One of the easiest ways to get rental-car elite status is through a premium travel card. Unfortunately, this is also the kind of benefit that is easy to activate once, forget about, and assume will continue working indefinitely.

American Express is now notifying eligible cardholders that they need to re-enroll for the complimentary Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle benefit. Anyone who wants to keep the status should complete the new enrollment process no later than December 31, 2026.

There is no reason to panic, but there is also very little upside to waiting. If you use Hertz even occasionally, I would take care of this while you are thinking about it.

What Is Changing?

American Express says it has introduced a new enrollment experience for the Hertz status benefit. Because of that change, cardholders who previously enrolled are being asked to link their eligible Amex card and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards account again.

The important deadline is December 31, 2026.

If you do not complete the new enrollment by then, Hertz may remove the American Express Customer Discount Program information from your loyalty profile. That could also cause you to lose the complimentary President’s Circle status connected to the Amex benefit.

You should still be able to restore the status later by completing enrollment, but finding out that the benefit disappeared when you are standing at a rental counter would be an unnecessary headache.

How to Re-Enroll

The enrollment needs to be started through your American Express account rather than directly through Hertz.

1. Log in to your American Express account.
2. Select the eligible card you want connected to the benefit.
3. Open the card’s Benefits section.
4. Find the Car Rental Privileges benefit.
5. Select Learn More and then Enroll Now.
6. Enter your existing Hertz Gold Plus Rewards number.
7. Review the terms and submit the enrollment request.

After submitting the request, check your email and Hertz profile for confirmation. Amex says it will send a communication once enrollment has been completed.

Check Your Account Information First

Some early reports suggest that the enrollment process may fail when the personal information in the two accounts does not match. Before beginning, compare the name and email address saved in your American Express and Hertz profiles.

A middle name, alternate email address, nickname, or slightly different account format could potentially create an issue. These reports are not part of the published terms, so they should be treated as user experiences rather than a universal rule, but matching information may help avoid a call to Hertz.

Which American Express Cards Are Eligible?

The complimentary President’s Circle benefit is available on several premium American Express cards, including:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Platinum Card® from American Express for Charles Schwab
• The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

Benefits and eligibility can vary by product and account, so confirm that the Car Rental Privileges benefit appears in your own American Express account before relying on it.

Choose the Card You Expect to Keep

If you have more than one eligible card, it may make sense to enroll through the card you are most likely to keep long term.

Your complimentary status is tied to having an eligible American Express account. If the card used for enrollment is later closed or no longer qualifies, the associated Hertz status could eventually be removed.

This does not mean you need to keep a card solely for rental-car status. It simply means there is little reason to attach the benefit to a card you already expect to cancel when another eligible card is likely to remain open.

What President’s Circle Status Includes

Hertz President’s Circle is the highest published tier in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program. Listed benefits include:

• A guaranteed one-class vehicle upgrade, subject to the program terms
• Access to the widest available vehicle selection at participating locations
• 50% bonus Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points on qualifying rentals
• Expedited pickup benefits at participating locations
• A complimentary additional driver for eligible rentals
• Guaranteed vehicle availability when the applicable reservation requirements are met

The real-world value varies considerably by airport, inventory, rental type, and location participation. At a location with a well-stocked President’s Circle area, the ability to select from a broader group of vehicles can be useful. At a smaller neighborhood location, the practical difference may be limited.

That is why I would not assign an inflated dollar value to the benefit. Still, when the status is already included with a card you hold, taking a few minutes to preserve it is an easy decision.

What You Should Do After Re-Enrolling

Submitting the form is only the first step. Before your next Hertz reservation:

• Confirm that your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards number appears on the reservation.
• Log in to Hertz and verify that President’s Circle is displayed in your profile.
• Check that your name matches the renter information exactly.
• Review the rental location to see whether Gold Choice or President’s Circle vehicle selection is offered.
• Compare the Amex-linked Hertz rate with other available rates rather than assuming it is the cheapest.

Elite status and a discount code can improve a rental, but they do not automatically make Hertz the best option. Always compare the complete price, cancellation terms, vehicle class, taxes, fees, and any insurance or coverage you may need.

Getting to the Point(s)

This is a simple housekeeping task, but it is exactly the type of task that can save frustration later.

Eligible American Express cardholders should re-enroll for Hertz President’s Circle status well before the December 31, 2026 deadline. The process is available through the Car Rental Privileges section of your Amex account, and American Express says approval may take up to 72 hours.

Once enrollment is processed, verify the status directly in your Hertz profile. Then set a reminder to check it again before your next rental.

The bigger lesson is to periodically review the benefits attached to cards you already hold. A benefit only has value when it is activated, linked correctly, and available when you actually need it.

Sources & Further Reading

• American Express account and card-benefit portal
• Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program information
• Frequent Miler: Amex cardholders need to re-enroll for Hertz status

Card benefits, eligibility, enrollment procedures, rental-car benefits, and program terms can change. Review the current terms shown in your American Express and Hertz accounts before making a reservation or relying on a particular benefit. Card names and trademarks belong to their respective owners.