect at each level.
Emerald Club Status
When you join the National Emerald Club, you'll automatically enjoy Emerald Club’s entry-level tier — Emerald Club Status. The biggest perk is the ability to start earning free rental days. You earn one rental credit each time you make a qualifying rental, and once you accrue seven rental credits, you can redeem them for one free rental day.
Other notable perks include:
- Emerald Aisle access. When renting in the U.S. and Canada, you can choose any car in the Emerald Aisle and only pay the midsize rental rate.
- Earn free rental day credits when you rent through Enterprise.
- No second driver fees.
- Ability to conveniently drop off your car and leave. You’ll receive an emailed receipt.
- A free one car class upgrade in the U.K., Ireland, France, Spain and Germany.
Emerald Club Executive Status
The program's mid-tier status, Emerald Club Executive Status, is earned by completing 12 paid rentals or 40 paid rental days in a calendar year. You’ll still earn one rental credit for each qualified car rental, but it only takes six credits for a free rental day, so they’ll accrue faster.
With Emerald Club Executive Status, you get these additional benefits:
- Executive Area access: In the U.S. and Canada, you can choose any full-size and above car option in the Executive Area and only pay the midsize rate.
- Guaranteed free upgrade when you rent at the midsize rate in the U.S. and Canada.
- Your choice of reward type: free rental days, frequent flyer miles or hotel rewards (more on this later).
Emerald Club Executive Elite Status
When you complete 25 paid rentals or 85 paid rental days in a calendar year, you’ll be awarded Emerald Club Executive Elite Status. At this top-tier status level, you still earn one rental credit for each qualified car rental; however, it only takes five credits for a free rental day. Plus, you can use them to book any car class and there are no blackout dates.
Here are the other perks of Executive Elite Status:
- A guaranteed car (up to full-size) when you book a midsize rate in the U.S. and Canada (must book at least 24 hours in advance).
- Get your rental car delivered to most private airports within 50 miles of a rental center (U.S. and Canada only).
» Learn more: Travel loyalty program reviews
Airline and hotel partners
If you're more interested in racking up airline miles or hotel points than free rental days, Emerald Club members also have the option to earn with airline and hotel partners. Each time you make a qualifying car rental, you can choose to earn rewards at 13 airline partners and three hotel partners.
Airline partners
Here is a full list of National Emerald Club’s airline partners and what you’ll earn.
- ANA: 50 credits per day (max 300).
- Air China: 800 kilometers per rental.
- Alaska Airlines: 50 miles per day.
- American Airlines: 50 miles per day.
- Asia Miles: 500 miles per rental.
- Asiana Airlines: 500 miles per rental.
- Delta Air Lines: 500 miles per rental.
- Eva Air: 500 miles per rental.
- Frontier: 50 miles per day (max 500).
- Korean Air: 500 miles per rental.
- Southwest Airlines: 600 miles per rental.
- Sun Country: 600 miles per rental.
Hotel partners
Here is a full list of Emerald Club’s hotel partners and what you’ll earn.
- Best Western: 3 points per $1.
- Hilton Honors: 500 points per rental.
Beware of surcharges
There’s one major caveat to earning airline miles and hotel points from National Emerald Club: You can expect to incur a surcharge, which varies by partner.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
In some cases, choosing partner earnings can still be a winning proposition; however, with other partners, the surcharge outweighs the value that you could net from the miles or points earned. How to redeem National Emerald Club points for max value
To maximize your free rental days, first understand exactly how they work. Depending on which elite status level you hold, it will cost between five to seven rental credits for one free rental day. Free rental days only cover the base rate and do not include taxes and fees.
In order to get the most from your credits, you'll want to redeem them in expensive rental areas or when base rates are higher than normal.
Should you purchase National Emerald Club program’s insurance plan?
When it comes to rental car insurance, having a credit card that offers primary car rental insurance is an excellent way to save money and still be covered in case the unexpected happens.
If you're in the market for a card that offers car rental insurance, here are a few to consider:
Cards with auto rental benefits
Annual fee
$95.
$0 intro for the first year, then $150.
$895.
$795.
Rental car benefits
• Primary rental car coverage with reimbursement up to the cash value of most rental vehicles.
• Booking a car rental through Chase's travel portal earns 5 points per dollar spent.
• Primary rental car coverage that reimburses up to the cash value of most rental cars.
• Other day-of-travel benefits for United flyers include a free checked bag, priority boarding and lounge passes.
• Complimentary elite status with Avis, Hertz and National, which entitles the member to upgrades and discounts.
• Secondary rental car coverage.
• Other benefits include expansive airport lounge access and hundreds of dollars' worth of travel credits.
• Terms apply.
• Primary rental car coverage with reimbursement up to $75,000.
• Booking a car rental through Chase's travel portal earns 8 points per dollar spent.
• Cardholders eligible for special benefits from Avis, National and Silvercar.
Learn more
To learn more about our favorite credit cards for rental cars, click here.
Is joining the National Car Rental Emerald Club loyalty program worth it?
If you book car rentals with National, it’s worth enrolling in its free Emerald Club loyalty program. Being a member allows you to rack up free car rentals, score extra discounts, save time when picking up and dropping off your rental car, and potentially score car upgrades.
To view rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, see this page.
Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.
- Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
- Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
- Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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