"Join Emerald Club before anything else — it's free and changes the experience from your first rental. Here's what each tier actually adds on top of that, and whether chasing status is worth it."
National is built around one program: Emerald Club. It shapes nearly everything about how the brand operates at the airport, from pricing to pickup to the reputation it's earned with frequent business travelers. That reputation is real, but it's a side effect of who tends to use the program, not a sign that National is built exclusively for them — Emerald Club is free, open to anyone, and changes the experience from the first rental, leisure or business.
The premium itself isn't about the car. At most airports, National pulls from the same fleet as Enterprise — same makes, same models, often the same lot. What the higher price buys is the pickup experience: skip the counter, choose your own car from the aisle, drive out. That's a real difference, but it only shows up once you're enrolled and renting at a participating airport. This article covers what each tier of the program actually changes, and what to check before you book.
Getting the most out of National
Most rental brands compete on price or fleet size. National competes on what happens between the curb and the car, and Emerald Club is the mechanism for that — not a loyalty add-on bolted onto a standard rental brand, but the thing the brand is designed to deliver. It costs nothing to join, and the core benefit applies from your very first rental, not after you've built up history with the brand.
Joining takes a few minutes at nationalcar.com. From your first rental, base membership gets you Emerald Aisle access at participating airports — skip the counter, walk to the aisle, choose any midsize or above, and pay the midsize rate. No second driver fee. Credits toward a free rental day every seven qualifying rentals.
That's the part most people miss: none of this requires status. It requires enrollment. The tiers above base membership exist for people who rent often enough to earn faster credit accrual and better guarantees — they don't gate the core experience. For how Emerald Club stacks up against every other supplier's program, see our rental car loyalty programs guide.
You don't need to book directly with National to use it. Plenty of travelers prefer comparing rates on a third-party platform before committing, and that's fine — just join Emerald Club either way. If your best price ends up on a comparison site, call National after booking to link your membership number to that reservation.
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What happens at the counter
The fee structure itself doesn't change with status — LDW, the deposit hold, and additional driver charges are the same whether or not you're an Emerald member. Anyone can set coverage preferences during online booking, member or not.
| Fee | Typical charge | Risk | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) | $17-$150/day, by vehicle class | Medium | You can decline this. Check your credit card's rental coverage before you reach the counter. |
| Security deposit hold | Varies — higher on debit cards | Medium | Can't avoid this. A hold, not a charge — releases within a few days of return. |
| Supplemental Liability Protection | Varies by location | Medium | You can decline this. Your own auto policy may already extend to rentals. |
| Additional driver | $12/day average — $5/day in New York | Low | You can decline if traveling alone. Free for spouses, domestic partners, and Emerald Club members' immediate family at the same address. |
| Young driver (21-24) | $25/day average | High | Can't avoid this. Factor it into the total before comparing prices elsewhere. |
National counter fees — sourced from published rental conditions, accessed June 2026.
Pickup is also the one area where National's own customer data shows the most room to improve, trailing its other categories like drop-off and vehicle condition. That gap is exactly what Emerald Club exists to close — members at participating airports skip the counter sequence that produces it. Non-members are absorbing the brand's one soft spot; members are routing around it entirely.
Renting internationally — where the program stops and starts
The Aisle bypass, and the higher status tiers built on top of it, are explicitly US and Canada benefits per National's own program terms. Rent in Europe, Latin America, or the Caribbean and you get priority service instead — faster handling, but not the skip-the-counter experience the program is known for at home.
There's one benefit that does travel: base Emerald Club members get a free one-class upgrade in the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, and Germany, with no status required. Worth knowing if a European rental is on the itinerary, since it's the one place the free tier outperforms expectations rather than falling short of them.
Free rental days earned through the program redeem primarily in the US and Canada as well. If you're building credits with an international trip in mind, confirm redemption availability before counting on them.
How locations compare
National's customer ratings are strongest on vehicle condition and cleanliness. Some of the busiest US airports have only a handful of reviews on record, so treat those scores as directional rather than definitive — Los Angeles is the one major US market with a large enough sample to be confident in. Internationally, Canada, Spain, and Cancun all carry hundreds of reviews and tell a more reliable story: solidly good to very good across the board.
| Airport | State / Region | DiscoverCars score | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver (DEN) | Colorado | 8.3 | 1 | Good |
| Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) | Arizona | 8.3 | 2 | Good |
| Honolulu (HNL) | Hawaii | 8.3 | 6 | Good |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | California | 8.5 | 24 | Good |
| Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | Florida | 8.5 | 2 | Good |
| Cancun (CUN) | Mexico | 8.1 | 88 | Good |
| Canada (overall) | Canada | 9.0 | 120 | Very good |
| Spain (overall) | Spain | 8.3 | 402 | Good |
National locations and markets by customer rating, accessed June 2026. Review counts vary widely by market. Source: DiscoverCars.
Two tiers above base membership: Executive and Executive Elite
Two tiers sit above base membership, both earned through rental volume rather than paid for. Executive adds the ability to pick full-size and above from the Aisle at the midsize rate; Executive Elite adds a guaranteed vehicle with short notice on top of that.
| Fee | Typical charge | Risk | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald Club (base) | Free to join, no minimum rentals | Low | Open to anyone. Aisle access, no second driver fee, free rental day every 7 credits. |
| Executive | 12 paid rentals or 40 rental days in a year | Medium | Earned, not optional. Adds the Executive Area — full-size and above at the midsize rate, free day every 6 credits. |
| Executive Elite | 25 paid rentals or 85 rental days in a year | Medium | Earned, not optional. Free day every 5 credits, guaranteed vehicle with 24-hour notice. |
National Car Rental - Emerald Club benefits, accessed June 2026.
Executive unlocks the upgrade to full-size and above at the midsize rate. Executive Elite adds a guaranteed vehicle on short notice on top of that. Both are realistic only for renters who travel often enough to hit the threshold — base membership covers everyone else.
If something goes wrong
Formal complaint records show National's volume is modest relative to its size, and most billing disputes resolve once escalated — refunds and adjustments are the typical outcome in resolved cases. The pattern worth knowing about is specific to the loyalty program: account status and earned credits can be restricted at National's discretion, and the company doesn't publish a clear threshold for what triggers a review. Some restrictions get reversed when the member requests a documented explanation in writing.
The verdict
If you haven't booked yet: Join Emerald Club first, regardless of how often you rent — it's free and the Aisle benefit starts immediately at participating airports. Then decide on price: if National is close to other options, the pickup experience alone can justify it. If the gap is wide, see our National vs Enterprise comparison before booking.
If you're already booked: Enroll in Emerald Club now if you haven't — it can often still apply. Confirm your credit card's rental coverage. If you're renting internationally, check whether your destination gets Aisle access or priority service only, so the airport experience isn't a surprise.
If something came up after you returned the car: Put it in writing to National directly, with your rental agreement and any pickup photos. Ask for the specific policy involved if it concerns your account or credits. Give it a week before escalating further.
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- Emerald Aisle and Executive Area access only apply in the US and Canada — elsewhere you get expedited service, not the bypass.
- Free rental days earned through Emerald Club redeem at National only, and primarily in the US and Canada.
- Account status and earned credits can be restricted at National's discretion — there's no published threshold for what triggers a review.
- The security deposit hold applies regardless of Emerald Club status.
- Young driver surcharges are not optional and aren't waived by any membership tier.
- Aisle inventory varies by airport and time of day — a strong selection isn't guaranteed even with Executive status.
Frequently asked questions
Is Emerald Club worth joining?
Yes, and it costs nothing to find out. Base membership gets you Aisle access, a free additional driver, and credits toward free rental days from your first trip. The premium only pays off once you're enrolled — joining before you book is the one move that changes the math.
Does Executive status work the same way outside the US?
Not entirely. The Aisle and Executive Area are US and Canada benefits. In Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean, Executive members get priority service instead — faster, but not a bypass. One exception: base Emerald Club members get a free one-class upgrade in the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, and Germany regardless of tier.
What's the difference between Emerald Club and Enterprise Plus?
Emerald Club changes the pickup experience from your first rental. Enterprise Plus is a points program that builds value over time. See our National vs Enterprise comparison for the full breakdown.
How many rentals do I need for Executive status?
12 paid rentals or 40 rental days in a calendar year. Executive Elite requires 25 rentals or 85 days. Both reset annually.
I already booked — what should I do before pickup?
Join Emerald Club if you haven't — it takes a few minutes and applies retroactively to this booking in most cases. Confirm your credit card's rental coverage. If your airport has Emerald Aisle service, check the location page before you land.
National restricted my account or removed my credits — what are my options?
Contact National in writing and ask for the specific policy and dates involved. BBB records show some restrictions get reversed on escalation when the member requests a documented review. If it stays unresolved, your credit card issuer can't undo a loyalty program decision, but persistence in writing has worked for other members.
