Quick Answer
Hertz is the world’s largest car rental company by revenue — 10,000+ locations in 150+ countries. Founded 1918. Pricing typical: Economy €30-60/day. Compact €40-70/day. SUV €60-120/day. Luxury €100-300/day. Best ways to save: 1. CDP codes (Corporate Discount Program) — most reliable 5-15% off. 2. AAA discount (US members) — 10% off. 3. Costco discount (US members) — 15-25% off. 4. AARP discount (50+) — 10% off. 5. Gold Plus Rewards (free membership) — skip counter, faster pickup, free upgrades sometimes. 6. Hertz Five Star + President’s Circle elite tiers. Promo codes: AAUTO (10% off — sometimes works). HERTZ20 (occasional 20%). WEEKEND (weekend special). Tip: book through AutoEurope or Costco Travel for European rentals — often 30-50% cheaper than direct Hertz. vs Sixt: Sixt premium German + cheaper in Europe + nicer fleet. Always compare.

How to save on Hertz
- CDP codes (Corporate Discount Program): Hertz’s promo code system. Apply at booking. 5-15% off typical.
- Where to find CDP codes: Reddit r/cars, FlyerTalk forums, Hertz partner companies, alumni associations, frequent flyer programs.
- AAA discount: AAA members get 10% off Hertz. Use AAA discount code at booking.
- Costco discount: Costco Members get 15-25% off Hertz via Costco Travel. MASSIVE savings (often 30%+).
- AARP discount (50+): 10% off. Apply at booking.
- Hertz Gold Plus Rewards: FREE membership. Skip counter (Gold rentals available at airport boards). Faster pickup. Free upgrades sometimes.
- Hertz Five Star (top tier): rent 8+ rentals/year. Better fleet selection + free upgrades.
- President’s Circle: rent 21+ rentals/year. Best fleet + guaranteed upgrade.
- AutoEurope (consolidator): often 30-50% cheaper than direct Hertz for European rentals. Same Hertz cars.
- Costco Travel for Europe: world’s cheapest Hertz pricing. €20-40/day for compacts.
Hertz promo codes
- AAUTO: 10% off (sometimes works — apply at checkout).
- HERTZ20: 20% off occasional.
- WEEKEND: weekend special.
- HZ12345 (CDP code): custom CDP codes apply 5-15%.
- AAA1235: AAA member CDP code.
- Costco specific code: via Costco Travel only.
- Insurance code: sometimes Hertz includes 10-20% off if you waive own insurance.
- Cashback portals: Rakuten + TopCashback 1-5% via Hertz.
- Credit card promotions: Capital One Venture / Chase Sapphire = 3-10x miles on Hertz bookings.
- Apply at checkout: “Discount Code” + “CDP/Promo” field.
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards + status
- Free membership: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards.
- Member benefits: 24h advance pickup, faster rental, points earn (3K points = $20 rental discount).
- Hertz Five Star (rent 8+ year): better fleet selection + free upgrades typical.
- President’s Circle (rent 21+ year): top tier + guaranteed upgrade + Premium fleet.
- Status fast track: via Hertz credit cards or partnerships.
- Hertz American Express card: automatic Gold Plus Rewards Gold + 4x points on Hertz. $0 annual.
- Earn points: on all Hertz rentals + partner stays.
- Redeem points: for free rentals + upgrades + Hertz luxury fleet rentals.
- Lifetime status: Lifetime Five Star (10 years + 800 rentals).
- Best for: business travelers, frequent renters, US drivers.
Hertz vs alternatives
- Hertz: world’s largest. Premium service + Gold Plus Rewards. Sometimes more expensive than competitors.
- Sixt: German premium. Nicer fleet + cheaper European pricing. Best Mercedes/BMW selection.
- Avis: US-strong. Similar pricing to Hertz. Avis Preferred status program.
- Europcar: European focus. Often cheaper than Hertz + Sixt.
- Enterprise: family-friendly + US-focused. Less premium fleet.
- Budget: low-cost. Quality varies.
- Alamo: family + leisure. US-focused.
- Always compare: AutoEurope + Costco + DiscoverCars + Rental Cars.com aggregate multiple companies.
- Sixt for Europe luxury: often best Mercedes/BMW pricing + service.
- Hertz for USA + worldwide: largest network + Gold Plus Rewards established.
Car rental tips + insurance
- Insurance options: CDW (Collision Damage Waiver), LDW (Liability), Personal Accident (PAI), Personal Effects Coverage (PEC), SLI (Supplemental Liability).
- Check credit card coverage: Chase Sapphire Reserve + Capital One Venture include FREE primary rental car insurance — saves €15-30/day at counter.
- Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Gold: includes basic insurance some packages.
- European rental: mandatory insurance included in EU base price. Avoid upselling.
- US rental: insurance often optional. Credit card coverage usually sufficient.
- Skip insurance upsell if you have credit card coverage: saves 30-50% on rental.
- European driving: International Driving Permit recommended for non-EU citizens.
- Toll roads: some countries (France, Italy, Spain) charge tolls. Pre-pay via Hertz electronic tag or pay cash at booth.
- Fuel policy: “Full to Full” (recommended) vs “Pre-Paid Full” (cheaper short rentals, more expensive 7+ days).
- Best for European rentals: AutoEurope or Costco Travel — saves 30-50%.
Reviews + tips
- Hertz fleet: standard + Premium Selection (Mercedes, BMW, Audi for upgrade).
- Adrenaline Collection: Hertz luxury sports cars (Mustang, Camaro, Corvette).
- Dream Cars: Hertz exotic fleet (Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin) — $1500+ per day.
- Customer service: 24/7 phone + chat. Quality varies by location.
- Reviews: 3/5 stars typical TrustPilot. Mixed quality vs Sixt.
- Common complaints: billing disputes, missing items in returned car, hidden fees.
- Best for: US business travel, worldwide rentals, premium fleet (Hertz Five Star+).
- Avoid: airport rental upsells. Bring own GPS instead of paying Hertz GPS rental.
- Newsletter: Hertz weekly emails — sometimes 20-30% off seasonal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hertz promo codes?
CDP codes (Corporate Discount Program) 5-15% off (try AAA, Costco, AARP, alumni). Newsletter codes 10-20% off. Cashback portals (Rakuten 1-5%). Apply at checkout ‘Discount Code’ field.
Hertz vs Sixt?
Sixt: German premium + nicer fleet + cheaper European pricing + best Mercedes/BMW. Hertz: world’s largest + Gold Plus Rewards + premium US. For Europe luxury → Sixt. For US business → Hertz.
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards worth it?
Yes — FREE membership. Skip counter at airport. Faster pickup. Earn points (3K = $20 discount). Free upgrades sometimes. No reason not to enroll.
Costco Hertz discount?
Yes via Costco Travel — 15-25% off Hertz (often 30%+ for Europeans). Costco Members only ($60/year membership). Massive savings for frequent renters.
Hertz insurance worth it?
Only if credit card doesn’t include coverage. Chase Sapphire Reserve + Capital One Venture include FREE primary rental car insurance. Skip Hertz insurance upsell to save €15-30/day.
Hertz European rentals?
Book via AutoEurope or Costco Travel — 30-50% cheaper than direct Hertz. Same Hertz cars. EU insurance mandatory included. Skip upsells if credit card covers.
Recommended on Amazon
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- Travel adapter Europe — multi-country plug.
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- Travel insurance Europe — flight delay coverage.
