National Car Rental
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About the UW System’s Car Rental Program with National Car Rental®
What are the differences between Enterprise and National contracts?
Both Enterprise and National are brands owned by Enterprise Holdings. The UW System has a contract with both brands with similar pricing and benefits. National is the preferred brand at airports and Enterprise is the option for neighborhood and campus community locations.
This National Car Rental Program FAQ highlights additional information and exclusive benefits with National Car that differ from the Enterprise brand. For additional information on pricing and terms, review University of Wisconsin Program Summary.
How can National be booked?
Most rentals are required to be reserved in Concur Travel or with a Fox World Agent. Specialty vehicles must be rented directly from the branch. Charge cards are required to guarantee/hold reservations. Departments must reserve vehicles for non-employees or students traveling for UW sponsored purposes using Concur or Fox agents.
What is the re-fuel policy with National?
In accordance with University policy and to avoid any additional fuel charges, you must return the vehicle with the same level of fuel received at the time of check-out. National rentals come with a full tank of fuel. If the vehicle is returned and the fuel is not replaced, the branch will add fuel charges to your final bill.
What happens if I miss paying a toll?
Unpaid tolls will result in a post rental charge from National (or Enterprise) that will include the amount of the toll and an additional convenience fee required to process the transaction on behalf of the tolling authority. To avoid this additional charge, please go to the appropriate state’s website to pay the toll online. Most sites allow seven days to pay before the bill will be sent to the rental agency.
I’m making reservations for several travelers, can I make them all under one name?
No, each reservation must be made in the name of the driver. This is required for vehicle responsibility, driver authorization and to ensure that the driver is covered under the contract provided insurances. Additional drivers may be added at the rental counter at time of vehicle pick-up.
What is the Emerald Club?
Emerald Club is the frequent renter program of National Car Rental, providing members with exclusive benefits and privileges to make renting faster and easier, and make your business travel more productive.
Is there a cost to join the Emerald Club?
No. Membership in The Emerald Club is complimentary for the UW System.
What are the benefits of membership?
Member benefits include:
- Counter bypass with Emerald Club Aisle Service® and Emerald Reserve ServiceSM at most major airports in North America
- Choose your own car when you rent from the Emerald Club Aisle
- Members’ only counters with pre-printed rental agreements at over 400 locations in the U.S. and Canada
- Rental credits
- Access to an exclusive Member Services hotline
- Special offers and travel discounts
- Upgrade to the next membership level – Emerald Club ExecutiveSM – with only 12 rentals in a calendar year
How do I enroll in Emerald Club?
You can complete your enrollment online and immediately receive your new Emerald Club number. Once you complete the enrollment and add your Club number to your Concur profile, you may immediately start renting and taking advantage of the many benefits of the Emerald Club.
Register at the UW System’s Emerald Club Link
How do I know what type of pickup process/service I should follow when I rent?
Your confirmation from Concur or Fox World Travel will contain a reservation number and is appended with a 5-letter code identifying the pickup process you should follow. Depending on your member level and the location you are renting from, the pickup process will be as follows:
- AISLE – Follow the signs to Emerald Aisle, pick any car and proceed to the exit booth to complete the rental.
- EXSEL – Follow the signs to Executive Selection, pick any car and proceed to the exit booth to complete the rental.
- BOOTH – Follow the signs to the Emerald Club booth; show your valid ID, collect the vehicle keys and go.
- RESRV – Proceed to the vehicle row of the car class you’ve reserved (Reserved a compact car? Proceed to the compact row. Reserved a premium car? Proceed to the premium row, choose your car and proceed to the exit booth to complete the rental.
- EXCNT – Proceed to the designated Emerald Club member counter, show your valid ID and collect your keys.
- COUNT – Proceed to the rental counter or you may use the rental kiosk where available for processing
For AISLE, EXSEL & BOOTH reservations, you must reserve a mid-size car class for access. No matter what car you drive, you will only be charged the reserved midsize rate. Emerald Club members frequently receive free upgrades, based on availability.
If I am already an Emerald Club member, do I need to enroll again?
No, it’s not necessary to enroll again. However, you must maintain both your Concur and Emerald Club profiles with valid credit card information. Charge cards are required to guarantee/hold reservations.
How do I update my Emerald Club profile?
- Go to the Emerald Club Link
- Login with your unique login id and password
- Click the Profile Update link.
Confirm or provide all information in each of the following profile sections:
- Personal Information
- Login Information
- Credit Card Information
- Rental Preferences
- Reward Preferences
- and Email Preferences
***Be sure to hit the Save button for each entry***
On the Rental Preferences page, decline all coverage per University policy and click on the Save button at the bottom of the page.
To add the UW Systems contract ID to your Emerald Club profile:
To update the contract ID Number, members may call our member services line at 1-800-962-7070 between the hours of 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday.
If you have any issues with establishing an Emerald Club account or maintaining your profile, please email Leigh.e.Griesbach@ehi.com for assistance.
Once I’ve enrolled in Emerald Club, how soon can I make a reservation and receive my Emerald Club benefits?
When you enroll via the UW System custom link, you will receive your Emerald Club number and your membership will be immediately available for use. Your new member packet with membership card will arrive via first class mail in 2-3 weeks. To receive benefits immediately, include your Emerald Club member number in your Concur profile for both Enterprise and National Car Brands so that it is automatically included in your reservation. At time of rental, your membership will be validated by presenting your driver’s license, the credit card listed in your Emerald Club profile or your Emerald Club member card.
How will I be identified as an employee University of Wisconsin System?
Reserving in Concur or with an agent will automatically register you as a UW System employee each time you book a reservation. The UW Systems Contract I.D. number within your Concur profile will make sure that you are identified as a UW Systems traveler and guarantees that you receive the appropriate rates and benefits.
Can I rent for personal travel with my Emerald Club membership?
Personal use may be added in conjunction with a business trip, either at the beginning of the end of your reservation. When reserving for strictly Non-Business/Personal use, use the Big10 Non-Business Use Booking Portal. Please note additional coverages such as CDW or LDW are no longer included when reserving a strictly personal rental. These coverages can be added for additional fees. Students and other youthful drivers may not rent for personal use.
Are one-way rentals allowed with National?
National Car Rental will do one-way rentals. Negotiated rates are in place for this service.
Do our negotiated rates extend internationally?
Contract pricing extends to all countries in which National operates. Pricing and insurance requirements vary by country and location. Refer to the University of Wisconsin Program Summary for specific pricing and terms for your destination.
Can I receive frequent flyer miles for my business or personal rentals?
No. All UW travelers renting under contract should verify that the preferred rental benefit in their Emerald Club profile is set to free rental credits
If I have other questions regarding Emerald Club that are not addressed here, whom should I contact?
For general questions, call Emerald Club Member Services at 1-800-962-7070, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. If you have specific questions relating to the UW System’s contract, please contact your institution’s Travel Office directly.
Will my Emerald Club Profile work at Enterprise Rent-A-Car?
Yes, Emerald Club Profiles work at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Although Enterprise Rent-A-Car does not offer the Emerald Aisle Counter Bypass Program, using your Emerald Club Profile at Enterprise Rent-A-Car will speed up your rental process and allow you access to your “members only” lines at major airports.
For employees or departments with additional questions, please contact your institution’s Travel Office.