National Car Rental is the premium loyalty brand of Enterprise Holdings, built specifically around the business traveler. Founded in 1947 and operating at over 1,500 locations worldwide, National is best known for the Emerald Club, which lets Emerald Executive members walk up to any vehicle in the Emerald Aisle and take it at the mid-size rate. For frequent business renters, it is one of the most genuinely rewarding loyalty experiences in the industry.
✓ Pros
- Emerald Aisle: choose any car at mid-size rate
- Emerald Club elite status is fast to earn
- Strong US and Canadian airport coverage
- Consistent fleet quality at business locations
- Free additional driver for Emerald members
✗ Cons
- Fewer locations than Enterprise or Hertz globally
- Less competitive for leisure travelers without status
- Limited presence outside North America and Europe
National Car Rental Review
National is the car rental brand that frequent business travelers fight to keep status with. The reason is simple and specific: the Emerald Aisle. It is not a marketing concept. It is a physical row of vehicles at the airport, and any Emerald Executive member can walk up to that row, pick any car they want, and drive away at the mid-size rate. No counter interaction. No waiting for an agent to assign a vehicle. Just a choice.
The Emerald Club: Built for Business Travelers
Emerald Club has three tiers. Emerald membership is free and provides counter bypass at participating locations. Emerald Executive, earned at 7 rentals or 35 rental days per year, unlocks the full Emerald Aisle benefit. Emerald Executive Elite, earned at 20 rentals or 75 days, adds guaranteed upgrades and complimentary additional drivers, which is a meaningful perk for renters who travel with colleagues.
National is part of Enterprise Holdings, which means Emerald points can be used across National and Enterprise. For travelers whose rental mix includes both airport business trips (National) and neighborhood or occasional rentals (Enterprise), the shared program adds real flexibility.
The Emerald Aisle in Practice
The Emerald Aisle typically includes full-size sedans, SUVs, and occasionally luxury vehicles. On a good day, an Emerald Executive member can walk in booked for a mid-size compact and leave in an SUV or a premium sedan for the same price. On a busy day, the selection is more limited. But the consistency with which National delivers this benefit at major US airports is what keeps business travelers renewing status every year.
Fleet Quality
National maintains a newer average fleet age than most competitors, particularly at its core business-traveler locations. The vehicles are kept clean and well-maintained, reflecting an understanding that its primary customer is arriving from a flight with a meeting to get to. Toyota Camrys, Chevrolet Malibus, Ford Explorers, and Nissan Altimas appear regularly, along with SUVs like the Ford Edge and Chevrolet Equinox.
Who National Is Best For
- Frequent business travelers who can reach Emerald Executive within a year and use the Emerald Aisle regularly
- Renters who value vehicle choice over price and want to pick their own car rather than accept what is assigned
- Corporate account holders where National is a preferred vendor and status earnings are part of the travel package
- North American airport travelers where National's coverage is strongest and most consistent
Where National Falls Short
Outside North America and Western Europe, National's footprint is limited. Leisure travelers without status will find the rates uncompetitive compared to Alamo and Budget at the same airports. The brand is explicitly built around the business travel segment, and it shows in the pricing, the location strategy, and the design of the loyalty program. If you rent four times a year for personal trips and have no corporate account, there are cheaper options.