Dollar Rent A Car, known for catering to budget-conscious travelers, offers a loyalty program called Dollar Express Rewards. While numerous car rental companies boast similar programs, Dollar Express Rewards provides a straightforward approach to earning and redeeming points for those who prioritize value. Although Dollar is under the Hertz umbrella, it’s important to note that Dollar Express Rewards operates independently, without reciprocal benefits from Hertz Gold Plus Rewards.
Understanding Dollar Express Rewards
Dollar Express Rewards is designed to reward frequent Dollar Rent A Car customers with points redeemable for free rentals. Beyond earning points, members enjoy expedited service, including the ability to bypass rental counters at select locations and access priority service. An added perk is the complimentary inclusion of a spouse or domestic partner as an additional driver. Like most car rental loyalty programs, Dollar Express Rewards membership is free and accessible to all eligible renters.
However, a key differentiator of Dollar Express Rewards is the absence of elite status tiers. Unlike programs that offer upgrades and enhanced benefits to their most frequent customers, Dollar Express Rewards maintains a single membership level. The primary exception to this is for U.S. military and government personnel, who may receive upgrades when renting for both official and personal travel.
Partnering for Points: Dollar Express and Affiliated Programs
For travelers who don’t frequently rent from Dollar but still want to accrue rewards, Dollar Express offers partnerships with various airline and hotel loyalty programs. Instead of earning Dollar Rewards points, you can opt to earn miles or points with these partners:
- Airline Partners:
- Alaska Airlines: 50 miles per qualifying rental day
- All Nippon Airways: 300 miles per qualifying rental
- American Airlines: 50 miles per qualifying rental day
- Avianca Airlines: 50 miles per qualifying rental day
- Delta Air Lines: 500 miles per qualifying rental
- Emirates: 500 miles per rental (29 days or less), 1,000 miles per rental (30+ days)
- Frontier Airlines: 50 miles per day (rentals up to 4 days), 500 miles (rentals 5+ days)
- Japan Airlines: 300 miles per qualifying rental
- Southwest Airlines: 600 miles per qualifying rental
- Spirit Airlines: 50 miles per day (rentals up to 4 days), 500 miles (rentals 5+ days)
- United Airlines: 50 miles per day (rentals up to 4 days), 500 miles (rentals 5+ days)
- Hotel Partners:
- IHG Rewards: 125 points per qualifying rental day
Opting for airline miles with U.S.-based carriers usually involves a daily surcharge, ranging from $0.75 to $1.50, depending on the specific airline program. Importantly, choosing to earn partner points or miles doesn’t negate the Dollar Express member benefits like counter bypass.
Earning Dollar Express Rewards Points: A Simple Approach
The Dollar Express Rewards earning structure is refreshingly uncomplicated. With no elite tiers to navigate, the earning rate is consistent for all members:
- 1 point per dollar spent on qualifying Dollar rentals.
According to Dollar’s official FAQs, a qualifying rental is defined as any rental in the U.S. or Canada that is not prepaid. To ensure points are credited, members must include their Dollar Express Rewards member ID during the reservation process. It’s worth reiterating that despite the shared ownership with Thrifty and Hertz, points cannot be earned or redeemed with these sister brands.
Redeeming Your Dollar Express Rewards Points
Dollar Express points open the door to free car rentals, redeemable for daily, weekly, or weekend rentals within the compact through full-size car categories. Redemption values are structured as follows:
| Reward | Points Required |
|---|---|
| One Free Weekend Rental Day | 500 |
| Two Free Weekend Rental Days | 1,000 |
| Three Free Weekend Rental Days | 1,500 |
| Four Free Weekend Rental Days | 2,000 |
| One Free Weekday Rental Day | 625 |
| Two Free Weekday Rental Days | 1,250 |
| Three Free Weekday Rental Days | 1,875 |
| Four Free Weekday Rental Days | 2,500 |
| One Free Weekly Rental | 2,550 |
| Two Free Weekly Rentals (14 Days Max) | 5,000 |
Redemptions are subject to blackout dates and are currently limited to rentals within the U.S. and Canada. Points remain active as long as there’s account activity (earning or redemption) at least once every 24 months.
Strategic Credit Card Use for Dollar Rentals
To further enhance your Dollar Rent A Car experience, consider using a credit card that offers robust travel benefits. Ideally, this would be a card that provides primary car rental insurance and earns bonus rewards on travel purchases. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are excellent choices.
Both cards offer primary rental car coverage, allowing you to confidently decline the rental agency’s collision damage waiver and still be protected. Since car rentals are typically categorized as travel purchases, you’ll also earn bonus points: 3 points per dollar with the Chase Sapphire Reserve and 2 points per dollar with the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
For fuel purchases, utilizing a credit card that maximizes rewards at gas stations is prudent. Cards such as the Citi Premier® Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card are strong contenders in this category.
Unlocking Additional Savings on Dollar Rentals
Beyond the rewards program, several avenues exist to reduce the cost of Dollar car rentals:
Discount Codes and Special Offers
Dollar Rent A Car maintains a “Specials” page on their website, showcasing various deals and discount codes. This page allows users to search for location-specific offers. Additionally, association discounts for organizations like AAA and BJ’s Wholesale Club are often listed. However, it’s always wise to conduct a broader online search for discount codes before finalizing a booking, as not all available codes are always advertised on Dollar’s specials page.
Leverage AutoSlash
AutoSlash is a valuable online tool designed to identify the lowest possible rental car rates. It automatically applies relevant discounts based on your search criteria and continuously monitors prices for potential drops post-booking. AutoSlash also features a dedicated coupons page, providing a collection of discount codes that can be used directly on the Dollar website.
Dollar 4Business for Small Businesses
Small business owners who frequently rent cars for work purposes should explore the Dollar 4Business program. This free program provides a range of benefits, including a 7% discount on base rental rates for business rentals, waived young renter fees, complimentary additional drivers, unlimited mileage, and waived change fees. Crucially, Dollar 4Business members still retain the ability to earn points through the standard Dollar Express Rewards program.
In Conclusion: Dollar Express Rewards – Value-Focused Loyalty
Dollar Rent A Car and its Dollar Express Rewards program effectively cater to travelers who prioritize value and straightforward rewards. The program offers tangible benefits like free rentals and expedited service, making it a worthwhile option for casual renters. However, for those seeking elite status perks and recognition for high-frequency rentals, exploring programs from other car rental companies might be more suitable.
