10 Tricks That'll Help You Score Free National Rental Car Upgrades

iEditorial Note: These blog posts represent the opinion of DoNotPay’s Writers, but each person’s situation and circumstances vary greatly. As a result, you should make sure to do your own independent research. Because everyone is unique, our self-help tools are never guaranteed to help with any specific situation. DoNotPay is not a law firm, is not licensed to practice law, and is not equivalent to the services of a licensed lawyer. DoNotPay provides a platform for legal information and self-help, and does not offer legal services. Third party news articles mentioned on our website do not necessarily reflect the views of the company, or the current services that we offer.

10 Tricks That'll Help You Score Free National Rental Car Upgrades

As a general rule of thumb, more is better. This is typically true when it comes to rental cars. If you've already booked a reservation, chances are you would like a model upgrade. Whether you want more legroom for your passengers or cargo space for luggage, an upgrade can elevate the quality of your trip to the next level. As you may already know or will soon find out, scoring a by yourself can be time-consuming and end up being more of a hassle than it's worth. The good news is that DoNotPay offers a simple solution that only takes a few minutes of your time.

Ways to Get a Free Upgrade on Your Rental Car

There are several ways to get an upgrade on your rental car. Let's take a closer look at the different methods you can choose to pursue when trying to .

Become a Member of the Loyalty Program

Most, if not all, National rental car companies have a loyalty program in place that provides perks and preferential treatment to its members. In addition to receiving points, skip-the-counter programs, and so much more, members can also use the leverage to receive a free upgrade on their reservation. Rental companies are more likely to oblige your request if you are part of the loyalty program. In most cases, it is free to sign up.

Here are the tiered benefits of the National Emerald Club loyalty program:

Emerald ClubEmerald Executive 12 paid rentalsExecutive Elite (25 paid rentals)
  • Free rental days
  • Emerald Checkout
  • Access to the Emerald Aisle lane
  • Earn free rental days faster
  • Emerald fast Checkout
  • Access to the Emerald Aisle lane
  • Executive area access
  • Guaranteed upgrades
  • Earn free rental days even faster
  • Emerald fast Checkout
  • Access to the Emerald Aisle lane
  • Executive area access
  • Guaranteed upgrades
  • 24 hour notice vehicle guarantee
  • Private airport pickup

Hunt Down Coupons

Coupon codes can be your best friend when it comes to snagging an upgrade. Search:

  • Online
  • Company websites
  • Mobile apps
  • Third-party coupon sites (e.g., Groupon)

Before you book your next rental car reservation, search for these deals that are most of the time right on the website. The kicker is making sure they are still in-date.

Know the Perks of Your Other Memberships

Memberships to other organizations, such as the company you work for, can offer you rental car perks. Do a quick run-through of your other memberships and see if there is a way to take advantage of them in your next rental car reservation.

Use a Rental Car Friendly Credit Card

All credit cards offer some type of reward when you use them. It may be:

  • Cashback
  • Free airline points
  • Rental car upgrades

Check your credit cards and see if any offer rental rewards.

National’s Rental Car Upgrade Guide

Each rental car company handles upgrades differently. As it happens, National offers a free single upgrade on your rental car directly via their website. Current coupon codes are only valid for a certain period of time, and then the coupon will change. You will need to check their website to learn if the current offer is beneficial to your reservation.

How to Get a Free Rental Car Upgrade On Your Own

Here are the steps you should follow to get a free rental car upgrade:

  1. If you haven't booked your reservation yet, you will need to decide which rental company you would like to use. You may have to search several to find the best deal.
  2. Scour the website for valid promotional deals.
  3. If you can't find anything on the website, you will need to search the web.
  4. Talk to a representative at the rental car company who can walk you through your options for a rental car upgrade.
  5. Book your reservation and hope your free upgrade is honored.
  6. If you've already booked your reservation, then you will need to make sure your reservation is indeed upgraded for free with the company.

As you can see, this can be an exhausting process that doesn't guarantee success. It can be challenging to find a valid coupon code and apply it to your reservation. If you can't find a code, it can be a hassle to convince a company representative to give you a free rental car upgrade. Fortunately, DoNotPay offers an easier solution to snagging a free rental car upgrade.

How to Get a Free Rental Car Upgrade with DoNotPay

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:

  1. Choose which rental company you booked with.

  2. Enter your reservation confirmation number.

  3. Tell us the details of your reservation, such as the pick-up date, pick-up location, car model, etc.*

  4. Indicate whether you are a rewards member or special credit card holder.

Why Use DoNotPay to Get Your Free Rental Car Upgrade

Using DoNotPay gives you the best chance of success. It's fast. You do not need to spend hours hashing it out with the rental car company to still not get what you are looking for. It is easy. DoNotPay will expertly keep up with the next steps to take, so you can go about the million other things you have going on in your life. Last but not least, DoNotPay is successful!

You can use our service with any of the following national car rental companies:

Avis Car Rental Upgrade GuideBudget Car Rental Upgrade Guide
Alamo Car Rental Upgrade GuideEnterprise Car Rental Upgrade Guide
Dollar Car Rental Upgrade GuideHertz Car Rental Upgrade Guide
Thrifty Car Rental Upgrade GuideCostco Car Rental Upgrade Guide

DoNotPay can also help you with so much more than just rental cars. Do you need help locating lost items at an airport or need help obtaining a pet license? We've got you covered. We are also the world's first AI Consumer Champion. Protect your interests and finances with a click of a button from the comfort of your home.

Want More Information?

DoNotPay is your go-to for all things rental car-related. Check out our additional resources and make sure your trip is the best it can be:

today to get free rental car upgrades!

Fight for your rights