How to Upgrade Rental Cars by Using Your Credit Card

When you rent a car while traveling, being able to upgrade to a nicer model can help you enjoy your trip more. Knowing how to benefits is a useful way to enhance your travel experience. Many travel rewards credit cards offer rental car benefits.

Sorting through the many credit card options to ensure an upgrade can be overwhelming. DoNotPay can help make it easy, so you can focus on planning the fun parts of your trip. All of these credit cards come with extensive rental car perks and other travel benefits, but this article will focus specifically on your options for getting an upgraded model.

Which Credit Cards Offer Free Rental Car Upgrades?

Many travel rewards and other rental car benefits. These are some popular options that include rental car and other travel benefits.

1. American Express Platinum Card

This card comes with a large number of high-end travel benefits, including free upgrades from Hertz and National Car Rentals.

Platinum cardholders have their own tier in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program. This status comes with complimentary vehicle upgrades.
The Platinum Card comes with Executive status at National Car Rental, which includes guaranteed upgrades from midsize sedan rentals in the U.S. and Canada.

2. Capital One Venture X Rewards Card

The Capital One Venture Card comes with the highest Hertz rewards status, the President's Circle. This status offers guaranteed upgrades.

3. United Club Infinite Card and United MileagePlus Presidential Plus Card

These United Airlines credit cards come with top-tier President's Circle status with Hertz in addition to their flight benefits. President's Circle status provides guaranteed upgrades.

4. Visa Infinite cards

Cards that are part of the Visa Infinite program, which include the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, come with upgrade benefits from Avis and National Car Rental.

Visa Infinite cardholders receive Avis Preferred Plus status, which comes with one complimentary car upgrade when available.
The Visa Infinite cards come with Emerald Club Executive status at National, which includes guaranteed upgrades in the U.S. and Canada.

5. World Elite Mastercards

This set of cards includes the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard, the Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard, and several other airline-branded cards. They provide upgrades at Avis and Hertz.

These cards provide access to Avis' President's Club, which comes with guaranteed upgrades on weekdays and upgrades of two levels on weekends, subject to availability.
World Elite Mastercards offer access to Hertz's President's Circle status, which includes guaranteed upgrades.

When choosing the best travel rewards credit card for you, consider whether you have a preferred car rental company. Also, make sure to check whether upgrades are guaranteed or offered subject to availability.

How to Upgrade Your Rental Car Using Your Credit Card

When it's time to book your rental car, be sure to check the specific requirements of your rewards credit card to make sure that your benefits are applied properly. These are the steps you need to follow when booking.

Check to make sure that the credit card you're using offers benefits for the rental car company you're going to book with.
Enroll in the membership or rewards program with the car rental company.
If you have an online account for your credit card, log in and check whether you need to activate your rental car benefits.
Book your rental card using the credit card and while logged in to your rewards account.

The process will vary slightly depending on the combination of credit card and rental car companies you're using.

Easily Upgrade Your Rental Car With DoNotPay

Figuring out how to use travel rewards credit cards to enjoy free rental car upgrades can be a confusing and time-consuming process. If you didn't request an upgrade when you booked your car, getting in touch with the rental company to ask for an upgrade later on, can be even more complicated. DoNotPay's fast, easy and successful system allows you to conveniently request a model upgrade for your rental car at any time before your trip.

If you want to get a free upgrade on your reservation but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in 4 easy steps:

Choose which rental company you booked with.
Enter your reservation confirmation number.
Tell us the details of your reservation, such as the pick-up date, pick-up location, car model, etc.*
Indicate whether you are a rewards member or special credit card holder.