Avis Preferred Program: Complete Guide (2026)

Even if you only rent a car a few times a year, joining the Avis Preferred Program lets you easily enjoy benefits like faster pick-up, complimentary upgrades, and free rental days. After joining Avis Preferred, you can earn Avis Preferred points, which can be used toward future rentals. In this guide, I’ll explain in detail how the program works, how to achieve elite status (including fast-track options), how to earn and redeem points, and whether it’s still worth it in 2026.

What Is Avis Preferred?

Avis offers the free Avis Preferred membership program, designed to streamline the car rental process. After becoming a member, you can earn and redeem points on eligible rentals. The program also provides returning customers with the following benefits:

• Counter bypass pick-up available at many locations
• Faster reservations
• Dedicated service line
• Points redeemable for free rental days
• Elite tiers with upgrades and bonus points

The program is available in most major markets worldwide and applies to both leisure and business rentals.

Many people have one question: Is Avis Preferred free? I believe most car renters are quite interested in this topic.

Is Avis Preferred Free?

Regarding this question, I can tell you with confidence that joining **Avis Preferred is completely free. There is no annual fee, no minimum rental requirement, and no required credit card spending.

After you register for Avis Preferred, you will automatically receive base-level member benefits. You can then begin your car rental journey and start earning points.

As for how the program works and how to join Avis Preferred, I’ll walk you through everything in the next section.

How the Avis Preferred Program Works

Before explaining how it works, let me first walk you through the process to join **Avis Preferred. First, you’ll need to register for an account online. After that, you will receive an Avis membership number. Once registered, use this number to log in to your account.

How the Avis Preferred Program works:

• It’s a quick and free enrollment process
• Add your driver’s license and payment details to your profile
• Book directly through the Avis website
• Earn points on eligible rentals
• Redeem points for free rental days

Note: You can also choose to earn airline miles through select partners instead of Avis points, but in most cases, Avis points provide better redemption flexibility.

Avis Preferred Status Levels

The Avis Preferred Program includes four membership tiers: Avis Preferred, Avis Preferred Plus, and Avis President’s Club.

Joining Avis Preferred is free, but to reach the higher tiers, you need to complete certain qualifying challenges. There is also an exclusive tier: Chairman’s Club (invite only).

Below is a simple table summarizing these membership levels:

Tier	How You Qualify	Key Perks	Point accrual rate	Upgrades
Preferred	Free enrollment	Skip counter, earn points	1 point per dollar on rental cars.2 points per dollar on accessories.	/
Preferred Plus	10 rentals or or spending $4,000 per calendar year.	25–50% bonus points, upgrade	1.25 points per dollar on rental cars.2.5 points per dollar on accessories.	Free one car class upgrade*
President’s Club	20 rentals or spending $6,000 per calendar year.	Guaranteed upgrades, 50–100% bonus	1.5 points per dollar on rental cars.3 points per dollar on accessories.	Free two car class upgrades*
Chairman’s Club	Invite only	Highest priority service	*	*

Let’s break each one down.

Avis Preferred (Base Level)

Avis Preferred is the base-level tier and is completely free to join. If you’re using Avis Preferred for the first time, this is where your rental journey begins. While it may not offer the most premium benefits compared to higher tiers, its biggest advantage is that it’s free and allows you to skip the rental counter, helping you save time by avoiding long lines. The only requirement is that you must be at least 25 years old.

Benefits:

• Skip the rental counter at participating locations.
• Earn Avis Preferred points on qualifying rentals.

Avis Preferred Plus

Avis Preferred Plus is the mid-tier level of the Avis Preferred loyalty program and is well suited for moderate business travelers.

How to Become Preferred Plus

To qualify for Avis Preferred Plus, you must complete 10 rentals within a year or spend $4,000 on eligible Avis purchases. In addition, you can earn 100 bonus points by renting within the first three months after joining.

Preferred Plus Benefits

• Complimentary one-car-class upgrade when available
• Bonus points earned on every rental
• Access to exclusive offers and promotional discounts
• Points can be redeemed for free rental days

Avis President’s Club

Avis President’s Club is the highest elite tier you can earn in the Avis Preferred Program.

How to Qualify for President’s Club

To qualify for Avis President’s Club status, you must complete 20 rentals in a calendar year or spend $6,000 on eligible Avis purchases.

President’s Club Benefits

• Double car-class upgrade when booking an intermediate car or higher (when available)
• Guaranteed vehicle availability
• Earn 50% more Avis Preferred points per dollar spent on rentals
• Guaranteed full-size vehicle when you reserve at least 24 hours in advance
• Expedited service and a dedicated support phone line (subject to availability; excludes large SUVs and Signature Series vehicles)

Related Articles: Avis President’s Club: Benefits & How to Get.

Chairman’s Club (Invite Only)

Avis Chairman’s Club is one of the highest elite tiers within the Avis Preferred Program, and it is not open to the general public. This status is typically associated with the luxury vacation membership network Exclusive Resorts as a premium perk for its top-tier members.

However, joining Exclusive Resorts itself has an extremely high barrier to entry. Public information indicates that the initiation fee is around $150,000, and members must also pay approximately $1,395 per night when using its vacation properties. This effectively means Chairman’s Club is reserved for a very small group of high-net-worth individuals.

In addition to vacation club members, this status is typically extended to:

• High-value corporate clients
• Executive-level renters at multinational companies
• Large corporate accounts with negotiated travel agreements

Key Chairman’s Club Benefits

As the top tier in the Avis ecosystem, Chairman’s Club delivers a near “VIP concierge-level” experience, including:

• Airport meet-and-greet service
  • Upon arrival at major airports in the U.S. or Canada, an Avis representative will greet you and escort you directly to your vehicle, bypassing the counter entirely.
• Vehicle availability guarantee
  • Enjoy priority access to vehicles even during peak travel periods.
• Complimentary vehicle upgrades
  • Receive priority upgrades to higher-class vehicles (subject to availability).
• Complimentary vehicle delivery
  • Within a 25-mile radius of participating Avis locations, members may receive free vehicle delivery, significantly enhancing convenience.

Overall, Chairman’s Club is not earned through standard rental activity. Instead, it is an invite-only status tied to high spending or corporate agreements—more of a bespoke travel privilege for elite clients than a typical mass-market loyalty tier.

Avis President’s Club Fast Track

If you want the fastest path to top-tier status, the Avis President’s Club Fast Track is undoubtedly one of the most attractive options available. Compared with the standard route—completing 20 rentals within a year or meeting high spending thresholds—the Fast Track lets you skip the lengthy qualification process and secure elite status quickly.

One common method is through the fast-track offer provided by VIP Hotel Travel. Through this channel, you don’t need to complete any rental challenges or wait to accumulate qualifying rentals. Instead, by placing the required order and paying the associated fee, you can typically be upgraded to Avis President’s Club within a few days. This approach is especially useful for business travelers who expect multiple rentals in the short term or who want immediate access to premium benefits.

After a successful upgrade, you can immediately enjoy the core President’s Club perks, including higher-tier vehicle upgrades, priority vehicle availability, dedicated customer support, and enhanced points earning rates. For time-sensitive professionals, this fast-track path saves both time and effort while helping ensure a more reliable rental experience during peak travel periods.

Overall, Avis President’s Club Fast Track is an efficiency-focused upgrade strategy, ideal for travelers who want to lock in premium benefits quickly rather than slowly qualifying through traditional rental activity. Click the red button below to get started fast.

How to Earn Avis Preferred Points

You earn points for every dollar spent on base rental charges. In other words, the more you spend with Avis, the more Preferred Points you will earn.

Each rental earns a minimum of 100 points. For example, even if your one-day rental costs $50, you will still receive 100 points (without the minimum, you would only earn 50 points).

Details are as follows:

Avis Preferred Program	Avis Preferred	Avis Preferred Plus (Tier 1)	Avis Preferred Plus (Tier 2)
Earnings rate per dollar spent on car rentals	1 point.	1.25 points.	1.5 points.
Earnings rate per dollar spent on other products (e.g., GPS, satellite radio)	2 points.	2.5 points.	3 points.
How many points you’d earn from $500 spent on car rentals	500.	625.	750.

In addition to earning Avis Preferred Points, you can also convert each rental into airline miles or hotel points. For travelers who already focus on a specific frequent flyer program or are working toward hotel elite status, this “earn elsewhere” strategy can be more valuable.

Currently, Avis partners with more than 50 airlines and nine hotel groups. It also includes select transportation partners (such as **Eurostar). This means you can fully integrate your car rental spending into your broader loyalty ecosystem instead of spreading rewards across multiple accounts.

However, there is an important caveat. When renting in the United States, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Croix, and Canada, choosing to earn airline miles or hotel points instead of Avis Preferred Points will typically trigger a frequent traveler surcharge or related tax. In most cases, this fee is about $1.50 per day. While the impact is minor for short rentals, it should be factored in for longer rentals.

If you want to change your reward preference, the process is simple. Log in to your Avis Preferred account, go to your profile page, find the Rewards section, and click Edit to switch to your preferred airline or hotel program. It’s wise to confirm your earning preference before each rental to ensure your points or miles post correctly.

If you prefer to earn airline miles or hotel points instead of Avis Preferred Points when renting with Avis, follow these steps: go to the “Rewards” tab in your Avis profile and switch “Earn Avis Preferred Points and Discounts” to “No.” Then select your preferred airline or hotel program from the dropdown menu and enter your membership number. Click “Save,” and your account will be set to earn through your selected partner program. From now on, you will be able to earn partner points and miles.

The earning structure for airline and hotel loyalty programs is not uniform. Some partners award miles or points based on your rental spending, while others provide a fixed number of miles or points per rental. As a result, how much you ultimately earn depends on the specific program you choose.

Avis maintains a comprehensive list of airline and hotel partners on its website, along with the corresponding earning rates. It’s wise to review this information in advance to determine which earning option provides the best value.

Another important consideration is the frequent traveler surcharge that Avis may apply to certain partner programs. This fee is typically tied to the miles or points you elect to earn. For rentals in the United States, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Croix, and Canada, choosing to earn rewards with certain airline or hotel partners usually triggers a surcharge of about $0.75–$1.00 per day.

Given this additional cost, some travelers may prefer to avoid crediting rentals to the following programs:

• Atmos Rewards
• American Airlines AAdvantage
• Best Western Rewards
• Choice Privileges
• Copa Airlines ConnectMiles
• Frontier Airlines
• HawaiianMiles
• World of Hyatt
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Southwest Rapid Rewards
• Spirit Airlines
• Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Before choosing where to credit your rentals, it’s best to weigh the value of the rewards against any applicable surcharges and pick the strategy that aligns with your travel patterns.

Can You Earn Points on Discounted Rentals?

Generally speaking, in most cases you can still earn **Avis Preferred Points on your rental as long as the booking complies with the Avis Preferred Program terms. Reservations made using publicly available promotions, coupon codes, corporate AWD codes, or member discounts (such as AAA or AARP) typically earn points on the base rental rate.

However, some deeply discounted or opaque third-party bookings—such as prepaid mystery rates or bundled travel packages—may not qualify for points. To ensure you receive credit, it’s best to book directly through Avis and review the rate details carefully before confirming your reservation.

How to Redeem Avis Preferred Points

Redeeming **Avis Preferred Points is relatively straightforward, but keep in mind that not all locations support point redemptions. To use your points, first log in to your Avis account and enter your rental location, dates, and vehicle preferences. After selecting a vehicle, proceed to checkout and choose “Use Points” as your payment method.

Typically, accessory redemptions start at 250 points, while free rental days begin at 700 points. Reward pricing is based on the standard daily base rate (and does not apply to AWD discounts, coupon codes, special rates, or other promotional pricing). Another advantage is that Reward Day bookings usually have no blackout dates, offering strong flexibility for travel planning.

Reward Day Tier Levels

Level 1

• Standard daily base rate: up to $50
• Points required per day: 700

Level 2

• Standard daily base rate: $50.01–$85
• Points required per day: 1,400

Level 3

• Standard daily base rate: $85.01–$125
• Points required per day: 2,100

Level 4

• Standard daily base rate: $125.01–$225
• Points required per day: 3,500

Redeeming your **Avis Preferred Points is quite straightforward. Simply log in to your Avis account and enter your pickup location, dates, and vehicle preferences on the homepage to start your booking. You can sort and filter results by vehicle type, size, or daily price to quickly find the right option.

Avis also offers flexible payment choices—you can pay at pickup or prepay online to receive a discount (typically saving 15%–30%). However, prepaid reservations do carry cancellation fees: cancel more than 24 hours before pickup and you’ll usually pay a $50 fee; cancel within 24 hours and the fee is $150. If you neither cancel nor pick up the vehicle, the prepaid amount is non-refundable. Once you’ve made your selection, if your account has enough points, you can use your Avis Preferred Points to cover the rental cost as well as certain add-ons or equipment.

How Much Are Avis Points Worth?

As someone who travels frequently for business, I rent cars near airports many times each year. Compared with other rental companies, my sense of the value of **Avis Preferred Points is quite direct. In my view, their value often varies significantly depending on the rental location and timing.

If you’re renting in a lower-demand city and during off-peak periods—such as a weekend suburban trip—the redemption value of your points is often higher. That’s because standard daily rates in these markets tend to be lower, while award pricing follows fixed tiers. In these cases, you can usually achieve a better cents-per-point value.

Conversely, if you rent at busy airports, during holidays, or in peak travel periods, daily base rates are higher and more points are required to redeem the same one-day rental. In these situations, the value of your points declines, and paying cash may be the better option. It often makes sense to save your points for more favorable opportunities to maximize their value.

In my experience, the ideal use case for Avis points is weekend leisure trips or short off-peak rentals. In these scenarios, points typically deliver solid redemption value while reducing out-of-pocket costs. If you travel frequently for work like I do, saving your points for personal trips is actually a very practical strategy.

Avis Status Match Guide

If you already hold elite status with another rental company, using Avis Status Match is an efficient way to fast-track into a higher tier. Avis has periodically offered status match promotions that allow top-tier members from competitors to match directly to Preferred Plus or President’s Club—without slowly qualifying through rental activity.

Common eligible competitor programs include:

• Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
• National Car Rental Emerald Club

Typically, applying for a Status Match requires:

• Proof of your current elite status (such as a screenshot of your member page)
• Recent rental activity to demonstrate engagement

Approval, the matched tier, and the validity period all vary based on the specific promotion at the time. Sometimes you may receive full-year status outright; other times you’ll get a trial status that requires completing a certain number of rentals within a set period to retain it.

For frequent travelers who already hold high-tier status with another brand, Status Match is a low-cost way to enter the Avis elite ecosystem and experience President’s Club benefits.

Avis vs Competitors

In car rental programs, Avis, Hertz, and National Car Rental are often compared. For frequent business travelers, the choice between them usually depends on the loyalty program, airport coverage, upgrade policies, and various other service agreements.

Avis vs Hertz Gold Plus Rewards

From a global coverage perspective, Hertz has a clear advantage in multiple markets—especially in the U.S., Canada, and Western European countries such as the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France—with dense branch networks, numerous corporate locations, and strong airport presence. In countries with high self-driving demand, like Australia and New Zealand, Hertz also maintains a significant market share. Additionally, in some key cities in the Middle East and Latin America, Hertz’s corporate branches and brand recognition are similarly strong. For travelers frequently crossing continents, particularly those active in North America and Europe, Hertz’s global network generally offers more stability and predictability. The Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program is popular, and if your travel is geographically dispersed, Hertz’s extensive network can be very attractive.

Compared with Avis’s high-tier membership (such as President’s Club), Avis is more competitive in terms of elite benefits. Avis offers a clearer upgrade structure and higher points earning rates, which is a major advantage for travelers who value a consistent and predictable elite experience. In other words, Hertz wins on coverage, while Avis emphasizes the reliability of elite treatment.

Avis vs National Emerald Club

National Car Rental’s Emerald Aisle is highly popular among business travelers, especially at major U.S. airports. Members can drive directly into a dedicated lane and choose from pre-prepared vehicles themselves. This highly flexible pick-up experience not only saves time but also makes travel more convenient.

In contrast, Avis President’s Club emphasizes a “guaranteed upgrade” strategy. In certain locations, high-tier members can secure priority upgrades to higher-class vehicles through advance reservations, along with clear vehicle availability guarantees. This model suits travelers who prefer to lock in their ideal car ahead of time rather than relying on luck at the counter. For those seeking a stable and highly predictable rental experience, Avis President’s Club is more attractive in terms of upgrade guarantees and service consistency.

Credit Cards That Offer Avis Elite Status

Credit Card	Annual Fee (USD)	Avis Status Upgrade	Activation Method	Key Benefits
American Express Centurion Card	695 (varies by country)	Automatic Avis President’s Club	Link Avis Preferred account via Amex Benefits portal	– Complimentary Avis President’s Club membership- Guaranteed vehicle availability & priority upgrades- 24/7 concierge & travel support- Access to luxury car rentals worldwide
American Express Platinum Card	695 (varies by country)	Automatic Avis Preferred Plus / President’s Club	Link Avis Preferred account via Amex Benefits portal	– Complimentary elite memberships with Avis, Hertz & National- Free Avis Preferred Plus / President’s Club membership- Secondary car rental insurance- Airport lounge access- Up to 25% off base rates with Amex codes- Free additional driver- Priority counter service
Visa Infinite Card	450–550 (varies by bank)	Fast-track to Avis Preferred Plus / President’s Club	Via Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel & Collection portal or Concierge	– Double upgrades on weekends (subject to availability)- Exclusive discounts & promotions- 24-hour travel concierge service
Chase Sapphire Reserve Card	550	Complimentary Avis Preferred Plus	Activate via Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel portal	– Up to 30% off car rentals booked through Chase Travel- Primary car rental insurance coverage- Priority service and upgrades (when available)

Do Avis Points Expire?

Points do expire—they have a limited validity period. If your account has no activity for 12 months, Avis Preferred Points will expire, but this is not the only limitation. Even if your account remains active, according to the official terms: Avis Preferred Points are valid for 60 months (five years) from the date they are earned. After expiration, points are voided and returned to Avis.

However, for residents of Ontario, Canada, their Avis points never expire—although points may be canceled if left inactive for an extended period. The specific terms and conditions state:

“Points earned by residents of Ontario, Canada, do not expire. However, if left unused for a long period, these points may be canceled.”

How to Keep or Renew Status

To maintain or renew your Avis elite status, qualification is generally based on your rental activity or spending within a calendar year. As noted earlier, each tier requires meeting a specific number of rentals or spending threshold to retain or renew your Avis status.

Avis reviews your activity at the end of the qualification period to determine whether you qualify for the following membership year. If you do not meet the required rental or spending levels, your status may be downgraded in the next membership cycle. For frequent renters, tracking your activity throughout the year is essential to avoid losing valuable elite benefits.

That said, you can also upgrade through the fast-track option offered by VIP Hotel Travel, which allows you to bypass rental challenges and spending requirements entirely. In my experience, this is one of the most efficient ways to renew or extend your Avis Preferred status, potentially saving significant time and money.

Is Avis Preferred Worth It?

Whether Avis Preferred is worth it largely depends on how often you rent cars and your travel needs.

If you’re a frequent renter, the program is highly worthwhile—especially if you:

• Rent cars 5+ times per year
• Travel frequently for business
• Want to minimize airport lines and wait times
• Hope to fast-track into elite status via Fast Track or Status Match

If you fall into these high-usage categories, the ability to skip the counter, receive priority upgrades, and earn higher bonus points can meaningfully improve your travel efficiency and overall value. For frequent renters—particularly those who can reach President’s Club—the program can deliver the strongest return and benefits.

On the other hand, the value may be limited if you:

• Rent only about once per year
• Usually book through third-party or opaque discount sites
• Don’t care about upgrades or earning points

In these cases, the advantages of the Avis Preferred program may not be fully realized.

FAQ

Final Verdict

In summary, the Avis Preferred Program is a zero-cost, low-barrier rental loyalty program that delivers real value. Even at the base level, the ability to skip the counter and save time in line is enough to noticeably improve the overall rental experience.

For frequent business travelers or high-volume renters, upgrading to elite tiers such as President’s Club brings additional advantages—like guaranteed vehicle upgrades, priority service, and higher points earnings—making each trip more efficient and comfortable. For frequent renters, joining Avis Preferred is well worth considering.

If you already have regular car rental needs, enrolling in Avis Preferred carries virtually no downside while potentially delivering meaningful long-term value. Additionally, using the Fast Track option through VIP Hotel Travel to upgrade to Avis President’s Club can save significant time and rental costs over the year, since you can obtain one year of elite status without meeting the usual rental or spending requirements.