Review of the Sapphire Reserve Card’s Car Rental Benefits

by joeheg

The Sapphire Reserve is Chase’s premium travel credit card. It provides an unmatched combination of points earning and travel insurance coverage. When it comes to travel perks included with the card, it’s right in the pack with other cards offering a Priority Pass membership and Global Entry reimbursement. Many of the other travel benefits supplied by the card come from being a VISA Infinite card, some of them being premier level membership with several rental car companies.

If you’re interested in signing up for a Chase Sapphire Reserve or want to hear more about the card, check out our full review.

It’s necessary to log into your Chase account to find the benefits of the Sapphire Reserve. If you have more than one Chase card, click on the Sapphire Reserve and click on” More…”  and then click on “Card Benefits” from the drop-down box. 

That will take you to a page showing several tiles showing the numerous benefits of the card. This is also where you’ll apply for your Priority Pass membership, but we’re looking for rental cars right now.

Click on the one that says “Special Car Rental Privileges.”

a screenshot of a car rental application

National Emerald Club Executive

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National is the car rental company I’ve dealt with for the longest. Just by signing up for Emerald Club, you get to skip the counter and pick any car in the aisle as long as you reserve a mid-size.

If you’re an Emerald Executive Club member, you can pick your car from the Executive Aisle. While these are nicer cars, don’t expect a significant upgrade beyond the next-level sedan.

You can click through the three links to get to the sign-up page, or you can use this link. You can either open a new account or link an existing one.

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Avis Preferred Plus

Avis Preferred Plus is one step above normal Avis status and provides discounts and upgrades to members.

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From there, you’re taken to the Visa Infinite page for Avis.

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There’s a link to sign up for a membership, but if you already have an Avis Wizard number, you can go straight to this link to email Avis your info to upgrade your account.

Silvercar

Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders receive up to 30% off Audi on Demand (formerly Silvercar) rentals.

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I don’t think about the service since they closed all of their airport locations and now only provide rentals at Audi dealerships.

Final Thoughts

If I had to grade the Sapphire Reserve for the benefits it provides when renting cars, I’d say that it’s “meeting expectations.”  You’ll get upgraded status and some additional discounts but that’s to be expected from a premium travel card. You’re getting upper-level membership with both National and Avis, so they could not provide much more besides adding additional partners.

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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary

5 comments

Luke Vader July 19, 2019 - 11:03 am

You should at least mention that the CSR includes primary rental car insurance coverage. That is arguably its most valuable benefit relating to car rentals.

Reply
joeheg July 19, 2019 - 11:53 am

It wasn’t the theme of the article so I didn’t want to get tied down with explaining primary insurance (because that topic deserves its own article).

Reply
Stefan Robert November 22, 2020 - 6:38 am

I also agree with you that “Meeting Expectations” You’ll get upgraded status and some additional discounts but that’s to be expected from a premium travel card.

Reply
richard sachs November 13, 2021 - 2:45 pm

The Chase/United card provides primary rental insurance as well.

Reply
DC not in DC November 21, 2023 - 8:27 pm

CSR saved me at the Club Med Turks & Caicos when a fellow tourist crashed into me. T&C has no-fault, like many countries, so each person had to tell the police who their insurer was. I called CSR upon return and they handled everything.
This recycled article is still relevant in 2047. 😎

Reply

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