How many Southwest points for a rental car?

[Alexandra]

You can earn 600 Southwest Rapid Rewards points per qualifying rental with most major partners. Hertz offers a tiered promotion earning up to 2,400 points for a 7-day rental. Points are for earning, not for redeeming for rentals, though special bonus promotions occasionally appear.

The standard earning rate across primary partners like Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Enterprise is 600 Rapid Rewards points per completed rental. This is a fixed rate, not tied to the rental cost. Hertz runs a distinct promotion where points earned scale with rental length: 1-2 days earn 600 points, 3-6 days earn 1,200 points, and a week-long rental (7+ days) earns the maximum 2,400 points.

Beyond standard earnings, limited-time promotions can significantly boost points. For instance, past offers from partners like National Car Rental have provided bonus opportunities, such as earning up to 2,750 points for a single rental under specific terms. These are time-sensitive and require registration.

To ensure you receive points, you must attach your Rapid Rewards number to the reservation. Always book directly through the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Travel portal or the dedicated partner links on Southwest's website. Booking through third-party sites may invalidate point earnings.

A crucial financial consideration involves frequent flyer surcharges. Some rental partners, notably Dollar and Payless, may add a surcharge of up to $1.50 per day for Rapid Rewards members to process the points. This fee is disclosed during booking. Partners like Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Hertz typically do not impose this surcharge, making them more cost-effective for point earners.

Partner	Standard Points per Rental	Key Notes
Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise	600	Consistent earn rate; no frequent flyer surcharge.
Hertz	600 (1-2 days), 1,200 (3-6 days), 2,400 (7+ days)	Tiered promotion; check current terms.
Dollar, Payless	600	May apply a frequent flyer surcharge (~$1.50/day).

Points usually post to your Southwest account within 1-2 weeks after the rental closes. Keep your rental agreement until the points appear. If they don't post, you'll need the agreement details to submit a claim to Southwest.

[McJune]

As someone who rents cars for work every month, I’ve learned the hard way that you only get the 600 Southwest points if you book the right way. I always go through the Southwest website’s “Cars” section. I used a generic travel site once and got nothing. Also, I stick with Avis or Enterprise. I tried Dollar once because the base rate was cheaper, but they added that $1.50 per day “points fee,” which almost wiped out the savings. For me, simplicity is key: book through Southwest, use my member number, and choose a partner without hidden fees.

[JackRose]

Planning a family road trip and wondering if the Southwest points are worth it? They absolutely can be. Here’s my take: if you’re renting for a week, Hertz is your best bet for points—you’ll get 2,400. That’s a solid chunk toward a future flight. But compare the total cost. Sometimes Dollar has a lower daily rate, but they add a surcharge for the points. Do the math: $1.50 a day for a 7-day rental is an extra $10.50 just to earn those 600 points. For a short weekend rental, the standard 600 points from any major partner is a nice little bonus. Just make sure your Rapid Rewards number is on the reservation before you pick up the car.

[AugustAnn]

The main thing to remember is that these are earning opportunities, not redemption. You cannot use Southwest points to pay for the rental car itself. You earn points that go into your airline account for flights. Watch out for these common pitfalls:

• Not providing your Rapid Rewards number at the time of booking.
• Booking through a third-party site like or .
• Choosing a “prepaid” rate, which sometimes disqualifies point earnings.
• Forgetting to register for a separate bonus promotion before renting. Always read the full terms on Southwest’s partner page before you book.

[BrodyRose]

I’m a points enthusiast, and maximizing Southwest earnings from rentals involves strategy. The baseline is 600 points, but the real value comes from stacking. First, I only rent from partners that don’t have the frequent flyer surcharge—it’s a non-starter for me. Second, I always check for active bonus promotions on the Southwest portal. I once combined the standard 600 points with a 2,000-point bonus offer because I remembered to register a code. Third, I use a credit card that earns bonus points on travel purchases to pay for the rental, so I’m getting airline points and credit card points simultaneously. For longer trips, I strategically book with Hertz for their tiered bonus. It’s about layering the earnings from the rental itself, the airline promotion, and the payment method.