I could not consider it once I drove the 2022 BMW 740i rental automobile — BMW’s flagship sedan — out of the Nationwide Automotive Rental facility.
Merging on to the Dulles Toll Highway, I used to be greeted with an astonishing quantity of energy in an outstandingly comfy cabin. The autobahn-built government sedan glided over each pothole that Washington, D.C.’s roads might throw at it, due to the sleek adaptive suspension and plush Dakota leather-based upholstery.
However the very best half? My three-day rental price a grand whole of simply $10.10, due to leveraging my elite standing and free rental days from Nationwide.
This is how I used free days to lease a $100,000-plus BMW 7 Collection — and the way you may be capable of do the identical.
Nationwide Emerald Membership standing
Nationwide Automotive Rental lets its members select from an aisle of automobiles at virtually all places. All of the automobiles on the aisle are the identical worth; you decide your most well-liked automobile, the keys are inside and also you merely current your driver’s license on the exit.
Nationwide has three revealed elite tiers: Emerald Membership, Govt and Govt Elite. There’s additionally an invitation-only VIP tier, which has particulars which can be largely unknown to the general public.
These are a number of the key advantages of Nationwide Emerald Membership standing:
| Emerald Membership | Govt | Govt Elite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| {Qualifications} | Free to be a part of, open to the general public. | 12 paid leases or 40 rental days in a calendar 12 months. | 25 paid leases or 85 rental days in a calendar 12 months. |
| Free day accrual charge | One free day each seven credit. | One free day each six credit. | One free day each 5 credit. |
| Choose any automobile on the Emerald aisle if you reserve a midsize or larger | ✓ | Govt aisle. | Govt aisle. |
| No second driver charges | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Assured upgrades if you reserve a full dimension via a luxurious automobile | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Assured car | As much as full dimension with 24-hour discover. |
In follow, I’ve discovered Govt Elite standing much better than it seems on paper. This 12 months alone, I have been upgraded on all of my leases, routinely to German luxurious automobiles.
Throughout a current rental at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Worldwide Airport (SJC) in California, the Nationwide agent requested me for my final title as I walked as much as the Govt aisle. After noting my Govt Elite standing, he advised me that any automobile on the lot was mine.
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Associated: Your information to incomes, redeeming and loyalty with Nationwide Emerald Membership
Standing match
You do not must be a frequent renter to get Nationwide elite standing.
Even should you’ve by no means rented with Nationwide earlier than, you would be eligible for Govt Elite standing out of your first rental. After enrolling within the Emerald Membership program without spending a dime, you may submit a standing match by going to this web page. Based on the corporate web site, should you maintain standing with any of over 40 applications (together with American AAdvantage, United MileagePlus and Hilton Honors), Nationwide will improve your standing without spending a dime. You will want to supply a screenshot of your standing, together with your title, present elite standing and your standing expiration date.
Haven’t got elite standing but? You may earn resort elite standing — most of which match to Nationwide — with quite a lot of completely different playing cards. Likewise, each The Platinum Card® from American Specific and The Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Specific embrace Nationwide Govt standing as a advantage of the cardboard.
By offering Nationwide with my United Premier 1K membership, I used to be granted Govt Elite standing inside 24 hours that’s legitimate for over two years.
Based on statusmatcher.com, 92% of Nationwide standing matches have been permitted. Whereas these outcomes are self-reported, submissions point out that Nationwide will even match mid-tier statuses like Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite to Govt Elite standing. Nationwide is even mentioned to grant standing matches should you maintain standing from one other rental automobile program.
Associated: The whole information to automobile rental elite standing matches
Nationwide free days
Members earn free days for any automobile class with no blackout dates. As an Govt Elite member, you will earn one free day after each 5 rental credit you earn.
You will earn one rental credit score on leases between one and 7 days. You may calculate your rental credit score accrual by dividing your whole rental days by 4 for leases which can be eight or extra days.
For instance, a rental of eight days earns two rental credit, whereas a rental of 12 days earns three rental credit.
To redeem a free day out of your Emerald Membership account, choose “Redeem Days.”
You may reserve as much as a Premium Elite SUV (BMW X3 or related) utilizing your free day(s).
I used three free days for my rental to e book a Premium Elite SUV. Once I picked up my automobile, the agent checked my reservation. I requested if a sedan was out there since I want driving sedans to SUVs — and to my astonishment, he walked me over to a BMW 7 Collection.
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Driving the BMW 7 Collection
As a automobile fanatic, there is not any model I want to BMW.
Whereas my compact BMW 230i again residence pales compared to the 7 Collection rental, the driver-focused expertise remained the identical.
Stepping inside, I used to be greeted by a good-looking three-spoke steering wheel with paddle shifters, however the cabin’s centerpiece is the iDrive 7.0 infotainment system providing gesture management, wi-fi CarPlay and encompass view cameras.
When evening falls, the temper lighting makes for an upscale ambiance, reminding me of Virgin America’s notorious purple lights. Naturally, the colour of the lights will be custom-made.
I drove deep into the upscale Northwest D.C. neighborhoods surrounding American College and the automobile felt proper at residence. The one factor that was lacking was a international dignitary within the backseat.
Stepping out of the automobile for a fall foliage stroll in D.C.’s Rock Creek, I observed the discreetly positioned “harman/kardon” brand adjoining to the door body. I later realized that there have been two subwoofers and 16 audio system situated all through the automobile.
A lot to my dismay, the automobile needed to be returned. Once I obtained the receipt, I used to be struck by sticker shock seeing that the automobile would have price $897 for 3 days earlier than taxes and costs.
Trying again at it, I nonetheless cannot consider I spent 72 hours with this epic automobile for simply $10.10.
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As one who holds top-tier standing with Hertz, Avis and Nationwide, each rental I full with Nationwide reaffirms my affinity for the Emerald Membership program and my loyalty to Nationwide.
Along with giving its members an aisle of automobiles to select from, Nationwide supplies precious free days — with no blackout dates — that can be utilized to redeem a BMW X3 or related for “free.” If you happen to’re given an improve along with your standing like me, you simply may end up driving the automobile of your desires.
To obtain related advantages, enroll within the Emerald Membership program and request a standing match.
