Hertz is now letting rewards members book rentals using a combination of points & cash. If you have at least 200 points then you will be given the option to pay for part of your rental using points. The break down is:
At the 200 point level you’re getting 2.5¢ per point. At the 600 level you get 5¢ per point. Normally a free weekend day starts at 550 points, so for most people this won’t be that useful I don’t think. Hertz points also don’t expire, so there isn’t as much of a hurry to use up points.
Hat tip to reader Chris
I use my Sapphire specifically for car rental primary insurance. If I understand Chase TOS correctly, coverage is only provided if 100% of the rental is charged. So, using Points may invalidate that insurance.
For me the insurance outweighs the point potential, so I opt for AA miles instead. Not a great value, but something. (I’m an Avis user due to employer preference, but I presume Hertz has similar options)
YMMV.
Chase Sapphire paid my insurance claim when I used Hertz points for the entire rental (card was used for taxes, fees etc.) Usually the best use of Hertz points is standard weekly rental.
Points do not expire as long as you have a Hertz Gold Plus Rewards rental activity in the prior 24 months. Activity means a Gold Plus Rewards Point was either earned or redeemed on a rental.
Is it just me who thinks that’s a horrible use of the Hertz points?
I would do this if it triggered cdw from my credit card. I don’t use my current points because i need the cdw benefit and usually pay with chase.
I wonder how this will work using a CC with primary coverage like the CSR for paying for a partial rental. Will the coverage still apply?
It won’t, at least Chase’s won’t. Not sure about the Amex primary coverage that you need to purchase.
I called amex about the premium rental protection and they said it was covered as long as something was charged on the card. I do like to call and double check before renting though, since it’s kind of a big deal.
Using points for $ off should be no issue.
I did a little more research since I also have the US Altitude Reserve and the CNB Crystal. Per Frequent Miler here, 100% needs to charged to the card for all cards that offer primary coverage … and that Amex Platinum is only secondary.
https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/ultra-premium-credit-card-travel-insurance/#Rental
For Citi, I spoke to a Citi insurance admin, and she got a hold of an insurance adjuster. With their cards, since Gold Points are processed as a discount or coupon on the bill as opposed to a ‘free day’ like Enterprise, their collision coverage would apply. I’d double-check with them as I’m only going on what they said, but I did spend about 30 minutes making absolutely sure that it was accurate.
I think Hertz points DO expire after a certain period of in activity.
https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/emember/rewards-legal/loyalty-terms-conditions#Restrictions
Points do not expire as long as the member has a Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program rental in the prior 24 months. Activity means a Gold Plus Rewards Point was either earned or redeemed