Key takeaways
- Avis Preferred is free to join, offers bypass of rental counters, and grants complimentary elite status through qualifying airline programs and credit cards.
- Avis points typically redeem at 2 to 3 cents each because the point cost is calculated on standard base rates, which far exceed the discounted rates most renters actually pay.
- Before redeeming points, compare award rates against cash prices through multiple booking methods, since corporate codes and promotional rates often beat the point redemption cost.
Avis Preferred operates as a straightforward, no-cost loyalty program for car renters, offering point accumulation, expedited pickups and the option to claim elite status without hitting rental or spending thresholds if you hold qualifying airline elite credentials or premium credit cards. The program’s real-world value hinges on careful rate comparison, since point redemption rates tend to cluster at the lower end of typical loyalty program valuations.
Joining and Basic Membership Perks
Avis Preferred welcomes all adults at least 25 years old in the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada. Membership in other regions may carry different age requirements. The program is free to join.
Upon enrollment, members can bypass the rental counter at many locations, reducing friction on pickup days. Members also begin earning points on rentals and selected ancillary services, with the earning rate determined by membership tier.
Elite Status Tiers and Pathways to Status
Preferred Plus: The First Elite Level
Preferred Plus requires completing 10 rentals or charging $4,000 to your Avis account within a calendar year. Status persists through the end of the following year. You can also enroll in complimentary Preferred Plus through qualifying credit cards or airline elite status with Avis partners.
President’s Club: The Top Tier
President’s Club demands 20 completed rentals or $6,000 in annual spending. Like Preferred Plus, it carries into year-end of the following calendar year and is available complimentarily through certain credit cards, including the United Club Card and the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Legend Mastercard, the latter valid for enrollment through August 31, 2028, as well as select airline elite programs.
Airline and Credit Card Pathways
The program’s integrations with airline frequent flyer and credit card ecosystems mean many travelers can unlock Preferred Plus or President’s Club without renting 10 or 20 times in a year. This is particularly valuable for occasional renters who hold premium travel cards or elite airline status elsewhere.
Earning and Tracking Avis Preferred Points
What Counts Toward Points
Points accumulate only on time-and-mileage charges, the base rental rate. Taxes, fees, and surcharges do not generate points. The earning multiplier varies by status tier, with higher tiers earning at faster rates. Accessories and services purchased during a rental also earn points at a fixed rate.
If you elect to earn miles, points, or credits with a partner airline or hotel program instead of Avis Preferred points on a U.S., Caribbean, or Canadian rental, Avis may impose a frequent traveler surcharge of 75 cents to $1.50 per day.
Managing Your Point Balance
Avis Preferred points expire 60 months after earning, except for Ontario, Canada residents. The program also forfeits points after 12 months of account inactivity, so at least one rent, earn, or redemption per year preserves your balance.
Redemption: Points to Rental Days
How Redemption Pricing Works
Reward rental days start at 700 points and scale to 1,400, 2,100, or 3,500 points depending on the standard base rate your rental would command. The critical distinction: the standard base rate excludes all discounts, member rates, promotional offers, and special codes. Your actual out-of-pocket rate will typically be far lower.
For example, according to The Points Guy Articles, a January 2027 intermediate car rental at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport showed these rates: $66.74 with a corporate code (base rate $44), $80.38 with a member rate (base rate $54.99), or $121.36 as a non-member rate (base rate $87.99). The standard base rate of $87.99 placed the rental in the $85.01 to $125 range, requiring 2,100 points. Taxes and fees added $22.74 at redemption. Using the lowest available rate of $66.74 as the comparison, the redemption yielded just 2.10 cents per point, significantly below what most loyalty programs deliver.
Accessories and services redeem at 250 points per item per day. You cannot redeem points for rentals under 24 hours or exceeding 28 days. Redemption is available in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada.
Calculating Your Personal Redemption Value
Avis points generally value between 2 and 5 cents each, though your rate depends on specific circumstances. Divide your cash rental cost (minus taxes and fees) by the points required to determine your value. The disparity between standard base rates and actual rates means most redemptions cluster toward the lower end of that spectrum.
Maximizing Avis Preferred for Your Travel
Comparison Shopping Before Booking
The author of the Points Guy Articles recommends comparing paid and award prices before redeeming, especially since point costs anchor to the inflated standard base rate. If a corporate code, member discount, or promotional rate beats the point cost significantly, keeping points for future use may serve you better.
Consider Alternative Loyalty Programs
Many renters find greater value funneling car rental activity toward airline mileage or hotel point programs rather than accumulating Avis points. Evaluate which loyalty currency aligns with your redemption preferences before committing points to a rental.
Layer in Credit Card Insurance
Using a premium credit card offering rental car insurance, such as primary collision damage waiver coverage, lets you decline the rental company’s damage waivers at pickup, keeping your rental cost down while maintaining coverage protection.
Is Avis Preferred Worth Joining?
Membership is worth pursuing if you rent with Avis, especially since it’s free and the convenience of bypassing the counter adds value. The program becomes more attractive if you can claim elite status through an existing airline elite tier or premium credit card without meeting rental or spending thresholds separately.
However, the gap between what Avis charges in points (based on standard base rates) and what you’d pay in cash (using real negotiated rates) creates a fundamental valuation challenge. Success with Avis Preferred requires disciplined rate comparison before each booking and realistic expectations about redemption value, typically in the 2- to 3-cents-per-point range rather than the optimistic upper end.
Source: The Points Guy Articles
Frequently Asked Questions
How old do I need to be to join Avis Preferred?
You must be at least 25 years old to join Avis Preferred in the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada. Age requirements may differ for residents of other regions.
How long do Avis Preferred points last?
Avis Preferred points expire 60 months after you earn them, except for residents of Ontario, Canada. The program will also forfeit your points if your account is inactive for 12 months, so you should rent, earn points, or redeem at least once per year.
What is the minimum and maximum length rental I can book with Avis points?
You cannot redeem Avis Preferred points for rentals shorter than 24 hours or longer than 28 days. Rental days start at 700 points and scale up to 3,500 points depending on the standard base rate.
