Renting a car can often feel like a transactional necessity rather than an exciting part of travel. However, for frequent travelers, choosing the right rental car company and leveraging their loyalty program can unlock significant benefits and enhance the overall travel experience. National Car Rental, through its Emerald Club frequent traveler program, offers a compelling option for those seeking efficiency, rewards, and premium perks.
Previously, we explored top websites for booking rental cars and delved into programs like Hertz Gold Plus Rewards and Avis Preferred. Now, we turn our attention to National Car Rental and its acclaimed National Car Rental Frequent Traveler Program, Emerald Club, to understand how it works and why it might be the ideal choice for your travel needs.
Renting with National: A Streamlined Process
National Car Rental boasts a vast network with over 1,500 locations globally, spanning across the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Australia. This extensive reach ensures that wherever your travels take you, a National rental location is likely within reach.
Booking a car with National is designed for simplicity and speed. The online platform and mobile app are user-friendly, making the reservation process straightforward.
To rent a car through National, follow these easy steps:
- Visit the National Car Rental Website: Navigate to the National Car Rental homepage and enter your pick-up and drop-off locations, dates, and times.
Image: National Car Rental website homepage showcasing the car rental booking form, emphasizing ease of use for travelers.
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Browse Vehicle Options: National presents a wide selection of vehicles to suit various needs and budgets. Your search results will default to displaying the most economical options first.
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Review Features and Pricing: For detailed information and pricing breakdowns for each vehicle, simply click on the “Features and Pricing” dropdown. This allows you to compare models and select the car that best fits your requirements.
Image: Example of National Car Rental’s “Features and Pricing” dropdown, illustrating detailed information about car models and rental costs for informed decision-making.
- Customize Your Rental: After choosing your vehicle, you’ll be presented with options to add extras such as insurance coverage, roadside assistance, GPS navigation systems, and child safety seats. Carefully consider these add-ons to tailor your rental to your specific needs.
Image: National Car Rental’s add-ons page during the booking process, showing options for supplemental insurance, roadside protection, and other services to enhance the rental experience.
- Finalize Your Reservation: Review your selections and confirm your booking. You’re now set to enjoy a seamless rental experience with National.
Navigating Rental Car Insurance: Do You Need Extra Coverage?
A common question for renters is whether to purchase additional insurance offered by National Car Rental. The answer often depends on your existing insurance coverage and the credit cards you hold.
Many travel credit cards provide complimentary collision damage waivers (CDWs), offering significant protection when renting a vehicle. A standout example is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card, which includes primary car rental insurance among its robust travel benefits. Primary coverage means you can file a claim directly with your credit card provider, without needing to involve your personal auto insurance.
BEST BEGINNER CARD
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Apply Now (at Chase’s secure site)
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 bonus points
$1,200
$95
20.49% – 27.49% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Why We Like This Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
- 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
- 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Card Highlights
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 20.49% – 27.49% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center
For a broader perspective, explore our comprehensive guide to credit cards offering car rental insurance.
Important Note: Be aware of potential drop charges or inter-city fees if you return your rental car to a different location than your pick-up point. These fees can vary based on location and time of year and will be clearly disclosed during the online booking process.
Unlocking Elite Benefits with Emerald Club Status
Emerald Club is the loyalty program designed by National Car Rental to reward its frequent customers. The program features a tiered status system, offering increasingly valuable benefits as you rent more often. There are three distinct status levels within Emerald Club, each providing perks such as complimentary rental days, assured upgrades, and guaranteed vehicle availability.
Emerald Club Services: Benefits for All Members
Even at the base membership level, Emerald Club provides a range of services to streamline your rental experience:
- Emerald Aisle®: A signature benefit, Emerald Aisle allows members reserving a midsize car or larger to bypass the rental counter and directly choose any vehicle from the designated Emerald Aisle in the U.S. and Canada.
- Emerald Checkout℠: Further expedite your departure by using the National mobile app to select your car in the Emerald Aisle and finalize rental details, minimizing wait times.
- Premier Selection: Access a premium selection of vehicles on the lot and upgrade directly, without needing to visit the service counter.
- Emerald Reserve Service℠: At over 70 locations in the U.S. and Canada, Emerald Reserve Service lets you skip the counter and select any car within your booked class, offering greater choice and convenience.
- Emerald Club Counter Service℠: When counter service is necessary, dedicated Emerald Club lines ensure faster processing and reduced wait times.
- Priority Service: In select European, Latin American, and Caribbean locations, Priority Service allows you to bypass the regular counter and head directly to the Emerald Club booth for even quicker service.
Pro-Tip: Consider leveraging rental car status matches from other car rental companies or hotel programs to potentially fast-track your Emerald Club elite status.
Emerald Club® Status: Foundational Benefits
The entry-level Emerald Club status is achieved simply by enrolling in the program. Members at this level earn 1 rental credit for each qualifying rental. Accumulate 7 rental credits to redeem them for a complimentary rental day.
Beyond the core Emerald Club services, Emerald Club level members enjoy these additional advantages:
- Waived Second Driver Fees: Avoid extra charges for adding a second driver to your rental agreement.
- Drop & Go℠: Experience a swift return process by simply dropping off your car; your receipt will be emailed to you for ultimate convenience.
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car Benefits: Earn Emerald Club credits and status when renting from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, expanding your earning opportunities.
- Complimentary Upgrade in Europe: Receive a free one-class car upgrade when renting at participating locations in the U.K., Ireland, France, Spain, and Germany, enhancing your European driving experience.
Emerald Club Executive® Status: Mid-Tier Privileges
Elevate to Emerald Club Executive status by completing 12 paid rentals or 40 paid rental days within a calendar year. This mid-tier status reduces the credits needed for free days to just 6 per rental day, accelerating your rewards earning.
Executive members receive all benefits of the base Emerald Club level, along with these enhanced perks:
- Executive Area Access: In the U.S. and Canada, select any car from the Executive Area (full-size or above) while only paying the midsize rate, providing significant value and vehicle choice.
- Guaranteed Upgrades: Receive a guaranteed one-class upgrade when renting a midsize car or larger in the U.S. or Canada, ensuring a more comfortable and spacious vehicle.
Pro-Tip: Certain premium credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, The Platinum Card® from American Express, and the Citi Prestige® Card, automatically grant complimentary Emerald Club Executive status just by holding the card.
Emerald Club Executive Elite® Status: Top-Tier Recognition
Reach the pinnacle of Emerald Club status with Executive Elite, requiring 25 paid rentals or 85 paid rental days in a calendar year. This top-tier status further reduces the free day redemption rate to just 5 credits for any car class (excluding trucks and exotic vehicles) with no blackout dates, offering ultimate flexibility.
Executive Elite members enjoy all benefits from the lower tiers, plus these exclusive advantages:
- Guaranteed Car Availability: Receive a guaranteed vehicle within 24 hours when reserving at the midsize rate in the U.S. and Canada, even during peak demand periods.
- Car Delivery to Private Airports: In the U.S. and Canada, have your rental car delivered to most private airports within 50 miles of a National Rental Car location for unparalleled convenience.
Status Matching with National
National Car Rental generously offers status matches from over 40 competing car rental, hotel, or airline loyalty programs. You can request a status match online. Once approved, your matched status is valid until February 28th of the second calendar year following approval, giving you ample time to enjoy the elevated benefits. To maintain your matched status beyond this period, you will need to meet the standard qualification requirements for the tier.
Pro-Tip: Share the rewards by transferring up to 3 free rental days per year to a spouse or immediate family member residing at the same address, allowing your loved ones to benefit from your frequent traveler perks.
Partnering for Points: Airline, Hotel, and More
For renters who may not accumulate enough rentals for free days, National Car Rental provides the option to earn airline miles or hotel points instead of rental credits. This is a valuable alternative for those who prioritize points in other travel loyalty programs.
However, it’s worth noting that National applies a “Frequent Traveler Recovery Fee” ranging from $0.75 to $1.00 per day when you choose to earn partner points instead of Emerald Club credits. Evaluate whether the partner points outweigh this small daily fee based on your travel goals.
Airline Partners for National Rentals
National partners with a wide array of airlines, offering various earning rates. Consult the National Car Rental partner page for the most up-to-date list of airline partners and earning details.
Hotel Partners for National Rentals
Similarly, National collaborates with several hotel chains, allowing you to accrue hotel points on your car rentals. Check the National Car Rental website for current hotel partners and earning ratios.
Additional Partners
Beyond airlines and hotels, National also partners with:
- Signature Flight Support: Earn 1 point per $1 spent on qualifying Signature Flight Support services.
- Air Miles Travel and More: Earn 10 Air Miles per rental day (up to a maximum of 40 miles per rental).
Pro-Tip: Maximize your rewards by using a travel rewards credit card that offers bonus points on car rental purchases. Cards like the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve card, and Citi Strata Premier℠ Card all provide elevated rewards on travel, including car rentals, boosting your overall points earnings.
National Mobile App: Your Rental Companion
National Car Rental’s mobile app is a powerful tool for managing your rentals and Emerald Club membership on the go. It provides access to features like Emerald Checkout, allowing for a completely mobile-driven rental experience.
Image: Screenshot of the National Car Rental mobile app interface, highlighting features for managing rentals, accessing Emerald Club benefits, and streamlining the rental process.
With Emerald Checkout via the app, you can:
- Choose Your Car: Select your preferred vehicle from the Emerald Aisle at participating locations in the U.S. and Canada directly through your phone.
- Confirm Rental Details: Review and finalize your rental agreement digitally.
- Virtual Pass for Checkout: Generate a “Virtual Pass” barcode on your phone to expedite the checkout process and get you on the road faster.
The app also allows you to track your Emerald Club status, monitor your progress toward the next elite tier, and keep tabs on your accumulated credits towards free rental days, putting all essential membership information at your fingertips.
Pro-Tip: Familiarize yourself with toll road policies and charges. Consult resources like our guide on rental car tolls in the U.S. to avoid unexpected expenses during your trip.
Price Considerations: National in the Competitive Landscape
To provide a comparative perspective, let’s examine how National’s pricing stacks up against other major car rental agencies. The following table presents sample week-long rental prices for various car types across different locations.
| Type of car | Avis | Budget | Dollar | Enterprise | National |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest available | $244.03 | $236.70 | $266.52 | $300.00 | $422.03 |
| Economy | $352.60 | $351.33 | $340.10 | $393.00 | $567.78 |
| Full-size SUV | $548.17 | $564.85 | N/A | $518.61 | $518.64 |
Note: Prices are for illustrative purposes only and can vary based on location, date, and availability.
As demonstrated, rental car prices fluctuate considerably across agencies and car types. While National may not always be the absolute cheapest option, it often remains competitively priced, especially when considering the value proposition of the Emerald Club program.
Pro-Tip: Utilize metasearch engines like Kayak to efficiently compare prices from numerous car rental websites simultaneously. For more cost-saving strategies, explore our guide on how to save money on car rentals.
Final Verdict: Is the National Car Rental Frequent Traveler Program Worth It?
National Car Rental offers a user-friendly platform and a compelling frequent traveler program in Emerald Club. The program provides tangible benefits, including rental credits towards free days, expedited service through Emerald Aisle, and valuable perks like upgrades for elite members.
While National’s prices are generally competitive, it’s always prudent to compare rates before booking to ensure you’re securing the best possible deal for your specific needs. However, for frequent renters who value convenience, rewards, and a streamlined rental experience, the National Car Rental frequent traveler program, Emerald Club, presents a strong and rewarding choice.
