You're standing at the rental counter. The agent is staring at you, hovering over a keyboard, waiting to see if you’ll bite on the $30-a-day "premium protection" or the "guaranteed upgrade" that costs more than your dinner. If you have a high-end metal card in your wallet, you probably feel like you should be getting a better deal. You’re right. But honestly, most people totally blow it when it comes to Amex Platinum card car rental benefits because they think the "perks" just happen automatically. They don't.
It’s a massive mistake to assume that simply paying with the card gives you the full suite of upgrades. If you haven't gone into your Amex portal and clicked "enroll" for each specific rental agency, you are basically leaving money—and much nicer cars—on the table. We’re talking about skipping lines that are twenty people deep and walking straight to a polished SUV while everyone else is haggling over a compact sedan with a weird smell.
The Platinum Card from American Express is famous for lounge access, sure. But for those of us who actually hit the road, the rental perks are arguably more valuable on a day-to-day basis. Let’s get into how this actually works, the weird loopholes you need to know about, and why that "free" insurance might not be as ironclad as you think.
The Big Three: Status is Everything
Amex partners with three major players: Hertz, Avis, and National. This isn't just a "points" thing. It’s a status thing. Usually, you have to spend thousands of dollars or rent dozens of times a year to hit these tiers. With the Platinum card, you just... get them.
Hertz President’s Circle
This is the heavy hitter. President’s Circle is Hertz’s top-tier status. Basically, it means you can skip the counter entirely at most major airports. You just look for your name on the big electronic board, go to the "President's Circle" section, and pick literally any car you want. You want the brand-new Tesla? Take it. The Jeep with 400 miles on it? It's yours. As long as you booked a midsize car or higher, you're golden. Just drive to the exit gate, show your license, and leave. It saves about 20 minutes of your life every single trip.
National Emerald Club Executive
National is the secret favorite of frequent business travelers. Their "Executive" status works similarly to Hertz. You book a "Midsize" car and you get to pick anything from the "Executive Area." The beauty here is consistency. National’s fleet is often better maintained than the others. Plus, you get a guaranteed upgrade on whatever class you book.
Avis Preferred Plus
Avis is a bit more conservative with their perks. You get a 25% discount (using the Amex AWD code) and a one-class upgrade when available. It’s solid, but it doesn't quite have the "pick any car" magic that Hertz and National offer. Still, if you’re in a city where Avis is the only option, that 25% discount pays for a decent chunk of the card's annual fee.
📖 Related: Weather for Falmouth Kentucky: What Most People Get Wrong
The Insurance Trap: Primary vs. Secondary
Here is where people get into real trouble. Amex Platinum card car rental benefits include a "Secondary" Collision Damage Waiver (CDW).
Read that word again: Secondary.
If you wreck your rental car, Amex expects you to file a claim with your personal car insurance first. You have to pay your own deductible. Your own rates might go up. Amex only steps in to cover what your primary insurance won't. This is a huge distinction that many influencers gloss over.
However, there is a workaround. You can actually "buy" Primary Insurance from Amex for a flat fee—usually around $12 to $25 per rental period (not per day). It’s called the Premium Car Rental Protection. If you opt into this, Amex becomes the primary payer. If you hit a pole in a parking lot, you don't even have to tell your personal insurance company. It’s probably the best-kept secret in the travel world.
One more thing: This coverage doesn't include liability. If you hit another person or their property, the Amex card won't pay for their hospital bills or their smashed bumper. You still need your own personal policy or the rental agency's liability add-on for that.
The Logistics of Enrollment
You cannot just show up and show your card. That’s a rookie move.
👉 See also: Weather at Kelly Canyon: What Most People Get Wrong
- Log into your American Express account online.
- Navigate to the "Rewards & Benefits" section.
- Find the "Travel" tab.
- Individually click "Enroll" for Hertz, National, and Avis.
- Wait. It can take a few days for the status to sync with the rental companies.
Once it’s synced, you have to make sure your Amex card is saved as the default payment method in your Hertz or National profiles. If you use a different card to pay, you technically aren't entitled to those status perks. It’s a bit of a bureaucratic dance, but doing it once saves you hours of standing in line at LAX or O'Hare.
Why the "Special" Codes Matter
Most people search for rentals on Expedia or Kayak. Stop doing that. To get the Amex Platinum card car rental benefits, you usually need to book directly through the rental company’s site using the Amex "CDP" (Corporate Discount Program) codes.
For Hertz, that code is 211762.
For Avis, the AWD code is A756900.
Using these codes does two things: it triggers the discount (sometimes up to 25%) and it ensures the system recognizes your status. Sometimes, the Amex Travel portal offers better rates, but check the direct sites first. Surprisingly, the Amex Travel site doesn't always play nice with your elite status benefits. It's weird, but that’s the reality of 2026 travel tech.
Nuance: The Luxury Fleet Limitation
Don't expect to get a free upgrade to a Lamborghini or a top-of-the-line Range Rover. Most of these benefits apply to "standard" and "full-size" bookings. If you book a minivan because you have six kids, don't expect a President’s Circle upgrade to two minivans. Status is usually about moving from a Toyota Corolla to a Ford Explorer or a base-model BMW.
Also, geographic limits are real. These perks are rock solid in the US, Canada, and parts of Europe. If you're renting a car in a remote part of Southeast Asia or South America, your "President's Circle" status might be met with a confused shrug by the guy behind the desk.
✨ Don't miss: USA Map Major Cities: What Most People Get Wrong
The Hidden Value of the 4-Hour Grace Period
Hertz has this one specific perk for Platinum members that almost nobody knows about. In many locations, you get a 4-hour grace period on returns.
Standard rental rules are brutal. If you return the car at 1:00 PM when you picked it up at 12:00 PM the previous day, they charge you for a whole extra day. With the Amex Hertz benefit, you can often push that return time back by four hours without the extra day's charge. If your flight is delayed or you just want one last long lunch before heading to the airport, this is a massive stress-saver. It’s effectively a 20% discount on 24-hour rentals if you're a "late" returner.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Premium" Fleet
There’s a misconception that "Premium" status means you always get a "Premium" car. Not quite. It means you get the choice of what’s available. On a Tuesday morning at a busy hub like Atlanta, the President’s Circle lot might be filled with nothing but mid-tier Malibus. On a Thursday night? You might find a convertible Mustang or a loaded Suburban. It’s a lottery. The benefit isn't a guarantee of luxury; it's a guarantee of priority. You get the best of what they have, but "the best" varies wildly based on fleet turnover.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
To actually see the value of your Amex Platinum card car rental benefits, you need to be proactive. Don't wait until you're at the airport.
- Audit your accounts tonight: Log into Amex and confirm you have clicked "Enroll" for all three partners. If it says "Pending," wait.
- Sign up for the "Primary" protection: If you don't want to risk your personal insurance rates over a minor fender bender, go into the Amex "Premium Car Rental Protection" page and enroll your card. You only get charged when you actually start a rental.
- Download the apps: Put the Hertz and National apps on your phone. Input your membership numbers. This is how you get the "Skip the Counter" notifications.
- Compare the "Amex Rate" vs. The World: Before booking, check the price using the Amex CDP code on the rental site versus the price on a search engine. Sometimes the "discounted" rate is actually higher because it includes more flexible cancellation terms. Always double-check.
- Check your credit limit: High-end rentals often put a "hold" on your card that can be significantly higher than the rental price. Ensure you have the breathing room on your Platinum card so you don't trigger a fraud alert while trying to drive away.
The Platinum card is a tool. If you just let it sit in your pocket, it's an expensive piece of metal. But if you actually link these accounts and use the specific corporate codes, the time you save at the rental lot usually justifies a big chunk of that annual fee. Just remember: the skip-the-line perks are for you, but the "free" insurance is secondary unless you tell Amex otherwise. Plan accordingly.