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If you’re renting from Hertz, you usually have two goals: pay less and avoid surprises at the counter. We built this guide to help you do both.
Start with the Quick Playbook to lock in the lowest realistic price, then skim the Fees & Gotchas section so you know what can inflate your total. After that, jump to Gold Plus Rewards if you rent often and want to earn free days (or move faster at pickup).
How to save at Hertz (quick playbook)
The best Hertz price is usually the result of a few small choices, not one magic promo code.
Start with the location (this matters more than people think)
Airport rentals can be convenient, but they often come with higher taxes/fees. If your schedule allows, compare the price of a nearby neighborhood location before you book.
Compare “Pay Later” vs. “Pay Now” like you’re buying airfare
Prepay deals can be meaningfully cheaper, but the cancellation and refund rules are typically stricter. If your plans might change, “Pay Later” can be the safer move even if it costs a bit more.
Use a CDP discount only when you’re actually eligible
Hertz discounts are often tied to a CDP (Corporate Discount Program) code. Some are easy (like membership discounts), while others are employer- or partner-specific. If you’re not sure how eligibility works, use our Hertz CDP code guide before you rely on a code.
Decide on insurance before you get to the counter
Counter upsells are where “cheap rental” bookings get expensive fast. Know what coverage you already have via your personal auto policy and credit card, and only buy what you truly need.
Think about tolls and fuel up front
If your trip includes toll roads, understand how Hertz toll programs work in that market. And for fuel, the simplest way to avoid surprise refueling charges is usually returning the car with a full tank (unless you’re on an extremely tight schedule).
Hertz fees & gotchas to watch
This is the section that prevents “why was my total so much higher?” moments.
Authorization holds (especially with debit cards)
Hertz will typically place an authorization hold at pickup to cover estimated charges plus potential incidentals. On debit cards, that hold can reduce your available balance until it’s released by your bank, so plan your cash flow accordingly.
Additional drivers
Additional drivers can trigger daily fees, and “free additional driver” language is often more limited than it sounds. As a general rule, assume extra drivers cost money unless you’re clearly covered by a specific Hertz rule, membership benefit, or partner program.
Young renter fees (under 25)
If you’re under 25, your total can increase quickly due to young-renter surcharges and location-specific rules. Always price-check with your actual age entered (not as a “standard adult driver”).
One-way rentals and last-minute extensions
One-way rentals can add surcharges that aren’t obvious in the headline rate. Also, extending a rental at the last minute can be expensive—when possible, adjust your reservation earlier rather than “hoping it works out.”
Hertz Promo Codes
Hertz discounts are often driven by CDP codes (Corporate Discount Program codes). Some CDPs are tied to memberships (like AARP), while others are tied to employers, credit cards, or formal partner programs.
If you want to use a CDP, start here:
- Use our Hertz CDP code guide to understand eligibility and verification.
- Browse our list of Hertz corporate codes if you’re confident you qualify for a specific discount.
Important: the biggest mistake we see is using a code you can’t substantiate if asked. When in doubt, price-check without the code and decide if the savings are worth the risk.
| Hertz Discount | Code/Link |
| Current Offers & Deals at Local Destinations | Get Deal |
| Current Offers & Deals at Global Locations | Get Deal |
| AARP members save up to 20% off base rates | 2007815 |
| Discounted rates for Military | 1238193 |
The Hertz Loyalty Program – Gold Plus
Hertz’s loyalty program is Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. It’s free to join, and it can help in two ways:
- Faster pickup/return at many locations (less counter time), and
- Points earning you can redeem for free rental days.
What “skip the counter” really means
At many airport locations, Gold members can go to the lot and pick up more quickly than a standard walk-up renter. The exact pickup flow varies by airport and by whether the location uses assigned vehicles, Gold Choice/Ultimate Choice lanes, or a different process.
Membership tiers (and why they matter)
Gold Plus Rewards has multiple tiers. Higher tiers generally earn points faster and may improve upgrade priority. If you rent frequently, the tier benefits can be more valuable than the points themselves.
How to Earn Points with Hertz
With Gold Plus Rewards, you typically earn points based on qualifying rental spend (with taxes/fees and certain charges often excluded). As a baseline, many renters earn 1 point per $1 on qualifying spend.
If you qualify for elite tiers, your earning rate increases. For example, top tiers generally earn points faster than base members, which can shorten the time to your next free day.
Tip: If you only rent once or twice a year, the time-savings benefits (pickup/return flow) may matter more than points. If you rent monthly, points and tier status become much more meaningful.
Hertz Free Rental Days
Hertz points can be redeemed for free rental days, with standard daily awards starting at 950 points. Pricing can be higher for peak dates, certain locations, or higher car classes.
If you’re earning points with the goal of free days, always sanity-check the redemption chart before you commit to a points strategy—sometimes paying cash (or using a stronger CDP discount) is the better value.
For a full list of rental prices in points, click here.
Hertz Small Business Program
Most travel companies offer a small business discount program, to entice small companies to do business with them via discounts and other perks. Hertz has a Small Business Program named Hertz Business Rewards. This program allows small or mid-sized businesses to save up to 20% on every paid car rental in addition to some other nice benefits.
Hertz’s Business Rewards program is positioned as a free small-business program and advertises discounts “up to 20%,” with additional program constructs depending on the partner/channel.
Register and enroll in the program for free to immediately receive special rates.
Hertz Business Rewards (small business program)
Hertz offers a small-business program called Hertz Business Rewards. It’s designed for small and mid-sized businesses that want predictable savings and (in some cases) simplified billing.
What you can typically expect
Depending on where and how you enroll, Business Rewards is commonly positioned around:
- Discounted rates (often advertised as “up to 20%” off base rates)
- Business-focused features like billing options (varies by setup)
- Occasional targeted offers for members
How Business Rewards interacts with Gold Plus Rewards
In many cases, the business discount is applied through a program CDP number, while the traveler can still attach their personal Gold Plus Rewards number to earn points. That combination is often the best of both worlds if you rent frequently.
About Hertz Car Rental
Hertz is a major global car rental brand with a large footprint across airport and neighborhood locations. They operate several rental car brands, including Hertz, Dollar, and Thrifty.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes—an authorization hold is common in car rentals, and it can be especially noticeable on debit cards. Plan for that hold to temporarily reduce available funds until your bank releases it.
Sometimes, but rules vary by location and rental type. If you’re using a debit card, confirm requirements (ID, credit checks, hold amounts) before you arrive.
Yes. Travelers 50 and over save up to 20% off base rates. Plus, take advantage of additional program benefits.
Yes. Hertz offers special discounted rates to members of the Government and Military. Book on their Government and Military page.
Often no. Some situations (like spouse/domestic partner rules or certain memberships/programs) may waive the fee, but you should not assume it’s free by default.
Return the car full when possible, and keep the receipt if the station is near the airport.
It can be, if your plans are firm. If there’s a meaningful chance you’ll change dates or cancel, a pay-later booking can be safer.
You earn Gold Plus Rewards points on qualifying spend, and then redeem those points toward free rental days based on Hertz’s redemption chart.
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