I'll cover this seldom mentioned benefit of the Marriott Bonvoy program in this post. Reaching Hertz and SIXT higher status tiers is actually quite hard for most people, so getting them via Marriott Elite status is a good surprise.
I won't be providing a valuation of the benefit as the car rental market is quite complicated. There's a lot of variation in pricing between competitors in different countries, so I don't see a strong reason to be loyal to any particular brand. Knowing you might get something more from Hertz or SIXT for free if you happen to choose them as a Marriott Elite is a plus.
Let me first comment on the difficulty of getting into the first tier above free for both Hertz or SIXT. The requirement for number of rentals or monetary spend (US$2000+) is more than probably 99% of us spend on car rentals each year. The spend required for SIXT is personal spend, meaning if you have a business discount already, that spend is not counted.
If you have 4 weeks (20 days) vacation each year, unless you're willing to spend all your holidays driving and US$100/day on a rental, you will not reach the US$2000 threshold to reach the next tier.
Hertz and SIXT comparison
The table below compares the requirements and benefits.
| Hertz Gold | Hertz Five Star | Hertz President's Circle | SIXT Gold | SIXT Platinum | SIXT Diamond | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal requirements | - | 3 rentals or $1K | 15 rentals or $3K | 2K Euros | 4K Euros | 6K Euros |
| Discount | - | - | - | 10% | 15% | 20% |
| Earning Points | 1 per dollar | 1.25 per dollar | 1.5 per dollar | 1.1 per Euro | 1.2 per Euro | 1.3 per Euro |
| Skip the line | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Member-only rates | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free additional driver | Yes | Yes | Yes | US only | US only | US only |
| Car upgrade | - | If available | Guaranteed | - | If available | If available |
Let me first comment on the difficulty of getting into the first tier above free for both Hertz or SIXT. Hertz Five Store may be achievable. The requirements for the other tiers is probably more than what 99% of us spend on car rentals each year.
The spend required for SIXT is personal spend, meaning if you have a business discount already, that spend is not counted.
If you have 4 weeks (20 days) vacation each year, unless you're willing to spend all your holidays driving and US$100/day on a rental, you will not reach the US$2000 threshold to even reach the SIXT Gold tier.
Hertz for Marriott members residing in US and Canada
A Marriott member residing in the US and Canada gets complimentary Hertz status. When a Marriott member is renting a car outside the US or Canada, they can continue to use Hertz. The member will not get SIXT status matching.
| Hertz | Upgrades | Earning Points | Normal requirements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | - | - | - | |
| Gold | - | - | - | |
| Platinum | Fast Track to Five Star | - | - | |
| Titanium | Five Star | As available | 25% bonus | |
| Ambassador | President's Circle | Guaranteed | 50% bonus | 15 rentals or $3000 |
Hertz points are valid for 5 years.
When booking a Hertz rental you can also get 500 Marriott Bonvoy points.
There is a current promotion on the reduced requirements for Five Star at https://www.hertz.com/us/en/gold-plus-rewards
SIXT for Marriott members residing outside the US and Canada
This means a Marriott member living outside of US and Canada can get their Marriott status matched with SIXT membership tiers. They will not get complimentary Hertz status as they do not reside in the US or Canada.
When booking a SIXT rental you can also get 750 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Across all the SIXT One Loyalty Program membership tiers is the ability to earn points, skip the counter (and lounge for SIXT Diamond members) at select SIXT Corporate Country Branches, member-only email offers, and discounts.
Yes, you read that right. There is a lounge. I'm not sure for what reason I'd want to hang around honestly, but it's there ....
There are 2 types of SIXT points:
- Status points for benefits - Earn status points based on the qualifying spend. Status points unlock higher tiers and benefits.
- Rental points for savings - Earn rental points based on the qualifying spend. Redeem them for instant savings on the time and mileage base rate for personal bookings.
As SIXT is a European headquartered company, one status point and one rental point are earned for every Euro, and not per US dollar on qualifying rentals (excluding taxes and fees). Here are the terms and conditions.
| Marriott | Sixt | Rental Points | Discount | Vehicle Upgrade | Normal requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | SIXT Gold | 10% more | Up to 10% discount | - | 2000 status points |
| Gold / Platinum | SIXT Platinum | 20% more | Up to 15% discount | If available | 4000 status points |
| Titanium and Ambassador | SIXT Diamond | 30% more | Up to 20% discount | If available + Diamond Lounge | 6000 status points |
Members may choose to earn frequent flyer miles, hotel points or other rewards offered by partners of the SIXT Group for Qualifying Rentals instead of earning Rental Points in the Program. Rental points expire after 24 months.
What SIXT lounges offer
- Expedited Check-In/Out: Dedicated staff are stationed within the lounge to handle all paperwork, allowing you to bypass the main rental lines completely.
- Complimentary Refreshments: Snack bar, premium coffee, tea, and cold beverages (water, juices, and occasionally beer or wine in certain European locations).
- Productive Workspace: High-speed Wi-Fi, power ports for charging devices, and comfortable seating suitable for both relaxation and work.
- VIP Assistant: Personalized support for vehicle selection, navigation help, or adjusting your rental agreement.
- Direct Vehicle Access: Lounges are strategically located to be as close as possible to the premium vehicle parking lot, minimizing the walk to your car.
SIXT lounge locations
While SIXT has thousands of locations, Diamond Lounges are currently limited to major hubs. Key locations include:
| Region | Primary Locations |
| Europe | Frankfurt (T1), Munich (MAC), Milan Malpensa, Brussels, Venice, Malaga |
| Middle East | Abu Dhabi (Terminal A) |
| United States | Los Angeles (LAX) — Includes a unique chauffeur shuttle to/from baggage claim. |
Other ways to get SIXT Diamond status
Status Match from other hotel top-tier status such as Hilton Diamond or GHA Discovery Titanium, and airline programs.
Why not Hertz in APAC?
For rentals in Asia Pacific, Hertz Gold+ Service is only available in in Australia and New Zealand. See the Hertz Asia membership page for details.
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