Is it worth it to join the vendor’s frequent renter program if I only rent a car a few times a year?

Obtaining membership in the frequent renter program of your favorite car rental vendor has many advantages, even for infrequent renters. While benefits vary between vendors and may range from reserved cars and partner programs to free days and upgrades, the biggest advantage is the ability to use expedited service lanes, automated kiosks, or even to skip the lines completely and head straight to the lot. Not only does this save you a good bit of time, but also allows you to skip the questions about insurance, GPSs, refueling, and other options, and have the reservation confirmed using the preferences in your membership profile. Status as a member may also convey some “benefit of the doubt” or waivers in uncomfortable situations. To decide which program or programs may be right for you, consider which vendors you use most often and which ones have tie-ins to your frequent flyer clubs or credit card loyalty programs.