Yes, you can use Wyndham points for car rentals, but it's generally not the best value compared to using them for hotel stays. The redemption is handled through a partnership with the Wyndham Earner® Cards' travel portal, where points are worth a fixed value towards travel purchases, including car rentals. Essentially, you use your points to offset charges made to your card.
The process is straightforward. After renting a car through any provider, the charge will appear on your Wyndham Earner credit card statement. You can then log into your Wyndham Rewards account and use the "Use Points for Travel" feature to erase this charge. The redemption rate is typically 10,000 points for $100 in travel statement credits, making each point worth about one cent.
Here’s a quick comparison of potential redemption values:
| Redemption Method | Point Cost | Value Provided | Effective Value per Point |
|---|
| Car Rental Credit | 10,000 points | $100 statement credit | 1.0 cent |
| Wyndham Hotel Stay | 15,000 points | ~$150+ room (varies) | 1.0+ cents (often higher) |
| Vacasa Rental Home | 15,000 points per bedroom | Varies significantly | Can be extremely high |
While convenient, the fixed value for car rentals means you don't get the "sweet spot" redemptions possible with hotel stays, where 15,000 points can sometimes cover a room costing over $200. The best use case is if you have a small points balance that isn't enough for a free night and you need immediate savings on a necessary rental. Otherwise, saving points for hotel awards usually provides greater overall value. Always compare the cash price of the rental against the value you're getting from your points before redeeming.
